Lexical Summary hierosulos: Temple robber, sacrilegious person Original Word: ἱερόσυλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance robber of temples From hieron and sulao; a temple-despoiler -- robber of churches. see GREEK hieron see GREEK sulao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hieros and sulaó Definition robbing temples NASB Translation robbers of temples (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2417: ἱερόσυλοςἱερόσυλος, ἱερόσυλον (from ἱερόν and συλάω), guilty of sacrilege: Acts 19:37 (A. V. robbers of temples; cf. Lightfoot in The Contemp. Rev. for 1878, p. 294f). (2 Macc. 4:42; Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Polybius, Diodorus, others.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Concept Strong’s Greek 2417 designates a “temple-robber,” an individual guilty of sacrilegious theft or desecration of a sanctuary. In Scripture the idea embraces any profanation of what has been consecrated to God, whether by theft, misuse, or irreverent treatment. Occurrence in the New Testament The noun appears once, in Acts 19:37. During the riot at Ephesus the city clerk defends Paul and his companions: “For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess” (Acts 19:37). The single use underscores its gravity in Greco-Roman culture and shows that early Christians were publicly cleared of such a charge. Historical Background 1. Greco-Roman Law. Temple robbery was viewed as a capital offense. Inscriptions from Asia Minor threaten severe punishment, and Roman jurists treated it alongside high crimes such as treason. Old Testament Parallels • Achan’s theft of the devoted items at Jericho (Joshua 7:1-26) shows the seriousness of taking what is “devoted to destruction.” Related New Testament Teaching While 2417 is confined to Acts, its cognate verb appears in Romans 2:22: “You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?”. Paul exposes hypocrisy among those who denounce idolatry yet commit sacrilege themselves. The broader New Testament treats believers as God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16), heightening the ethical weight of any profanation—whether material or spiritual. Theological Significance 1. Holiness of Sacred Things. God’s ownership of what is set apart requires faithful stewardship (Leviticus 27:30). Practical Ministry Applications • Financial Integrity. Handling offerings, benevolence funds, and church property demands scrupulous honesty (2 Corinthians 8:20-21). Summary Strong’s 2417 highlights the abhorrence of sacrilege in both Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds, affirms the innocence of the apostolic witness, and calls every generation to honor what God declares holy—ultimately, to honor Christ and His indwelling presence among His people. Forms and Transliterations ιεροσυλους ιεροσύλους ἱεροσύλους hierosylous hierosýlous ierosulousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |