Strong's Lexicon deisidaimonesteros: Very religious, superstitious Original Word: δεισιδαιμονέστερος Word Origin: Comparative form of δεισιδαίμων (deisidaimōn), from δειδω (deidō, "to fear") and δαίμων (daimōn, "deity" or "demon") Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to "deisidaimonesteros," the concept of misguided religiosity or superstition can be related to Hebrew terms like "עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה" (avodah zarah, "foreign worship" or "idolatry"). Usage: The term "deisidaimonesteros" is used to describe someone who is very religious or superstitious. In the context of the New Testament, it often carries a connotation of excessive or misguided religiosity, particularly in relation to the worship of false gods or adherence to superstitions rather than true faith in the one true God. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, religion was deeply intertwined with daily life, and people often worshipped a pantheon of gods and engaged in various religious rituals and superstitions. The term "deisidaimonesteros" reflects this cultural context, where being religious could mean a devotion to multiple deities and adherence to various superstitious practices. The Apostle Paul, when addressing the Athenians, used this term to acknowledge their religiosity while pointing them towards the truth of the Gospel. HELPS Word-studies 1174 deisidaimonésteros (from deidō, "to dread" and daimōn, "a deity") – properly, religious (superstitious) fear, driven by a confused concept of God – producing "sincere" but very misdirected religion. Indeed, this is the mark of heathenism. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origincptv. of deisidaimón (fearing the gods); from deidó (to fear) and daimón Definition very fearful of gods, religious, superstitious. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1174: δεισιδαίμωνδεισιδαίμων, δεισιδαιμον, genitive δεισιδαιμονος (δείδω to fear, and δαίμων deity), fearing the deity or deities, like the Latinreligiosus; used either 1. in a good sense, reverencing god or the gods, pious, religious: Xenophon, Cyril 3, 3, 58; Ages. 11, 8; Aristotle, pol. 5, 11 (p. 1315a, 1); or 2. in a bad sense, superstitious: Theophrastus, char. 16 (22); Diodorus 1, 62; 4, 51; Plutarch, de adul. c. 16; de superstit. c. 10f Paul in the opening of his address to the Athenians, Acts 17:22, calls them, with kindly ambiguity, κατά πάντα δεισιδαιμονεστέρους (namely, than the rest of the Greeks (Winer's Grammar, 244 (229)), cf. Meyer at the passage), as being devout without the knowledge of the true God; cf. Bengel at the passage. The compound of a derivative of the base of deilos and daimon; more religious than others -- too superstitious. see GREEK deilos see GREEK daimon Englishman's Concordance Acts 17:22 Adj-AMP-CGRK: πάντα ὡς δεισιδαιμονεστέρους ὑμᾶς θεωρῶ KJV: all things ye are too superstitious. INT: all things that very religious you I behold |
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