Quick Definition
σταυρός, οῦ, ὁ n.m. a cross
Strong's Definition
from the base of 2476; a stake or post (as set upright), i.e. (specially), a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively, exposure to death, i.e. self-denial; by implication, the atonement of Christ
KJV Usage: cross
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -οῦ | σταυρόω
6.27 · Artifacts · Instruments Used in Punishment and Execution
cross a pole stuck into the ground in an upright position with a crosspiece attached to its upper part; used as a means of execution In MAT 27:32 (τοῦτον ἠγγάρευσαν ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ ‘they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross’) the reference is probably to the crosspiece of the cross, which normally would have been carried by a man condemned to die.
Because of the symbolism associated with the cross, translations of the NT in all languages preserve some expression which will identify the cross, not only as a means of capital punishment, but as having a particular form, namely, an upright pole with a crossbeam. In some receptor languages the term for a cross means simply ‘crossbeam.’ In other instances it is composed of a phrase meaning ‘crossed poles.’ It is important, however, to avoid an expression which will suggest crossed sticks in the form of X rather than a cross consisting of an upright with a horizontal beam. If at all possible one should employ a term or phrase which may be used in an extended sense, since in so many contexts the term ‘cross’ refers not only to the instrument of Christ’s death, but to the event of execution. It also becomes a symbol of the message of forgiveness and of reconciliation. Because of these extended meanings, it is important to choose a form which can, if at all possible, support these additional meanings.
MAT 10:38 · MAT 16:24 · MAT 27:32 · MAT 27:40 · MAT 27:42 · MRK 8:34 · MRK 15:21 · MRK 15:30 · MRK 15:32 · LUK 9:23 · LUK 14:27 · LUK 23:26 · JHN 19:17 · JHN 19:19 · JHN 19:25 · JHN 19:31 · 1CO 1:17 · 1CO 1:18 · GAL 5:11 · GAL 6:12 · GAL 6:14 · EPH 2:16 · PHP 2:8 · PHP 3:18 · COL 1:20 · COL 2:14 · HEB 12:2
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
σταυρός, -ov, ὁ, [fr. ἵστημι (root sta); cf. Lat. stauro, Eng. staff (see Skeat, Etym. Dict. s. v.); Curtius § 216; Vaniéek p. 1126]; 1. an upright stake, esp. a pointed one, (Hom., Hdt., Thue., Xen.). 2. a cross; a. the well-known instrument of most cruel and ignominious punishment, borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Pheenicians; to it were affixed among the Romans, down to the time of Constantine the Great, the guiltiest criminals, particularly the basest slaves, robbers, the authors and abetters of insurrections, and occasionally in the provinces, at the arbitrary pleasure of the governors, upright and peaceable men also, and even Roman citizens themselves; cf. Win. RWB.s. v. Kreuzigung; Merz in Herzog ed. 1 [(cf. Schaff-Herzog) also Schultze in Herzog ed. 2], 5. v. Kreuz; Keim iii. p. 409 864. [Eng. trans. vi. 138; BB.DD. 8. vv. Cross, Crucifixion; O. Zéckler, Das Kreuz Christi (Giitersloh, 1875); Eng. trans. Lond. 1878; Fulda, Das Kreuz τι. ἃ. Kreuzigung (Bresl. 1878); Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, ii. 582 sqq.]. This horrible punishment the innocent Jesus also suffered: Mt. xxvii. 32, 40,42; Mk. xv. 21, 30, 32; Lk. xxiii. 26; Jn. xix. 17, 19, 25, 31; Col. ii. 14; Heb. _ xii. 2; θάνατος σταυροῦ, Phil. ii. 8; τὸ αἷμα τοῦ σταυροῦ, blood shed on the cross, Col. i. 20. b. i. q. the crucifixzion which Christ underwent: Gal. ν. 11 (on which see σκάνδαλον, sub fin.) ; Eph. ii. 16 ; with the addition of τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 1 Co. i. 17; the saving power of his crucifixion, Phil. iii. 18 (on which see ἐχθρός, fin.) ; Gal. vi. 14; τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκεσθαι, to encounter persecution on account of one’s avowed belief in the saving efficacy of Christ’s crucifixion, Gal. vi. 12; ὁ λόγος ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ, the doctrine concerning the saving power of the death on the cross endured by Christ, 1 Co. i. 18. The judicial usage which compelled those condemned to erucifixion themselves to carry the cross to the place of punishment (Plut. de sera numinis vindict. 