σελήνη
selḗnē
G4582 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
selḗnē refers primarily to the moon as the prominent celestial body visible in the night sky, often with emphasis on its light or shining quality. In broader contexts, it may refer to the lunar disc itself, the measurement of time by the moon's phases, or poetic representations related to the goddess Selene. The term can carry both the literal meaning of the astronomical moon and figurative associations with time, cycles, or brightness.
Semantic Range
moon (celestial body), lunar brightness, time measured by the moon (month), lunar deity in poetry/mythology, symbol of cycles and change
Root / Etymology
selḗnē is of uncertain etymology. Some ancient sources connected it with σέλας (selas, ‘brightness, radiance’), but the precise origin is unclear. The root σέλη- (selē-) relates to light or shining, and the word may be linguistically related to the concept of brilliancy, though a definitive derivation is lacking.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, σελήνη was the standard term for the moon, frequently personified as the goddess Selene in mythology and poetry. It appears in both literal and mythological contexts, such as scientific descriptions, time reckoning (months, months’ beginnings), and in poetic or cultic language. In the Septuagint and New Testament, σελήνη is used in both astronomical and symbolic senses (e.g., predictions about the moon turning dark, or celestial phenomena). Unlike the Hebrew יָרֵחַ (yareach), which strictly means ‘moon’, σελήνη can also carry connotations from Greek religion and philosophy due to the prominence of the goddess Selene. English translations typically render the word as ‘moon’, but may miss mythological or poetic nuances. The term is distinguished from lesser-used synonyms like μήνη, which can also refer to the moon or a month. In Koine and biblical usage, σελήνη is consistently the term for the physical celestial moon.
Translation Consistency
Most occurrences (5/9) use the straightforward noun 'moon.' This renders the primary, literal sense (the celestial body and its light) naturally and can carry the extended senses (time by the moon/month, cycles, poetic deity imagery) without awkwardness, providing a consistent, idiomatic English choice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (brilliancy; probably akin to the alternate of αἱρέομαι, through the idea of attractiveness); the moon:--moon.
Root Family
σελήνη (selēnē) — to shine, to emit light, moon (astral body)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4582-01 |
σελήνη | selene | N NOM F SG |
moon | the shining moon | the shining moon | 6 |
G4582-02 |
σελήνης | selenes | N GEN F SG |
moon | of the shining moon | of the shining moon | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4582-01 |
Matthew 24:29 | σελήνη | selene | N NOM F SG |
moon | the shining moon | the shining moon |
G4582-01 |
Mark 13:24 | σελήνη | selene | N NOM F SG |
moon | the shining moon | the shining moon |
G4582-01 |
Luke 21:25 | σελήνῃ | selene | N DAT F SG |
moon | the shining moon | the shining moon |
G4582-01 |
Acts 2:20 | σελήνη | selene | N NOM F SG |
moon | the shining moon | the shining moon |
G4582-02 |
1 Corinthians 15:41 | σελήνης | selenes | N GEN F SG |
of the moon | of the shining moon | of the shining moon |
G4582-01 |
Revelation 6:12 | σελήνη | selene | N NOM F SG |
moon | the shining moon | the shining moon |
G4582-02 |
Revelation 8:12 | σελήνης | selenes | N GEN F SG |
moon | of the shining moon | of the shining moon |
G4582-01 |
Revelation 12:1 | σελήνη | selene | N NOM F SG |
moon | the shining moon | the shining moon |
G4582-02 |
Revelation 21:23 | σελήνης | selenes | N GEN F SG |
moon | of the shining moon | of the shining moon |