1200. desmophulax

Lexicon

desmophulax: Jailer, Prison Keeper

Original Word: δεσμοφύλαξ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: desmophulax
Pronunciation: des-mo-foo'-lax
Phonetic Spelling: (des-mof-oo'-lax)
Definition: Jailer, Prison Keeper
Meaning: a keeper of a prison, a jailer.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

jailor, keeper of the prison.

From desmon and phulax; a jailer (as guarding the prisoners) -- jailor, keeper of the prison.

see GREEK desmon

see GREEK phulax

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from desmos and phulax
Definition
a prison keeper
NASB Translation
jailer (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1200: δεσμοφύλαξ

δεσμοφύλαξ, δεσμοφυλακος, ὁ (δεσμός and φύλαξ, like θησαυροφύλαξ (cf. with 100 (95))), a keeper of a prison, a jailer: Acts 16:23, 27, 36. (Josephus, Antiquities 2, 5, 1; Lucian, Tox. 30; (Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 3, 60; others); ἀρχιδεσμοφύλαξ, Genesis 39:21-23.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From δεσμός (desmos, meaning "bond" or "chain") and φύλαξ (phylax, meaning "guard" or "keeper").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for δεσμοφύλαξ, similar roles can be found in the Old Testament, such as the "keeper of the prison" (e.g., Genesis 39:21-23, where Joseph is in prison in Egypt). The Hebrew term סֹהֵר (soher) can be considered analogous, as it refers to a prison official or overseer.

Usage: The term δεσμοφύλαξ is used in the New Testament to refer to a person who is in charge of guarding prisoners, typically within a prison setting.

Context: The term δεσμοφύλαξ appears in the New Testament in the context of the early Christian church's interactions with Roman authorities. It is notably used in Acts 16:23-27, where Paul and Silas are imprisoned in Philippi. The jailer, or δεσμοφύλαξ, is tasked with securing them in the inner prison and fastening their feet in stocks. During the night, an earthquake opens the prison doors, and the jailer, fearing the escape of the prisoners, is about to take his own life. However, Paul intervenes, assuring him that all the prisoners are present. This event leads to the jailer's conversion and baptism, along with his household, highlighting the transformative power of faith and the early church's mission.

The role of the δεσμοφύλαξ in the Roman world was significant, as they were responsible for maintaining order and security within the prison. Their duties included ensuring that prisoners did not escape and that they were kept in accordance with the legal requirements of the time. The account in Acts underscores the tension between the nascent Christian movement and the established Roman order, as well as the personal transformations that occurred through encounters with the Gospel.

Forms and Transliterations

δεσμοφυλακι δεσμοφύλακι δεσμοφυλαξ δεσμοφύλαξ desmophulaki desmophulax desmophylaki desmophýlaki desmophylax desmophýlax

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 16:23 N-DMS
GRK: παραγγείλαντες τῷ δεσμοφύλακι ἀσφαλῶς τηρεῖν
NAS: commanding the jailer to guard
KJV: charging the jailor to keep
INT: having charged the jailor safely to keep

Acts 16:27 N-NMS
GRK: γενόμενος ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ καὶ ἰδὼν
NAS: When the jailer awoke and saw
KJV: And the keeper of the prison awaking
INT: having been the jailor and having seen

Acts 16:36 N-NMS
GRK: δὲ ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ τοὺς λόγους
NAS: And the jailer reported these
KJV: And the keeper of the prison told this
INT: moreover the jailor the words

Strong's Greek 1200
3 Occurrences

δεσμοφύλακι — 1 Occ.
δεσμοφύλαξ — 2 Occ.