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στάσις

stásis

G4714 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Standing or position; (1) the state or act of standing, standing upright or being stationed at a place; (2) a posture or state (physical or figurative), standing in opposition or alignment; (3) in extended sense, faction, division, discord, or dissension within a social or political context; (4) specifically, an uprising, revolt, or insurrection, particularly against authority. Core meaning relates to a state of being positioned, which develops metaphorically into oppositional stances or social disturbances.

Semantic Range

standing, act of standing, position, state, faction, discord, civil strife, partisan division, dissension, quarrel, dispute, uprising, insurrection, riot, civil unrest

Root / Etymology

From the root στα- of ἵστημι ('to stand'), with the -σις nominalizing suffix indicating the act or state of standing. Thus, στάσις is the act, state, or result of standing or positioning, with figurative extensions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, στάσις initially signifies the act of standing or a position. From the 5th century BCE, the term frequently comes to mean civil strife or factional division, especially within a city-state (πόλις), often connoting political rivalries or violent uprisings. In Hellenistic and Roman periods, including in the Septuagint and New Testament, στάσις continues to denote both literal 'standing' and (far more commonly) social conflict, discord, or rebellion, particularly against civic or imperial authority. In New Testament usage (e.g., Acts 15:2, 19:40, 23:7), the focus is on dissension, dispute, or insurrection, sometimes with reference to mob action or political disturbance. English translations often render it 'dissension', 'uproar', or 'insurrection', but these do not always convey the full nuance of internecine strife or collective resistance that the Greek term implies.

Translation Consistency

primary "division" 2 occurrences

Stásis most commonly denotes a positioned opposition that becomes a split or faction within a group. "Division" is natural English, covers both figurative dissension and concrete faction/uprising without forcing a violent sense (as "insurrection" would), and fits the typical New Testament/Freudian usage across contexts.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"insurrection" (3x) "dissension" (2x) "riot" (1x) "standing-position" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of ἵστημι; a standing (properly, the act), i.e. (by analogy) position (existence); by implication, a popular uprising; figuratively, controversy:--dissension, insurrection, X standing, uproar.

Root Family

στα- (stásis) — to stand, to be set, to position oneself

Root στα- to stand, to be set, to position oneself

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4714-03 στάσεως staseos N GEN F SG dissension of a standing-position dissension 3
G4714-04 στάσιν stasin N ACC F SG insurrection a standing-position insurrection 3
G4714-01 στάσει stasei N DAT F SG insurrection to a factional uprising insurrection 1
G4714-02 στάσεις staseis N ACC F PL dissensions factional divisions factional divisions 1
G4714-05 στάσις stasis N NOM F SG dissension standing position dissension 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4714-01 Mark 15:7 στάσει stasei N DAT F SG insurrection to a factional uprising insurrection
G4714-04 Luke 23:19 στάσιν stasin N ACC F SG insurrection a standing-position insurrection
G4714-04 Luke 23:25 στάσιν stasin N ACC F SG insurrection a standing-position insurrection
G4714-03 Acts 15:2 στάσεως staseos N GEN F SG dissension of a standing-position of a division
G4714-03 Acts 19:40 στάσεως staseos N GEN F SG of a riot of a standing-position of a riot
G4714-05 Acts 23:7 στάσις stasis N NOM F SG dissension standing position dissension
G4714-03 Acts 23:10 στάσεως staseos N GEN F SG dissension of a standing-position dissension
G4714-02 Acts 24:5 στάσεις staseis N ACC F PL dissensions factional divisions factional divisions
G4714-04 Hebrews 9:8 στάσιν stasin N ACC F SG standing a standing-position a standing-position
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