Quick Definition
a sorcerer, magician, wizard
Strong's Definition
a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician
Derivation: of foreign origin (H07248);
KJV Usage: sorcerer, wise man
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μάγος, μαγου, ὁ (Hebrew ξΗβ, plural ξΘβΔιν; 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. Dan_2:2 and several times in Theod. ad Dan. for ΰΗωΘΡσ; 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: Mat_2:1; Mat_2:7; Mat_2:16.
2. to false prophets and sorcerers: Act_13:6; Act_13:8; cf. Act_8:9; cf. Act_8:11.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μάγος magos 6x
(1) a magus, sage of the magician religion, magician, astrologer, wise man, Mat_2:1 ; Mat_2:7 ; Mat_2:16 ;
(2) a magician, sorcerer, Act_13:6 ; Act_13:8
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μάγος , -ου , ὁ ,
[in LXX for H825 , Da LXX TH Dan_2:2 ; Dan_2:10 , al. ( cf. chief magian, Jer_39:3 ; Jer_39:13 );]
1. one of the Μάγοι , a Median tribe (Hat).
2. 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 .): Mat_2:1 ; Mat_2:7 ; Mat_2:16
3. a wizard, sorcerer: Act_13:6 ; Act_13:8 ( cf. Wis_17:7 , Act_8:9 ; ? Act_8:1 ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μάγος [page 385]
For μάγος in the sense of sorcerer, as in Act_13:6 ; Act_13:8 , we may compare Kaibel 903 a .7 (= p. 537) (iii/iv A.D.) προνοησαμένου τ [ῆς ἀναστάσεως ] Ἀπολλωνίου ἀρχιμάγου . See also Vett. Val. p. 74 .17 ποιεῖ γὰρ μάγους πλάνους θύτας ἰατροὺς ἀστρολόγους . . . διά τε πανουργίας καὶ ἐπιθέσεως καὶ δόλου τὰς πράξεις διοικοῦντας .
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
μάγος, -ου, ὁ
[in LXX for אַשָּׁף, Dan LXX TH Dan.2:2, 10, al. (cf. chief magian, Jer.39:3, 13) ;]
__1. one of the Μάγοι, a Median tribe (Hat).
__2. 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 (see DB, I vol., 565 f.; DB, iii, 203 ff.): Mat.2:1, 7 2:16
__3. a wizard, sorcerer: Act.13:6, 8 (cf. Wis.17:7, Act.8:9; ?Act.8:1).†
(AS)