Σαούλ
Saoúl
G4549
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name transliterated from Hebrew; primarily used as the Greek form of the Hebrew name Sha'ul (שָׁאוּל). In the New Testament, Σαούλ designates two distinct individuals: (1) Saul, the first king over the Israelites in biblical tradition; (2) Saul of Tarsus, the early name of the apostle known later as Paul. The form Σαούλ, following Semitic pronunciation, is typically used when referencing the apostle prior to his adoption of the Roman name Παῦλος (Paul) in narrative sequence.
Semantic Range
personal name for (1) Saul, first king of Israelites (Old Testament context); (2) Saul of Tarsus, early name of the apostle Paul (New Testament context); transliteration of a Semitic theophoric name
Root / Etymology
Greek transliteration of the Hebrew (שָׁאוּל, Sha'ul), meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for'. Not a native Greek form; borrowed directly from Hebrew, often retaining the non-Greek -λ ending.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Σαούλ appears in the Septuagint and New Testament as a direct phonetic rendering of the Hebrew name Sha'ul. In Greek usage, this form is rare and typically reserved for figures of Israelite or Judean background, as opposed to the more regularly shaped Greek name Σαῦλος (Saulos), which fits conventional Hellenistic naming patterns. In the LXX (Septuagint), Σαούλ names the first king of Israel. In Acts, Σαούλ is the name of the prominent early follower of Jesus before he is commonly addressed as Paulus in Hellenistic circles. English translations often render Σαούλ differently depending on context — 'Saul' for the Old Testament king and for Paul’s original name, reflecting traditional usage rather than semantic difference. The distinction between Σαούλ and Σαῦλος in Greek is primarily orthographic and sociolinguistic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (שָׁאוּל); Saul (i.e. Shaul), the Jewish name of Paul:--Saul. Compare Σαῦλος.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.