Χίος
Chíos
G5508 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Chíos, a proper noun referring to the island of Chios, located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. The term is used strictly as a geographical designation for this particular island, without metaphorical or extended senses in Greek literature or biblical contexts.
Semantic Range
Chios (the island in the Aegean Sea); a specific geographical location (proper noun); occasionally, by extension, the city of Chios on the island
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The origin of the name Χίος is obscure; it appears as the ancient Greek name for the island and its city from archaic times. It is not transparently derived from a known Greek root, nor is it clearly of pre-Greek or foreign origin based on current evidence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Χίος is attested from the earliest archaic Greek sources (e.g., Homeric Hymns, classical historians), always as the name of the Aegean island off the western coast of Asia Minor. In Hellenistic and Roman periods, it referred both to the island and its main city. In Acts 20:15, it appears as a place visited by Paul on his return journey. English translations sometimes retain the transliterated form 'Chios,' matching ancient and modern practice. The term is not used to denote the inhabitants (who would be Χῖοι, Chioi) nor is it used metaphorically. Its appearance is rare in the Septuagint and the New Testament, occurring only as a locative reference in travel narratives. There is no contrast with other regional terms as Χίος only denotes the geographic entity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; Chios, an island in the Mediterranean:--Chios.
Root Family
Χίος (Chios) — island, geographic locality
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5508-01 |
Χίου | chiou | N GEN F SG |
Chios | of Chios | Chios | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5508-01 |
Acts 20:15 | Χίου | chiou | N GEN F SG |
Chios | of Chios | Chios |