Quick Definition
σπεκουλάτωρ, ορος, ὁ n.m. a body-guardsman, an executioner
Strong's Definition
of Latin origin; a speculator, i.e. military scout (spy or (by extension) life-guardsman)
KJV Usage: executioner
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ορος
33.196 · Communication · Inform, Announce
courier, messenger a soldier who acts as a courier to carry confidential information In MRK 6:27 σπεκουλάτωρ may also have the meaning of ‘executioner’ (see 20.70).
20.70 · Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill · Kill
executioner one who carries out official executions on the basis of orders from military or government officials It is also possible to interpret σπεκουλάτωρ (a borrowing from Latin) as meaning ‘courier,’ possibly a soldier who had special duties to carry messages of a confidential nature (see 33.196).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
σπεκουλάτωρ, -ορος (RG -ωρος [cf. Tdf. on Mk. as below]), 6, (the Lat. word speculator), a looker-out, spy, scout; under the emperors an attendant and member of the body-guard, employed as messengers, watchers, and executioners (Sen. de ira 1, 16 centurio supplicio praepositus condere gladium speculatorem jubet; also de benef. 3,25); the name is transferred to an attendant of Herod Antipas that acted as executioner: Mk. vi. 27. Cf. Keim ii. 512 [Eng. trans. iv. 219; J. W. Golling in Thes. Nov. ete. ii. p. 405 sq.]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
σπεκουλάτωρ spekoulatōr 1x
a sentinel, life-guardsman, a kind of soldiers who formed the body-guard of princes, etc., one of whose duties was to put criminals to death, Mk. 6:27*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† σπεκουλάτωρ, -ορος (Rec. -ωρος), ὁ (Lat. speculator), prop., a spy or scout.
An executioner: Mk 6:27 (v. Swete, in l.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
σπεκουλάτωρ (Lat. sfecudator), originally ‘‘scout,” ‘‘courier,” then “executioner”: in NT only Mk 657 (see Swete’s note). The word is found in a list of accounts P Cairo Goodsp 30 3 (A.D. 191-192) Θαι]σαρίῳ σπεκουλ(άτορι) (δραχμαὶ) δ, and fer in the Registrt Fondiarzt P Flor I. 719 763, 81} (iv/A.D.). Cf. also P Oxy IX. 1193! (iv/A.D.) an order πίαρὰ) τοῦ σπεκουλ[άτορος) addressed to the chief of the police in a certain village, 74, 1223?! (late iv/A.p.), and 2d. 1214? (v/A.D.).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
σπεκουλάτωρ (spekoulatōr) — executioner. σπεκουλάτωρ, ορος, ὁ, = Latin speculator, properly scout: but in the Roman Imperial army,
1. one of the principales or head-quarters' staff of a legionary commander or provincial governor (whose duties included the carrying out of executions), [NT+4th c.AD+]
2. one of the Imperial body-guard (speculatores Augusti),= δορυφόρος, [Refs]