ὄρθριος
órthrios
G3721
SILEX Entry
Definition
pertaining to, or occurring at, dawn; of or relating to the early morning period—especially daybreak. In various contexts, the word describes something done, appearing, or being present at dawn, or more generally in the early morning hours.
Semantic Range
of or relating to dawn, occurring at daybreak, happening in the early morning, happening early, appearing at sunrise
Root / Etymology
Derived from ὄρθρος (órthros), meaning 'dawn' or 'daybreak,' combined with the adjectival suffix -ιος to indicate 'related to dawn.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὄρθριος appears primarily in Koine Greek literature, including the Septuagint and early Christian writings, as an adjective or substantive adjective indicating the time of day near sunrise. In the Septuagint, it may describe actions, events, or persons associated with the dawn, often conveying the sense of activity starting 'very early' or 'at first light.' The term does not inherently specify ritual, religious, or symbolic meaning, though early Christian usage later developed such nuances. Its base sense is strictly temporal. Standard English translations render it as 'early' or 'at dawn,' but may not always distinguish the nuance between pre-dawn and post-sunrise activity. Classical usage of the root ὄρθρος is documented from Homer onward, typically meaning 'dawn' or the 'early morning watch,' with ὄρθριος consistently holding to the adjective form in later Hellenistic Greek.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὄρθρος; in the dawn, i.e. up at day-break:--early.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.