Quick Definition
μάγος, ου, ὁ n.m. 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
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ου | μαγεύω
32.40 · Understand · Capacity for Understanding
a wise man and priest, a magus a person noted for unusual capacity of understanding based upon astrology (such persons were regarded as combining both secular and religious aspects of knowledge and understanding) In MAT 2:1 μάγοι may be translated as ‘men of wisdom who studied the stars.’
1 It would also be possible to classify μάγος in Domain 28 Know, in view of the highly specialized knowledge involved. Because of the religious implications of the role of a μάγος, this term is also classified under Domain 53 Religious Activities (see 53.97). But the dominant semantic feature of μάγος a would seem to be reputed wisdom, and therefore it is treated in this domain, Understand (32).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μάγος, -ov, 6, (Ilebr. 39, plur. 0°33; a word of IndoGermanic origin; cf. Gesenius, Thes. ii. p. 766; J. G. Miller in Herzog viii. p. 678; [ Vaniéek, Fremdworter, 8s. v.; but the word is now regarded by many as of Babylonian origin; see Schrader, Keilinschriften u.s.w. 2te Aufl. p. 417 sqq.]); fr. Soph. and Hdt. down; Sept. Dan. ii. 2 and several times in Theodot. ad Dan. for AWN; a magus; the name given by the Babylonians (Chaldzans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augurs, soothsayers, sorcerers ete. ; cf. Win. RWB. 5. v.; J. G. Miiller in Herzog I. 6. pp. 675-685; Holtzmann in Schenkel iv. p. 84 sq.; [BB.DD. s. v. Magi]. 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. 209 sqq.] that the Messiah had just been born, came to Jerusalem to Maywy worship him: Mt. ii. 1, 7, 16. 2. to false prophets and sorcerers: Acts xiii. 6, 8, ef. viii. 9, 11.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μάγος magos 6x
(1) a magus, sage of the magician religion, magician, astrologer, wise man, Mt. 2:1, 7, 16; (2) a magician, sorcerer, Acts 13:6, 8*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μάγος, -ου, ὁ,
[in LXX for אַשָּׁף, Da LXX TH 2:2, 10, al. (cf. רַב־מָג chief magian, Je 39:3, 13);]
one of the Μάγοι, a Median tribe (Hdt).
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.): Mt 2:1, 7, 16.
a wizard, sorcerer: Ac 13:6, 8 (cf. Wi 17:7, Ac 8:9, 11).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μάγος. For μάγος in the sense of ‘‘sorcerer,” as in Ac 13 58, we may compare Aaibel 903a" (= p. 537) (iii/iv A.D.) προνοησαμένου τῆς ἀναστάσεως7᾽ Απολλωνίου ἀρχιμάγου. See also Vett. Val. p. 7417 ποιεῖ γὰρ μάγους πλάνους θύτας ἰατροὺς ἀστρολόγους. . . διά τε πανουργίας καὶ ἐπιθέσεως καὶ δόλου τὰς πράξεις διοικοῦντας.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μάγος (magos) — sage. Μάγος [ᾰ], ου, ὁ, “Magian”, one of a Median tribe, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, as belonging to this tribe,
2. one of the priests and wise men in Persia who interpreted dreams, [NT+5th c.BC+]
3. enchanter, wizard, especially in bad sense, impostor, charlatan, [NT+5th c.BC+]
II. μάγος, ον, as adjective, magical, μάγῳ τέχνῃ πράττειν τι [Refs 1st c.BC+]. (Opers. maguš 'Magian'.)