1676. Hellénisti

Lexicon

Hellénisti: Hellenist

Original Word: Ἑλληνιστής
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: Hellénisti
Pronunciation: hel-lay-nis-TEES
Phonetic Spelling: (hel-lay-nis-tee')
Definition: Hellenist
Meaning: in the Greek language.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Greek.

Adverb from the same as Hellenistes; Hellenistically, i.e. In the Grecian language -- Greek.

see GREEK Hellenistes

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
adverb from the same as Hellénistés
Definition
in Greek
NASB Translation
Greek (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1676: Ἑλληνιστί

Ἑλληνιστί, adverb (ἑλληνίζω), in Greek, i. e. in the Greek language: John 19:20; Acts 21:37. (Xenophon, an. 7, 6, 8; others.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from Ἕλλην (Hellēn), meaning "Greek."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent for Ἑλληνιστής, as it specifically refers to Greek-speaking Jews. However, the concept of Jews living outside of Israel and adopting foreign customs can be related to terms describing the Jewish Diaspora, such as גּוֹלָה (gôlāh, Strong's Hebrew 1473) for "exile" or "captivity."

Usage: The term Ἑλληνιστής is used in the New Testament to refer to Jews who spoke Greek and were influenced by Greek culture, as opposed to those who spoke Hebrew or Aramaic. It appears in contexts where distinctions between different Jewish communities are highlighted.

Context: The term Ἑλληνιστής appears in the New Testament in the context of the early Christian church, specifically in the Book of Acts. It is used to describe a group of Jews who were part of the Diaspora and had adopted the Greek language and, to some extent, Greek customs. These Hellenistic Jews were distinct from the Hebraic Jews, who maintained traditional Jewish customs and spoke Hebrew or Aramaic.

In Acts 6:1, the term is used to describe a conflict within the early church: "In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenistic Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food." This passage highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity within the early Christian community and the challenges it posed.

The Hellenists played a significant role in the spread of Christianity beyond the confines of traditional Jewish communities. Their familiarity with Greek culture and language enabled them to bridge the gap between Jewish and Gentile worlds, facilitating the spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

The presence of Hellenistic Jews in the early church underscores the inclusive nature of the Christian message, which transcended cultural and linguistic barriers. The appointment of deacons, including Stephen, a Hellenist, to address the needs of the community, reflects the church's commitment to unity and equitable treatment of all its members.

Forms and Transliterations

Ελληνιστι Ἑλληνιστί Ἑλληνιστὶ Ellenisti Ellēnisti Hellenisti Hellenistí Hellenistì Hellēnisti Hellēnistí Hellēnistì

Englishman's Concordance

John 19:20 Adv
GRK: Ἐβραϊστί Ῥωμαϊστί Ἑλληνιστί
NAS: in Hebrew, Latin [and] in Greek.
KJV: in Hebrew, [and] Greek, [and] Latin.
INT: in Aramaic in Latin in Greek

Acts 21:37 Adv
GRK: δὲ ἔφη Ἑλληνιστὶ γινώσκεις
NAS: Do you know Greek?
KJV: said, Canst thou speak Greek?
INT: moreover said Greek do you know

Strong's Greek 1676
2 Occurrences

Ἑλληνιστί — 2 Occ.