6. 9; Artem. oneir. 2, 56, ef. Jn. xix. 17), gave rise to the proverbial expression αἴρειν or λαμβάνειν or βαστάζειν τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, which was wont to be used of those who on behalf of God’s cause do not hesitate cheerfully and manfully to bear persecutions, troubles, distresses, — thus recalling the fate‘of Christ and the spirit in which he encountered it (cf. Bleek, Synop. Erkl. der drei ersten Evange. i. p. 439 sq.): Mt. x. 38; xvi. 24; Mk. viii. 34; x. 21 ΤΕ Lin br.]; xv. 21; Lk. ix. 23; xiv. 27.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
σταυρός stauros 27x
a stake; a cross, Mt. 27:32, 40, 42; Phil. 2:8; by impl. the punishment of the cross, crucifixion, Eph. 2:16; Heb. 12:2; meton. the crucifixion of Christ in respect of its import, the doctrine of the cross, 1 Cor. 17:18; Gal. 5:11; 6:12, 14; met. to take up, or bear one’s cross, to be ready to encounter any extremity, Mt. 10:38; 16:24
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
* σταυρός, -οῦ, ὁ an upright pale or stake (Hom., Hdt., Thuc., al.)
In late writers (Diod., Plut., al.) of the Roman instrument of crucifixion, the Cross: of the Cross on which Christ suffered, Mt 27:32, 40, 42, Mk 15:21, 30, 32, Lk 23:26, Jo 19:17, 19, 25, 31, Col 2:14, He 12:2; θάνατος σταυροῦ, Phl 2:8; τ. αἷμα τοῦ σ., Col 1:20. Metaph., in proverbial sayings: αἴρειν (λαμβάνειν, βαστάζειν) τὸν σ., Mt 10:38 16:24, Mk 8:34 10:21, 15:21, Lk 9:23 14:27 (for an interesting ex. of metaph. use in π., v. MM, xxiii) By meton., for Christ's death on the Cross: I Co 1:17, Ga 5:11 6:12, 14, Eph 2:16, Phl 3:18; ὁ λόγος ὁ τοῦ σ., I Co 1:18.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
σταυρός, ** cross. » The metaph. use of σταυρός in Lk 958, ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, finds an interesting illustration in a Christian prayer of ἵνίν a.D., P Oxy VII. τοςϑ3 6 O(€d)s τῶν παρακειμένων σταυρῶν, βοήθησον τὸν δοῦλόν σου Amdotay, “Ὁ God of the crosses that are laid upon us, help thy servant Apphouas’”’ (Ed.). ‘‘ God is apparently thought of as at once the sender and mitigator of trials” (Ed.). In P Lond 19178 (c. A.D. 330-40) the writer calls upon his correspondent—6rrws ἐφάρῃς τὰς χῖράς σίου πρὸς τὸν δεσπότην θαιὸν ὡς τοίπως σταυρῷ, “that you may lift up your hands to our Master God, in the semblance of a cross’’: see the editor's note and cf. 79. The sign of the cross is frequently prefixed to Christian letters, e.g. P Iand I. 16 (v/vi A.D.), and in the late P Lips I. 901° (Byz.) the scribe states that he has written the document for the original sender, but that the latter has afhxed three authenticating crosses with his own hand—éypapa ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ γράμματα μὴ ἰδότος βαλόντος δὲ τῇ ἰδίᾳ αὐτοῦ χειρὶ τοὺς τρεῖς τιμίους σταυρούς f. A wall-scratching from Egypt, Preisigke 2273, shows Σταῦρος δῶν “Χριστιανῶν.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
σταυρός (stauros) — cross. σταυρός, ὁ, upright pale or stake, σταυροὺς ἐκτὸς ἔλασσε διαμπερὲς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα πυκνοὺς καὶ θαμέας [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of piles driven in to serve as a foundation, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. cross, as the instrument of crucifixion, [NT+1st c.BC+]; σ. λαμβάνειν, ἆραι, βαστάζειν, metaphorically of voluntary suffering, [NT]: its form was represented by the Greek letter T, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. b pale for impaling a corpse, [Refs 1st c.AD+]