Strong's G4436: Πύθων (Pýthōn) Meaning

Quick Definition

Πύθων, ωνος, ὁ n.m. a divining spirit

Strong's Definition

a Python, i.e. (by analogy, with the supposed diviner there) inspiration (soothsaying)

Derivation: from (the name of the region where Delphi, the seat of the famous oracle, was located);

KJV Usage: divination

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

πύθων (G4436)

noun, m. | -ωνος

12.48 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Powers

spirit of divination a supernatural power of divination known as ‘Python’ For πύθων as part of an idiom, see 33.285.
In most languages there seems to be no reason to borrow the term ‘Python,’ since it may be readily misunderstood. It is both more meaningful and to some extent more accurate to translate ‘a spirit of divination’ or ‘the spirit which caused her to foretell the future’ or ‘... to tell what was going to happen.’

ACT 16:16

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

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

Πυθών, Πύθωνος, ὁ, Python; 1. in Greek mythology the name of the Pythian serpent or dragon that dwelt in the region of Pytho at the foot of Parnassus in Phocis, and was said to have guarded the oracle of Delphi and been slain by Apollo. 2. equivalent to δαιμόνιον μαντικον (Hesychius, under the word), a spirit of divination: πνεῦμα Πύθωνος, or more correctly (with L T Tr WH) πνεῦμα πύθωνα (on the union of two substantives one of which has the force of an adjective see Matthiae, p. 962, 4; (Kühner, § 405, 1; Lob. Paralip. 344f)), Act_16:16; some interpreters think that the young woman here mentioned was a ventriloquist, appealing to Plutarch, who tells us (mor., p. 414 e. de def. orac. 9) that in his time ἐγγαστριμυθοι were called πυθωνες; (cf. Meyer).

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

not given

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

* πύθων, -ωνος, ὁ, in cl., Python, a serpent slain by Apollo, who is hence surnamed the Pythian.

In Plut. (ii, 414 E), a name given to ventriloquist soothsayers (ἐγγαστρίμυθοι; cf. Le 19:31 20:6, 27, I Ki 28:7), and perhaps in this sense πνεῦμα πύθωνα, a python-spirit: Ac 16:16.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

πύθων [page 559] For the use of this word in Act_16:16 in the sense of ventriloquist, commentators generally appeal to Plut. de defectu Oraculorum 9 τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους . . νῦν . . πύθωνας προσαγορευομένους , the utterance being traced to the presence of a familiar spirit (πύθων ) in the body of the speaker : cf. LXX Lev_19:31 ; 1Ki. 28:7 [MT 1Sa_28:7 ] al . Along with this the girl is described as having a certain prophetic power, μαντευομένη : cf. Suidas, πύθων· δαιμόνιον μαντικόν , and Knowling s note EGT ad Ac l.c .

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

Πύθων (Puthōn) — divining spirit. Πύθων [ῡ], ωνος, ὁ, (compare Πυθώ) the serpent “Python”, slain by Apollo, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II. παιδίσκη ἔχουσα πνεῦμα Πύθωνα a spirit of divination, [NT]

II.2. plural Πύθωνες, ventriloquists, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

πύθων, -ωνος, ὁ __1. in cl., Python, a serpent slain by Apollo, who is hence surnamed the Pythian. __2. In Plut. (ii, 414 E), a name given to ventriloquist soothsayers (ἐγγαστρίμυθοι; cf. Lev.19:31 20:6, 27, 1Ki.28:7), and perhaps in this sense πνεῦμα πύθωνα, a python-spirit: Act.16:16.† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (1)

16:16

G4436 Πύθων (Pýthōn)