4716. stauros
Lexicon
stauros: Cross

Original Word: σταυρός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: stauros
Pronunciation: stow-ros'
Phonetic Spelling: (stow-ros')
Definition: Cross
Meaning: a cross.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cross.

From the base of histemi; a stake or post (as set upright), i.e. (specially), a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively, exposure to death, i.e. Self-denial; by implication, the atonement of Christ -- cross.

see GREEK histemi

HELPS Word-studies

4716 staurós – the crosspiece of a Roman cross; the cross-beam (Latin, patibulum) placed at the top of the vertical member to form a capital "T." "This transverse beam was the one carried by the criminal" (Souter).

Christ was crucified on a literal Roman cross (4716 /staurós). 4716 /staurós ("cross") is also used figuratively for the cross (sacrifice) each believer bears to be a true follower-of-Christ (Mt 10:38, 16:24, etc.). The cross represents unspeakable pain, humiliation and suffering – and ironically is also the symbol of infinite love! At the cross, Jesus won our salvation – which is free but certainly not cheap! For more discussion on the untold suffering of Christ on the cross see 4717 /stauróō ("to crucify on a cross").

[The "cross" (Mk 8:34) is not a symbol for suffering in general. Rather it refers to withstanding persecution (difficult times), by the Lord's power, as He directs the circumstances of life. As Christ's disciples, believers are to hold true – even when attacked by the ungodly.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as histémi
Definition
an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
NASB Translation
cross (27).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4716: σταυρός

σταυρός, σταυροῦ, (from ἵστημι (root sta); cf. Latinstauro, English staff (see Skeat, Etymological Dictionary, under the word); Curtius, § 216; Vanicek, p. 1126);

1. an upright stake, especially a pointed one (Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon).

2. a cross;

a. the well-known instrument of most cruel and ignominious punishment, borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Phoenicians; to it were affixed among the Romans, down to the time of Constantine the Great, the guiltiest criminals, particularly the basest slaves, robbers, the authors and abetters of insurrections, and occasionally in the provinces, at the arbitrary pleasure of the governors, upright and peaceable men also, and even Roman citizens themselves; cf. Winers RWB, under the word Kreuzigung; Merz in Herzog edition 1 ((cf. Schaff-Herzog) also Schultze in Herzog edition 2), under the word Kreuz; Keim, iii., p. 409ff. (English translation, vi. 138; BB. DD., see under the words, Cross, Crucifixion; O. Zöckler, Das Kreuz Christi (Gütersloh, 1875); English translation, Lond. 1878; Fulda, Das Kreuz u. d. Kreuzigung (Bresl. 1878); Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, ii. 582ff). This horrible punishment the innocent Jesus also suffered: Matthew 27:32, 40, 42; Mark 15:21, 30, 32; Luke 23:26; John 19:17, 19, 25, 31; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 12:2; θάνατος σταυροῦ, Philippians 2:8; τό αἷμα τοῦ σταυροῦ, blood shed on the cross; Colossians 1:20.

b. equivalent to the crucifixion which Christ underwent: Galatians 5:11 (on which see σκάνδαλον, under the end); Ephesians 2:16; with the addition of τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 1 Corinthians 1:17; the saving power of his crucifixion, Philippians 3:18 (on which see ἐχθρός, at the end); Galatians 6:14; τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκεσθαι, to encounter persecution on account of one's avowed belief in the saving efficacy of Christ's crucifixion, Galatians 6:12; λόγος τοῦ σταυροῦ, the doctrine concerning the saving power of the death on the cross endured by Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:18. The judicial usage which compelled those condemned to crucifixion themselves to carry the cross to the place of punishment (Plutarch, de sara numinis vindict. c. 9; Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 2, 56, cf. John 19:17), gave rise to the proverbial expression αἴρειν or λαμβάνειν or βαστάζειν τόν σταυρόν αὐτοῦ, which was usually used by those who, on behalf of God's cause, do not hesitate cheerfully and manfully to bear persecutions, troubles, distresses — thus recalling the fate of Christ and the spirit in which he encountered it (cf. Bleek, Synop. Erkl. der drei ersten Evangg. i, p. 439f): Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Mark 10:21 (R L in brackets); ; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27.

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the base of the Greek verb ἵστημι (histēmi), meaning "to stand" or "to set up."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for σταυρός, the concept of a wooden structure used for execution can be related to the Hebrew word עֵץ (ets, Strong's Hebrew 6086), meaning "tree" or "wood," as seen in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which discusses hanging on a tree as a form of execution.

Usage: The term σταυρός is used in the New Testament to denote the cross, an instrument of execution and a symbol of the Christian faith. It appears in contexts discussing the crucifixion of Jesus and the call for believers to take up their own cross in discipleship.

Context: The term σταυρός in the New Testament primarily refers to the cross of Jesus Christ, a central symbol of the Christian faith. Historically, a σταυρός was a wooden structure used by the Romans for executing criminals. It consisted of an upright post and a crossbeam, where the condemned were nailed or bound.

In the Gospels, the σταυρός is the instrument of Jesus' crucifixion, a pivotal event in Christian theology. For instance, in Matthew 27:32 (BSB), Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry Jesus' cross: "As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross." The cross signifies the sacrificial death of Jesus, which Christians believe atones for sin and reconciles humanity with God.

