Strong's Lexicon
theios: Divine, godly
Original Word:θεῖος
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:theios
Pronunciation:thay'-os
Phonetic Spelling:(thi'-os)
Definition:Divine, godly
Meaning:divine; subst: the Deity.
Word Origin:Derived from θεός (theos), meaning "God."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries:While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "theios," the concept of divinity is often expressed in the Old Testament through terms like אֱלֹהִים (Elohim, Strong's H430) and קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh, Strong's H6918), which denote God's holiness and divine nature.
Usage:The term "theios" is used in the New Testament to describe something that pertains to or is characteristic of God. It conveys the idea of divinity or godliness, often highlighting the divine nature or attributes. In the context of the New Testament, it underscores the divine power and nature that believers are called to partake in through their relationship with God.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of divinity was often associated with the pantheon of gods and their attributes. The use of "theios" in the New Testament, however, is distinct in that it refers specifically to the one true God of Israel and His divine nature. This term would have resonated with both Jewish and Gentile audiences, emphasizing the unique and supreme nature of the Christian God compared to the polytheistic beliefs prevalent at the time.
HELPS Word-studies
2304theíos (an adjective, derived from2316/theós, "God") –divine, manifestingthe characteristics of God's nature.
2304/theíos ("divine nature") ties God's essence to Hisself-manifestation,permitting all people to know Him by observing Hisattributes.
[See also the discussion of: general revelation (cf.2304/theíos) and special revelation (cf.2320/theótēs) at601/apokalýptō ("reveal") and602/apokálypsis ("revelation").]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
theosDefinitiondivine
NASB Translationdivine (2), divine nature (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2304: θεῖοςθεῖος,
θεία,
θεῖον (
Θεός) (from
Homer down),
divine:
ἡθείαδύναμις,
2 Peter 1:3;
φύσις (
Diodorus 5, 31),
2 Peter 1:4; neuter
τόθεῖον,
divinity, deity (Latin
numendivinum), not only used by the Greeks to denote the divine nature, power, providence, in the general, without reference to any individual deity (as
Herodotus 3, 108;
Thucydides 5, 70;
Xenophon, Cyril 4, 2, 15; Hell. 7, 5, 13; mem. 1,4, 18;
Plato, Phaedr., p. 242c.;
Polybius 32, 25, 7;
Diodorus 1, 6; 13, 3; 12; 16, 60;
Lucian, de sacrif. 1; pro imagg. 13, 17. 28), but also by
Philo (as in mundi opff. § 61; de agric. 17; leg. ad
Galatians 1), and by
Josephus (Antiquities, 1, 3, 4; 11, 1; 2, 12, 4; 5, 2, 7; 11, 5, 1; 12, 6, 3; 7, 3; 13, 8, 2; 10, 7; 14, 9, 5; 17, 2, 4; 20, 11, 2;
b. j. 3, 8, 3; 4, 3, 10), of the one, true God; hence, most appositely employed by Paul, out of regard for Gentile usage, in
Acts 17:29.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
godlike, divine, godhead.Fromtheos; godlike (neuter as noun, divinity): - divine, godhead.
see GREEKtheos
Forms and Transliterations
θείαν θειας θείας θειον θείον θεῖον theias theías theion theîonLinks
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