3318. Mesopotamia

Lexicon

Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia

Original Word: Μεσοποταμία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Mesopotamia
Pronunciation: meh-so-po-tah-MEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (mes-op-ot-am-ee'-ah)
Definition: Mesopotamia
Meaning: Mesopotamia, the Country between the (two) Rivers, i.e. the Euphrates and the Tigris.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Mesopotamia.

From mesos and potamos; Mesopotamia (as lying between the Euphrates and the Tigris; compare 'Aram Naharayim), a region of Asia -- Mesopotamia.

see GREEK mesos

see GREEK potamos

see HEBREW 'Aram Naharayim

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from mesos and potamos
Definition
Mesopotamia, a region through which the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow
NASB Translation
Mesopotamia (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3318: Μεσοποταμία

Μεσοποταμία, Μεσοποταμίας, ἡ (feminine of μεσοποτάμιος, Μεσοποταμία, μεσοποταμιον, namely, χώρα; from μέσος and ποταμός), Mesopotamia, the name, not so much political as geographical (scarcely in use before the time of Alexander the Great), of a region in Asia, lying between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris (whence it took its name; cf. Arrian. anab. Alex. 7, 7; Tar. ann. 6, 37; נַהֲרַיִם אֲרַם, Aram of the two rivers, Genesis 24:10), bounded on the north by the range of Taurus and on the south by the Persian Gulf; many Jews bad settled in it (Josephus, Antiquities 12, 3, 4): Acts 2:9; Acts 7:2. (Cf. Socin in Encycl. Brit. edition 9, under the word; Rawlinson, Herodotus, vol. i. Essay ix.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek words μέσος (mesos), meaning "middle," and ποταμός (potamos), meaning "river." Thus, Μεσοποταμία literally means "between the rivers."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H5102 נָהָר (nahar) • river
• H5104 נָהָר (nahar) • river, stream
• H6578 פְּרָת (Perath) • Euphrates
• H2315 חִדֶּקֶל (Chiddekel) • Tigris

These Hebrew entries correspond to the rivers that define the Mesopotamian region, emphasizing its geographical and historical context within the biblical narrative.

Usage: The term Μεσοποταμία is used in the New Testament to refer to the geographical region known as Mesopotamia. It appears in the context of describing the origins of certain people or events.

Context: Mesopotamia, as referenced in the New Testament, is a significant geographical and historical region situated in the Near East. It is often recognized as the "land between the rivers," specifically the Tigris and Euphrates. This area is known for its rich history and is considered one of the earliest centers of human civilization, giving rise to ancient cultures such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.

In the New Testament, Mesopotamia is mentioned in Acts 2:9, where it is listed among the regions from which Jews had come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost: "Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia" (BSB). This reference highlights the diverse origins of the Jewish diaspora present in Jerusalem during this significant event, underscoring the widespread influence and reach of Jewish communities across the ancient world.

The historical and cultural significance of Mesopotamia is further underscored by its role in the Old Testament narratives, where it is often associated with the patriarchal stories, including the journey of Abraham, who originated from Ur of the Chaldeans, a city located in southern Mesopotamia.

Forms and Transliterations

Μεσοποταμια Μεσοποταμίᾳ Μεσοποταμιαν Μεσοποταμίαν Mesopotamia Mesopotamíāi Mesopotamian Mesopotamían

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 2:9 N-AFS
GRK: κατοικοῦντες τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν Ἰουδαίαν τε
NAS: and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea
KJV: the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and
INT: inhabit Mesopotamia Judea also

Acts 7:2 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ πρὶν ἢ
NAS: Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before
KJV: when he was in Mesopotamia, before he
INT: in Mesopotamia before than

Strong's Greek 3318
2 Occurrences

Μεσοποταμίᾳ — 1 Occ.
Μεσοποταμίαν — 1 Occ.