2460. hippeus
Lexical Summary
hippeus: Horseman, Cavalryman

Original Word: ἱππεύς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: hippeus
Pronunciation: hip-PYOOS
Phonetic Spelling: (hip-yooce')
KJV: horseman
NASB: horsemen
Word Origin: [from G2462 (ἵππος - horses)]

1. an equestrian, i.e. member of a cavalry corps

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
horseman.

From hippos; an equestrian, i.e. Member of a cavalry corps -- horseman.

see GREEK hippos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from hippos
Definition
a horseman
NASB Translation
horsemen (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2460: ἱππεύς

ἱππεύς, ἱππέως, (ἵππος), a horseman: Acts 23:23, 32. (From Homer down.)

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scope

Strong’s Greek 2460 designates mounted soldiers—cavalrymen who fought or traveled on horseback. The word appears only twice in the Greek New Testament, each time depicting Roman horsemen assigned to protect the Apostle Paul.

Occurrences in the New Testament

Acts 23:23 records the Roman commander in Jerusalem ordering “two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen” to escort Paul by night to Caesarea. Verse 32 adds that the infantry returned to the fortress once “the horsemen” had taken Paul farther along the way. These twin references demonstrate both the logistical importance of cavalry within Rome’s armies and the exceptional precaution afforded to Paul as a Roman citizen accused by the Sanhedrin.

Historical Context of Roman Cavalry

In the first century, Roman auxiliaries supplied most horsemen. Typically recruited from provinces renowned for equestrian skill (Thrace, Gaul, Spain, and Syria), these troopers served as rapid-response units for reconnaissance, flanking maneuvers, and secure transport of high-value individuals. The detachment stationed in Jerusalem likely belonged to the Cohors I Italica Civium Romanorum, whose presence underscored Rome’s determination to keep peace in a politically volatile city, especially during feasts when pilgrim numbers swelled.

Theological Implications

1. Divine Providence: The Lord used a pagan military system to preserve His chosen servant. The same Paul who would later pen, “I must also see Rome” (Acts 19:21) is here ushered toward that destiny under armed guard. The cavalry, though unaware, became instruments fulfilling God’s larger redemptive plan.
2. Citizenship and the Gospel: Paul’s legal status obliged Roman officials to protect him, illustrating how earthly rights can advance heavenly purposes. Believers are reminded to steward civil privileges wisely for gospel ends (Philippians 1:12-14).
3. Spiritual Warfare Parallel: While physical horsemen shielded Paul, the epistles exhort Christians to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). Physical protection prefigures the greater reality of divine armor securing believers in their mission.

Connection to Old Testament Imagery

Scripture repeatedly portrays horsemen as swift agents of judgment or deliverance:
Exodus 14:23-28 – Pharaoh’s horsemen drown in the Red Sea.
2 Kings 2:11-12 – “the chariots of Israel and its horsemen” symbolize prophetic might.
Zechariah 1:8-10 – patrolling horsemen signify God’s watching over the nations.

The New Testament’s brief use of 2460 evokes this broader canonical motif: God remains sovereign over military powers, directing them for His purposes.

Practical Ministry Insights

• God’s care may appear in unexpected, even secular, forms. The believer should acknowledge His hand in governmental structures when they serve justice (Romans 13:1-4).
• Strategic planning is compatible with trust in God. Paul’s nephew’s warning (Acts 23:16-22) and the commander’s deployment of cavalry show prudent action operating within divine oversight.
• Christian mission often requires movement across political boundaries. Transportation and security—whether ancient horsemen or modern passports—facilitate gospel propagation. Prayerful engagement with such resources furthers kingdom work.

Related Terms and Concepts

• ἱππικόν (hippikon) – “cavalry force”; classical background reinforces the professional nature of the troops in Acts.
• ζεύγνυμι (zeugnymi) – “to yoke”; paired with horses in Septuagint accounts of chariots, accentuating themes of power and speed.
• The rider on the white horse (Revelation 19:11-16) typologically fulfills all earlier imagery: the ultimate Horseman is Christ, conquering in righteousness.

Summary

Strong’s 2460, though sparse in appearance, embodies a rich convergence of historical detail and theological depth. Roman horsemen safeguarded Paul, illustrating God’s sovereignty over political forces and foreshadowing the unstoppable advance of the gospel “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Forms and Transliterations
ιππεις ιππείς ίππεις ἱππεῖς ιππεύοντας ιππευόντων ιππεύς ίππευσε ίππευσεν ιππεύσι ιππεύσιν ιππέων ιππέως hippeis hippeîs ippeis
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 23:23 N-AMP
GRK: Καισαρείας καὶ ἱππεῖς ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ
NAS: with seventy horsemen and two hundred
KJV: and horsemen threescore and ten,
INT: Ceasarea and horsemen seventy and

Acts 23:32 N-AMP
GRK: ἐάσαντες τοὺς ἱππεῖς ἀπέρχεσθαι σὺν
NAS: leaving the horsemen to go
KJV: they left the horsemen to go
INT: having allowed the horsemen to go with

Strong's Greek 2460
2 Occurrences


ἱππεῖς — 2 Occ.

2459
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