5018. Tarseus

Lexicon

Tarseus: Tarsian, of Tarsus

Original Word: Ταρσεύς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Tarseus
Pronunciation: tar-SYOOS
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-syoos')
Definition: Tarsian, of Tarsus
Meaning: belonging to Tarsus, a Tarsian.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

of Tarsus.

From Tarsos; a Tarsean, i.e. Native of Tarsus -- of Tarsus.

see GREEK Tarsos

HELPS Word-studies

5018 Tarseús – Tarsus, the leading city in ancient Cilicia (a province between Syria and Asia Minor), located about 10 miles inland from the coast of present-day Turkey.

Tarsus has remained continuously populated for more than 6,000 years, making it (perhaps) the oldest city in the world still in existence.

[Some feel Damascus is older, which also claims this distinction.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Tarsos
Definition
of Tarsus
NASB Translation
Tarsus (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5018: Ταρσεύς

Ταρσεύς, Ταρσεως, ὁ (Ταρσός, which see), belonging to Tarsus, of Tarsus: Acts 9:11; Acts 21:39.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from Ταρσός (Tarsos), referring to the city of Tarsus in Cilicia.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Hebrew equivalents for Ταρσεύς, as it specifically refers to a person from the Greek city of Tarsus. However, the concept of identifying individuals by their city of origin is present in various forms throughout the Hebrew Bible, such as in references to people from Jerusalem or other significant locations.

Usage: The term Ταρσεύς is used in the New Testament to describe someone from the city of Tarsus, most notably the Apostle Paul, who is identified as a Tarsian.

Context: Ταρσεύς (Tarseus) is a term used in the New Testament to denote a person from Tarsus, a significant city in the region of Cilicia, located in modern-day Turkey. Tarsus was a prominent cultural and educational center in the ancient world, known for its schools of philosophy and learning. The most notable biblical figure associated with Tarsus is the Apostle Paul, originally named Saul. In Acts 21:39, Paul declares, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city." This statement highlights the importance and prestige of Tarsus as a city of considerable influence and reputation.

Tarsus was a free city within the Roman Empire, granting its citizens certain privileges, including Roman citizenship, which Paul possessed. This status played a crucial role in Paul's missionary journeys and his interactions with Roman authorities, as seen in Acts 22:25-29, where Paul invokes his rights as a Roman citizen to avoid unlawful punishment.

The cultural and educational environment of Tarsus likely contributed to Paul's extensive knowledge of Greek philosophy and rhetoric, which he skillfully employed in his epistles and teachings. His background as a Tarseus provided him with a unique perspective and ability to bridge Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, facilitating his mission to spread the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.

Forms and Transliterations

Ταρσεα Ταρσέα Ταρσευς Ταρσεὺς Tarsea Tarséa Tarseus Tarseùs

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 9:11 N-AMS
GRK: Σαῦλον ὀνόματι Ταρσέα ἰδοὺ γὰρ
NAS: of Judas for a man from Tarsus named
KJV: Saul, of Tarsus: for,
INT: Saul by name of Tarsus Behold indeed

Acts 21:39 N-NMS
GRK: εἰμι Ἰουδαῖος Ταρσεὺς τῆς Κιλικίας
NAS: a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia,
KJV: [which am] a Jew of Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia,
INT: am a Jew of Tarsus of Cilicia

Strong's Greek 5018
2 Occurrences

Ταρσέα — 1 Occ.
Ταρσεὺς — 1 Occ.