Βλάστος
Blástos
G986 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Blastus, a personal name used in the New Testament to designate an individual who served as an official or attendant (specifically, a chamberlain or court official) in the household of Herod Agrippa I. The name may etymologically suggest 'shoot, sprout,' but in this context functions as a Hellenistic personal name with no overt connection to its literal root sense. The semantic range is limited within the New Testament to the referent of the named individual.
Semantic Range
Blastus (personal name); no evidence for use in the sense 'sprout' or 'growth' in the New Testament context; used exclusively as a name for an official in Herod Agrippa's household
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Greek noun βλάστος, meaning 'shoot, sprout, young growth'; ultimately from the root βλαστ- of the verb βλαστάνω, 'to sprout or germinate.' The given name likely originated as a metaphorical expression, perhaps indicating youth, vigor, or new life, but functions simply as a personal name in documented usage. There is no evidence for a Hebrew or Aramaic origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Blastus appears only in Acts 12:20, identified as the chamberlain (οἰκέτης, 'servant' or 'attendant') of Herod Agrippa I. The usage is strictly as a proper noun and does not carry the semantic range of the common noun or verb relating to 'sprout' or 'growth.' The name reflects a common tendency in the Hellenistic and Roman periods to employ names derived from natural phenomena (e.g., flora, fauna). Septuagint and earlier Greek literature do not attest to the use of Βλάστος as a proper name; its use in Acts matches onomastic patterns of the era. English translations often transliterate the name directly as 'Blastus,' reflecting its status as an individual’s name. There is no evidence that the personal name was associated with Judean or Israelite cultural identity. The character is documented within the political context of Herod Agrippa’s court at Caesarea.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps the same as the base of βλαστάνω; Blastus, an officer of Herod Agrippa:--Blastus.
Root Family
Βλάστος (Blastos) — personal name; originally shoot, sprout, young growth
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G986-01 |
Βλάστον | blaston | N ACC M SG |
Blastus | Blastus | Blastos | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G986-01 |
Acts 12:20 | Βλάστον | blaston | N ACC M SG |
Blastus | Blastus | Blastos |