Ταρσός
Tarsós
G5019 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Tarsos; a proper noun referring to the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, a major urban center of south-central Anatolia (Asia Minor) during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The name designates the city itself, as well as its populace or things pertaining to the city. In the New Testament, primarily denotes the city as the birthplace of Paul (Saul of Tarsus).
Semantic Range
Tarsus (city in Cilicia, Asia Minor); of or relating to the city or its inhabitants
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. Some ancient conjectures associate the name with the concept of 'flatness' or 'a flat basket,' drawing on similarity to τάρσος. However, the origin is likely pre-Greek or Anatolian, and no definitive connection with Greek vocabulary can be established.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ταρσός is attested in Greek from at least the 4th century BCE as the standard toponym for the city of Tarsus, a key administrative, educational, and commercial center of Cilicia. In Hellenistic and Roman times, Tarsus became renowned for its schools of philosophy and rhetoric, on par with Athens and Alexandria. Within the New Testament, Ταρσός is mentioned almost exclusively in reference to Saul/Paul's origin (Acts 9:11; 21:39; 22:3), emphasizing his status as a native of a prominent Hellenistic city. The Septuagint rarely uses the term, as Tarsus plays a minimal role in Hebrew scripture. Standard English translations retain the proper noun transliteration ('Tarsus'), as there is no alternative semantic meaning. The association with 'a flat basket' (Greek τάρσος) is a folk etymology and not reflective of the ancient or Hellenistic understanding of the place name. Unlike some Greek city names formed from common nouns or adjectives, Ταρσός is used only as a place name in biblical sources and contemporary literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps the same as (a flat basket); Tarsus, a place in Asia Minor:--Tarsus.
Root Family
Ταρσός (Tarsos) — city of Tarsus, Tarsian (pertaining to Tarsus)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5019-02 |
Ταρσόν | tarson | N ACC F SG |
Tarsus | Tarsus | Tarsus | 2 |
G5019-01 |
Ταρσῷ | tarso | N DAT F SG |
Tarsus | to Tarsos | Tarsos | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5019-02 |
Acts 9:30 | Ταρσόν | tarson | N ACC F SG |
Tarsus | Tarsus | Tarsus |
G5019-02 |
Acts 11:25 | Ταρσὸν | tarson | N ACC F SG |
Tarsus | Tarsus | Tarsus |
G5019-01 |
Acts 22:3 | Ταρσῷ | tarso | N DAT F SG |
Tarsus | to Tarsos | Tarsos |