G3511: νεωκόρος (neōkóros)

G3511 νεωκόρος (neōkóros)

Greek

Quick Definition

νεωκόρος, ου, ὁ, ἡ n.m. temple-warden

Strong's Definition

from a form of 3485 and koreo (to sweep); a temple-servant, i.e. (by implication) a votary

KJV Usage: worshipper

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

νεωκόρος (G3511)

noun, m. | -ου | ναός + κορέω

53.95 · Religious Activities · Roles and Functions

temple-keeper one who had responsibility to tend to and to guard a temple In ACT 19:35 νεωκόρος is used in a somewhat figurative sense, since it is the city of Ephesus itself which is regarded as being the keeper of the temple.

ACT 19:35

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

νεωκόρος neōkoros 1x

pr. one who sweeps or cleanses a temple; generally, one who has the charge of a temple; in NT a devotee city, as having specially dedicated a temple to some deity, Acts 19:35*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

* νεω-κόρος, -ου, a temple-keeper; as honorary title given to a city (v. DB, i, 722 b): Ac 19:35.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

νεωκόρος. In a papyrus of B.c. 217 edited by Th. Reinach in 77. Nicole, p. 451 ff. (= P Magd 35) we hear of a certain Nicomachus who was vaképos (Doric form of νεωκόρος) of a Jewish synagogue in an Egyptian village. According to the editor this term, the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew azzdx (generally called ὑπηρέτης), was borrowed from the usage of pagan religion, and is still the current title in Greece or the “*sacristan ’’’ of an orthodox church, as well as of a Jewish synagogue: see also Lumbroso in Archiv iv. p. 317, and cf. Herodas iv. 41, where the νεωκόρος (Lat. aed?tuus) is sent for to open the temple of Asklepios in Cos. Another early ex. of the word denoting a humble temple-functionary is Priene 231 (iv/B.c.) Μεγάβυζος] Μεγαβύζου νεωκόρος τῆς ᾿Αρτέμιδος τῆς ἐν ᾿Εἰφέσωι, which is interesting as pointing forward to the proud application of the term to Ephesus itself as the ‘‘ warden” of the temple of Artemis, as in Ac 19%, see e.g. OGZS 4811 (A.D. τοζ- 6) ᾿Αρτέμιδι ᾿Εἰφεσίᾳ . Kal τῶι vewkdpar ᾿Εἰφεσίων δήμωι, with Dittenberger’s note. The earliest trace of Ephesus as νεωκόρος is said to be on a coin of A.D. 65: see Rouffiac, p. 65 n.4*. Later the city came to be known as δίς, τρὶς νεωκόρος : see Ramsay, art. ‘‘ Ephesus,” in Hastings’ D& i. Ρ. 722. Instances of the term applied to individuals are P Oxy I. 1007 (A.D. 133) Μᾶρκος ᾿Αντώνιος Actos . . . νεωκόρος τοῦ μεγάλου Lapaπιδος, BGU I. 731 (A.p. 135) Κλαύδιος Φιλόξενος νεωκόρος Tov μεγάλου Σαράπι[δ]ος, P Tebt II. 286% (a.p, 121-138), 3171} (A.D. 174-5), a2. : cf. also Sy// 607 (= * 898)* (iii/A.D.) ἐβ(όησεν) ὁ διῆμος)" πολλοῖς ἔτεσι [τοὺς] νεωκόρους. On the form of the word see Thumb /ed/enx. p. 78, and cf. Otto Priester i. p. 113, Cronert Mem. Herc. p. 165. The subst. vewkop(a is found in BGU I. 14 %" (a.p. 255), Vett. Val. p. 47°, and ναοφύλαξ in BGU II. 362 #1 (a.p. 215) (=p. 4). Boisacq (p. 495) reverts to the traditional derivation from kopéw, ‘‘sweep,” comparing the Ion. {akdpos and the Hom. σηκοκόρος.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

νεωκόρος (neōkoros) — temple guard. νεώκορ-ος, ὁ, Doric dialect νᾱοκόρος [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: contraction νᾱκόρος [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: as feminine, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ναυκόρος, ἡ, Buresch Aus Lydien p.58: poetry νηοκόρος [Refs 1st c.AD+]:—warden of a temple, as a sacred officer, τοῖς ἱεροῖς ν. γίγνεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἱερέας τε καὶ ν.[Refs 5th c.BC+]; βωμοῖο ν. [Refs 1st c.AD+]

2. sacristan, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ἐνβόλιον ἔχων ν. in a list of silver articles, [Refs]

II. title assumed by Asiatic cities in Imperial times, when they had built a temple in honour of their patron-god or the Emperor, as Ephesus, ν. Ἀρτέμιδος [NT]; also as adjective, τῷ ν. Ἐφεσίων δήμῳ [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; δὶς ν. τῶν Σεβαστῶν, of Ephesus, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of Smyrna, [Refs] sweep, the originally sense being probably temple-sweeper,[Refs 5th c.BC+]