ὑπερῷον (G5253) — Greek Lexicon

ὑπερῷον

hyperōion

G5253 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An upper room or chamber, especially the elevated part of a house or building used for various purposes such as eating, gathering, or sleeping. While its primary sense is an upper-level space, it can also refer to a specific room on the top floor of a private dwelling, often used for communal or formal gatherings.

Semantic Range

upper room, attic, upstairs chamber, elevated living space, upper story, apartment on the top floor

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ὑπέρ (above, over) with the noun-forming suffix -ῷον, denoting a space or room; literally, 'the above space' or 'the space above.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὑπερῷον refers generically to the upper part of a house, frequently the upper story or attic, used for storage or as living quarters. In Hellenistic and NT Greek, especially in urban dwellings, the term describes an upper room accessible by stairs, notable for privacy and sometimes set apart for special occasions (e.g., meals, assemblies). In the Septuagint, it translates Hebrew עֲלִיָּה (ʿăliyâ, 'upper room'), a room used for prayer, hospitality, or seclusion (cf. 1 Kings 17:19, Daniel 6:11). In the New Testament, it refers specifically to a large upstairs room in Jerusalem where important meetings or meals were held (e.g., the 'upper room' of Acts 1:13, associated with the Last Supper and post-resurrection gatherings). The English translation 'upper room' reflects this tradition, but does not always capture the architectural specifics or sociocultural usage of the term, which may imply a private, sometimes rented, space above a main residence rather than a formal dining hall or temple chamber. The term does not inherently signify any religious function, though key events in early Jesus movement narratives take place in such rooms. Its usage overlaps with other terms for elevated domestic spaces but is distinct from terms used for public halls or temple precincts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a derivative of ὑπέρ; a higher part of the house, i.e. apartment in the third story:--upper chamber (room).

Root Family

ὑπερ- (hypér) — over, above, on behalf of, for the sake of, beyond, more than

Root ὑπερ- above, over, upper

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G5228	ὑπέρ	on behalf of

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5253-01`	ὑπερῴῳ	uperoo	`N DAT N SG`	upper room	in the upper room	the upper room	2
`G5253-02`	ὑπερῷον	uperoon	`N ACC N SG`	upper room	upper room	upper room	2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5253-02`	Acts 1:13	ὑπερῷον	uperoon	`N ACC N SG`	upper-room	upper room	upper room
`G5253-01`	Acts 9:37	ὑπερῴῳ	uperoo	`N DAT N SG`	upper room	in the upper room	the upper room
`G5253-02`	Acts 9:39	ὑπερῷον	uperoon	`N ACC N SG`	upper room	upper room	upper room
`G5253-01`	Acts 20:8	ὑπερῴῳ	uperoo	`N DAT N SG`	upper room	in the upper room	upper room

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