Beyond its historical and physical aspects, the σταυρός carries profound theological significance. It represents the call to discipleship and self-denial, as seen in Matthew 16:24 (BSB): "Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.'" Here, the cross symbolizes the willingness to endure suffering and persecution for the sake of following Christ.

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the term to emphasize the transformative power of the crucifixion. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 (BSB), he writes, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The cross, therefore, is not only a historical event but also a source of spiritual strength and salvation.

Forms and Transliterations
σταυρον σταυρόν σταυρὸν σταυρος σταυρός σταυρὸς σταυρου σταυρού σταυροῦ σταυρω σταυρώ σταυρῷ stauro staurō staurôi staurō̂i stauron stauròn stauros stauròs staurou stauroû
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 10:38 N-AMS
GRK: λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: does not take his cross and follow
KJV: not his cross, and followeth
INT: takes the cross of him and

Matthew 16:24 N-AMS
GRK: ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: and take up his cross and follow
KJV: take up his cross, and follow
INT: let him take up the cross of him and

Matthew 27:32 N-AMS
GRK: ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ
NAS: to bear His cross.
KJV: bear his cross.
INT: he might carry the cross of him

Matthew 27:40 N-GMS
GRK: ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ
NAS: of God, come down from the cross.
KJV: come down from the cross.
INT: from the cross

Matthew 27:42 N-GMS
GRK: ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ καὶ πιστεύσομεν
NAS: come down from the cross, and we will believe
KJV: from the cross, and
INT: from the cross and we will believe

Mark 8:34 N-AMS
GRK: ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: and take up his cross and follow
KJV: take up his cross, and follow
INT: let him take up the cross of him and

Mark 15:21 N-AMS
GRK: ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ
NAS: and Rufus), to bear His cross.
KJV: bear his cross.
INT: he might carry the cross of him

Mark 15:30 N-GMS
GRK: ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ
NAS: and come down from the cross!
KJV: come down from the cross.
INT: from the cross

Mark 15:32 N-GMS
GRK: ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ ἵνα ἴδωμεν
NAS: come down from the cross, so
KJV: now from the cross, that we may see
INT: from the cross that we might see

Luke 9:23 N-AMS
GRK: ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καθ'
NAS: and take up his cross daily
KJV: take up his cross daily, and
INT: let him take up the cross of him every

Luke 14:27 N-AMS
GRK: βαστάζει τὸν σταυρὸν ἑαυτοῦ καὶ
NAS: his own cross and come
KJV: bear his cross, and come
INT: carries the cross of themselves and

Luke 23:26 N-AMS
GRK: αὐτῷ τὸν σταυρὸν φέρειν ὄπισθεν
NAS: and placed on him the cross to carry
KJV: they laid the cross, that he might bear
INT: him the cross to carry [it] behind

John 19:17 N-AMS
GRK: ἑαυτῷ τὸν σταυρὸν ἐξῆλθεν εἰς
NAS: His own cross, to the place called
KJV: he bearing his cross went forth into
INT: [his] own cross he went out to

John 19:19 N-GMS
GRK: ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ ἦν δὲ
NAS: and put it on the cross. It was written,
KJV: put [it] on the cross. And the writing
INT: on the cross it was moreover

John 19:25 N-DMS
GRK: παρὰ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ
NAS: But standing by the cross of Jesus
KJV: there stood by the cross of Jesus his
INT: by the cross of Jesus

John 19:31 N-GMS
GRK: ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα
NAS: would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath
KJV: upon the cross on
INT: on the cross the bodies

1 Corinthians 1:17 N-NMS
GRK: κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ χριστοῦ
NAS: so that the cross of Christ
KJV: lest the cross of Christ
INT: be emptied of power the cross of the Christ

1 Corinthians 1:18 N-GMS
GRK: ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν
NAS: For the word of the cross is foolishness
KJV: the preaching of the cross is
INT: of the cross to those indeed

Galatians 5:11 N-GMS
GRK: σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ
NAS: the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
KJV: is the offence of the cross ceased.
INT: offense of the cross

Galatians 6:12 N-DMS
GRK: ἵνα τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ χριστοῦ
NAS: that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
KJV: they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
INT: that for the cross of Christ

Galatians 6:14 N-DMS
GRK: ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου
NAS: except in the cross of our Lord
KJV: save in the cross of our Lord
INT: in the cross of the Lord

Ephesians 2:16 N-GMS
GRK: διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ ἀποκτείνας τὴν
NAS: through the cross, by it having put to death
KJV: by the cross, having slain
INT: through the cross having slain the

Philippians 2:8 N-GMS
GRK: θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ
NAS: even death on a cross.
KJV: even the death of the cross.
INT: of death moreover of [the] cross

Philippians 3:18 N-GMS
GRK: ἐχθροὺς τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ χριστοῦ
NAS: [that they are] enemies of the cross of Christ,
KJV: [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
INT: enemies of the cross of Christ

Colossians 1:20 N-GMS
GRK: αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ δι'
NAS: the blood of His cross; through
KJV: the blood of his cross, by him
INT: blood of the cross of him by

Strong's Greek 4716
27 Occurrences


σταυρῷ — 4 Occ.
σταυρὸν — 10 Occ.
σταυρὸς — 1 Occ.
σταυροῦ — 12 Occ.















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