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Φῆστος

Phēstos

G5347 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper name; referring to Porcius Festus, a Roman official who served as the procurator (governor) of Judea in the mid-first century CE. As a personal name, it does not directly carry a lexical meaning within Greek but signifies an individual bearing this name, especially known from the context of Acts in the New Testament.

Semantic Range

(proper noun) Porcius Festus, Roman governor; does not function with a lexical sense beyond a personal name

Root / Etymology

The name is of Latin origin, from the cognomen 'Festus,' which is generally associated with notions of festivity or being 'festal.' It is not of Greek derivation and is simply transliterated into Greek script as Φῆστος.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the New Testament, Φῆστος refers solely to Porcius Festus, who succeeded Antonius Felix as governor of Judea (ca. 59–62 CE, see Josephus, Antiquities 20.182). The term does not have a broader usage in Greek literature, being a proper noun. In Acts (chs. 24–26), he plays a key role in the legal proceedings involving Paul. The name was common in Latin-speaking Roman contexts, where 'Festus' was a relatively frequent cognomen. English translations usually transliterate Φῆστος as 'Festus,' which accurately reproduces the Latin name. The proper function of the Greek is as a phonetic rendering of the Latin and not as a descriptive term in Greek or Hellenistic context. There is no evidence for any lexical or theological meaning attached to the Greek form beyond identification of the Roman procurator.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Latin derivation; festal; Phestus (i.e. Festus), a Roman:--Festus.

Root Family

Φῆστος (Phēstos) — proper name, personal name

Root uncertain proper name, personal name

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5347-04 Φῆστος phestos N NOM M SG Festus Festus Phestos 7
G5347-03 Φῆστον pheston N ACC M SG Festus Festus Phestos 3
G5347-02 Φήστῳ phesto N DAT M SG Festus to Festus Phestos 1
G5347-05 Φήστου phestou N GEN M SG Festus of Festus Phestos 1
G5347-01 Φῆστε pheste N VOC M SG Festus Festus Phestos 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5347-03 Acts 24:27 Φῆστον pheston N ACC M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-04 Acts 25:1 Φῆστος phestos N NOM M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-04 Acts 25:4 Φῆστος phestos N NOM M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-04 Acts 25:9 Φῆστος phestos N NOM M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-04 Acts 25:12 Φῆστος phestos N NOM M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-03 Acts 25:13 Φῆστον pheston N ACC M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-04 Acts 25:14 Φῆστος phestos N NOM M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-03 Acts 25:22 Φῆστον pheston N ACC M SG Festus Festus Phestos
G5347-05 Acts 25:23 Φήστου phestou N GEN M SG Festus of Festus Phestos
G5347-04 Acts 25:24 Φῆστος phestos N NOM M SG Festus Festus Phestos
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