2416. hierosuleó

Lexicon

hierosuleó: To commit sacrilege, to rob temples

Original Word: ἱεροσυλέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hierosuleó
Pronunciation: hee-er-os-oo-leh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (hee-er-os-ool-eh'-o)
Definition: To commit sacrilege, to rob temples
Meaning: I commit sacrilege, rob a temple.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

rob temples, commit sacrilege.

From hierosulos; to be a temple-robber (figuratively) -- commit sacrilege.

see GREEK hierosulos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from hierosulos
Definition
to rob a temple
NASB Translation
rob temples (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2416: ἱεροσυλέω

ἱεροσυλέω, ἱεροσύλω; (ἱερόσυλος, which see); to commit sacrilege, to rob a temple: Romans 2:22, where the meaning is, 'thou who abhorrest idols and their contamination, dost yet not hesitate to plunder their shrines'; cf. Fritzsche (and Delitzsch) at the passage (Aristophanes, Plato, Demosthenes, others.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from ἱερός (hieros, meaning "sacred" or "holy") and συλάω (sulaō, meaning "to rob" or "to plunder").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἱεροσυλέω, the concept of sacrilege or desecration of sacred spaces can be related to several Hebrew terms that describe similar actions or attitudes, such as:

• חָלַל (chalal) • to profane or defile (Strong's Hebrew 2490)
• גָּזַל (gazal) • to rob or plunder (Strong's Hebrew 1497)

These Hebrew terms capture the essence of violating what is considered sacred, paralleling the Greek concept of ἱεροσυλέω in the context of religious and moral law.

Usage: The term ἱεροσυλέω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of desecrating or plundering sacred places, particularly temples. It conveys a sense of violating what is considered holy or sacred.

Context: The Greek term ἱεροσυλέω appears in the New Testament in the context of discussions about the law and the behavior of those who claim to uphold it. In Romans 2:22, the Apostle Paul addresses the hypocrisy of those who boast in the law yet dishonor God by breaking it, including the act of committing sacrilege. The verse reads: "You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?" (BSB). Here, Paul uses ἱεροσυλέω to highlight the inconsistency between professed beliefs and actual conduct, emphasizing the gravity of violating sacred spaces. The act of temple robbery was not only a legal offense but also a profound moral and religious transgression, reflecting a deep disrespect for the divine.

In the broader cultural and historical context of the Greco-Roman world, temples were not only places of worship but also repositories of wealth and treasures. The act of robbing a temple was seen as an affront to the deity to whom the temple was dedicated, and it carried severe social and religious consequences. The use of ἱεροσυλέω in the New Testament underscores the importance of integrity and reverence for what is holy, serving as a warning against hypocrisy and the desecration of sacred things.

Forms and Transliterations

ιεροσυλεις ιεροσυλείς ἱεροσυλεῖς hierosyleis hierosyleîs ierosuleis

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 2:22 V-PIA-2S
GRK: τὰ εἴδωλα ἱεροσυλεῖς
NAS: idols, do you rob temples?
KJV: idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
INT: the idols do you commit sacrilege

Strong's Greek 2416
1 Occurrence

ἱεροσυλεῖς — 1 Occ.