Berean Strong's Lexicon speira: Cohort, band, company Original Word: σπεῖρα Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb σπείρω (speirō), meaning "to sow" or "to scatter." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "speira," the concept of a military unit or group can be related to terms like חַיִל (chayil), meaning "army" or "force." Usage: In the New Testament, "speira" refers to a Roman military unit known as a cohort. A cohort was a subdivision of a Roman legion and typically consisted of about 600 soldiers, though the number could vary. The term is used to describe a group of soldiers or a band of men, often in the context of those who were involved in significant events, such as the arrest of Jesus. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Roman military system, a legion was composed of several cohorts. Each cohort was further divided into centuries, led by a centurion. The presence of a "speira" in the New Testament reflects the Roman occupation of Judea during the time of Jesus. Roman soldiers were a common sight and played a crucial role in maintaining order and enforcing Roman law. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition anything wound up or coiled, by ext. a body (of soldiers), i.e. a cohort NASB Translation cohort (7). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4686: σπεῖρασπεῖρα (on the accent cf. Buttmann, 11; Chandler § 161; Tdf. Proleg., p. 102), ἡ, genitive σπείρης (Acts 10:1; Acts 21:31; Acts 27:1; see (Tdf. Proleg., p. 117; WH's Appendix, p. 156; and) μάχαιρα, at the beginning) (cognate with σπυρίς (which see)); a. Latinspira; anything rolled into a circle or ball, anything wound, rolled up, folded together. b. a military cohort (Polybius 11, 23, 1 τρεῖς σπείρας. τοῦτο δέ καλεῖται τό σύνταγμα τῶν πεζῶν παρά Ῥωμαίοις κωρτις), i. e. the tenth part of a legion (i. e. about 600 men (i. e. legionaries), or if auxilialies either 500 or 1,000; cf. Marquardt, Römisch. Alterth. III. ii., p. 371. But surely τοῦτο τό σύνταγμα in the quotation comprehends the τρεῖς σπεῖρα; hence, Polybius here makes a σπεῖρα equal to a maniple, cf. 2, 3, 2; 6, 24, 5; cf. Zonaras, Lex., p. 1664, σπεῖρα σύνταγμα διακοσίων ἀνδρῶν. On the other hand, "the later Greek writings almost uniformly employ σπεῖρα as the representative of cohors" (Smith, Dict. of Antiq., edition 2, under the word exercitus, p. 500); and the rise of χιλίαρχος (which was the equivalent of tribunus, the commander of a cohort) in connection with it (John 18:12; Acts 21:31), together with the uniform rendering of the word by cohors in the Latin versions, warrants the margin cohort uniformly added in R. V. to the rendering band): Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16; Acts 10:1; Acts 21:31; Acts 27:1, and often in Josephus; a maniple, or the thirtieth part of a legion, often so in Polybius ((see above)); any band, company, or detachment, of soldiers (2 Macc. 8:23; Judith 14:11): John 18:3, 12. Of immediate Latin origin, but ultimately a derivative of haireomai in the sense of its cognate heilisso; a coil (spira, "spire"), i.e. (figuratively) a mass of men (a Roman military cohort; also (by analogy) a squad of Levitical janitors) -- band. see GREEK heilisso see GREEK haireomai Englishman's Concordance Matthew 27:27 N-AFSGRK: ὅλην τὴν σπεῖραν NAS: the whole [Roman] cohort around KJV: him the whole band [of soldiers]. INT: all the battalion Mark 15:16 N-AFS John 18:3 N-AFS John 18:12 N-NFS Acts 10:1 N-GFS Acts 21:31 N-GFS Acts 27:1 N-GFS Strong's Greek 4686 |
|
