3097. magos

Lexicon

magos: Magi, wise men

Original Word: μάγος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: magos
Pronunciation: MAH-gos
Phonetic Spelling: (mag'-os)
Definition: Magi, wise men
Meaning: a sorcerer, a magician, a wizard.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

sorcerer, magician

Of foreign origin (Rab-Mag); a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician -- sorcerer, wise man.

see HEBREW Rab-Mag

HELPS Word-studies

3097 mágos (plural, magi) – properly, belonging to "the Magoi, a Median tribe (so Herodotus); a Magian, one of a sacred caste, originally Median, who seem to have conformed to the Persian religion, while retaining some of their old beliefs (v. DB, I vol., 565 f.; DB, iii, 203 ff.): Mt 2:1,7,16; a wizard, sorcerer: Ac 13:6,8" (Abbott-Smith).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Pers. origin, cf. Rab-mag
Definition
a Magian, i.e. an (Oriental) astrologer, by impl. a magician
NASB Translation
magi (4), magician (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3097: μάγος

μάγος, μαγου, ὁ (Hebrew מַג, plural מָגִים; a word of Indo-Germanic origin; cf. Gesenius, Thesaurus, ii., p. 786; J. G. Müller in Herzog viii., p. 678; (Vanicek, Fremdwörter, under the word; but the word is now regarded by many as of Babylonian origin; see Schrader, Keilinschriften as above with 2te Aufl., p. 417ff)); from Sophocles and Herodotus down; the Sept. Daniel 2:2 and several times in Theod. ad Dan. for אַשָׁף; a magus; the name given by the Babylonians (Chaldaeans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augurs, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.; cf. Winers RWB, under the word; J. G. Müller in Herzog, the passage cited, pp. 675-685; Holtzmann in Schenkel iv., p. 84f; (BB. DD., under the word ). In the N. T. the name is given:

1. to the oriental wise men (astrologers) who, having discovered by the rising of a remarkable star (see ἀστήρ, and cf. Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, i. 209ff) that the Messiah had just been born, came to Jerusalem to worship him: Matthew 2:1, 7, 16.

2. to false prophets and sorcerers: Acts 13:6, 8,cf. 8:9,11.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Of Persian origin; related to the Old Persian "magush," referring to a member of the priestly caste.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H7248 רַב־מָג (rab-mag): Chief of the magi or chief astrologer.
• H2748 חַרְטֹם (chartom): Magician or astrologer, often used in the context of the Egyptian magicians in the book of Exodus.

This entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the term μάγος as it appears in the New Testament, emphasizing its historical and theological significance.

Usage: The term μάγος is used in the New Testament to describe the wise men from the East who visited Jesus after His birth. It is found in the Gospel of Matthew.

Context: The term μάγος appears in the New Testament in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically in the account of the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus. These individuals are described as coming from the East, likely from regions such as Persia or Babylon, where the magi were known as a priestly caste skilled in astrology, astronomy, and the interpretation of dreams.

In Matthew 2:1-12, the magi are depicted as following a star that led them to Jerusalem, where they inquired about the newborn "King of the Jews." Their journey signifies the recognition of Jesus' kingship by Gentiles, highlighting the universal scope of His mission. Upon finding Jesus, they worshiped Him and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, each symbolizing aspects of His identity and future: gold for kingship, frankincense for divinity, and myrrh for suffering and death.

The magi's visit fulfills Old Testament prophecies that speak of nations coming to the light of Israel (e.g., Isaiah 60:3). Their story underscores themes of divine guidance, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the acknowledgment of Jesus' messianic role by non-Jewish figures.

Forms and Transliterations

εμαδάρωσα μαγοι μάγοι μαγον μάγον μαγος μάγος μαγους μάγους μαγων μάγων μαδήση μαδών magoi mágoi magon magōn mágon mágōn magos mágos magous mágous

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 2:1 N-NMP
GRK: βασιλέως ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν
NAS: the king, magi from the east
KJV: there came wise men from
INT: king behold magi from [the] east

Matthew 2:7 N-AMP
GRK: καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσεν παρ'
NAS: called the magi and determined
KJV: called the wise men, enquired
INT: having called the magi inquired earnestly of

Matthew 2:16 N-GMP
GRK: ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων ἐθυμώθη λίαν
NAS: that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very
KJV: of the wise men, was exceeding
INT: by the magi was enraged greatly

Matthew 2:16 N-GMP
GRK: παρὰ τῶν μάγων
NAS: which he had determined from the magi.
KJV: of the wise men.
INT: from the magi

Acts 13:6 N-AMS
GRK: ἄνδρα τινὰ μάγον ψευδοπροφήτην Ἰουδαῖον
NAS: they found a magician, a Jewish
KJV: a certain sorcerer, a false prophet,
INT: a fellow a certain magician a false prophet a Jew

Acts 13:8 N-NMS
GRK: Ἐλύμας ὁ μάγος οὕτως γὰρ
NAS: But Elymas the magician (for so
KJV: But Elymas the sorcerer (for so
INT: Elymas the magician thus indeed

Strong's Greek 3097
6 Occurrences

μάγων — 2 Occ.
μάγοι — 1 Occ.
μάγον — 1 Occ.
μάγος — 1 Occ.
μάγους — 1 Occ.