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Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Understanding Greek words is essential for Biblical studies as it offers insights into the cultural, historical, and theological context of the text. The Greek word Κίς (Kis) is particularly significant because it refers to a notable Biblical character: Kish, the father of King Saul. The use of Κίς in the New Testament, specifically in Acts 13:21, connects the early Christian narrative to the Old Testament, bridging the stories of Israel’s early monarchy with the teachings of the apostles. Exploring the meaning and usage of Κίς deepens our understanding of Biblical genealogies and the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.
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Greek Word: Κίς, transliterated as Kis [kees].
Etymology: The word Κίς is a transliteration of the Hebrew name קִישׁ (Qish), which appears in the Old Testament. The name is of Hebrew origin and likely means “bow” or “power.”
Part of Speech: Κίς is a proper noun, specifically a masculine noun in Greek. Proper nouns like Κίς are unique in that they refer to a specific person, place, or thing. In Greek, proper nouns can appear in different cases, depending on their function within a sentence, such as the subject (nominative), object (accusative), or possessive (genitive).
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Case, Number, Gender:
Κίς, as a proper noun, is masculine and usually appears in the singular form. The morphological breakdown is straightforward:
Declension: Since Κίς is a transliteration of a Hebrew proper noun, it does not follow the regular declension patterns of Greek nouns. It remains indeclinable in all cases.
For a detailed guide to understanding Greek declensions, Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.
Κίς appears predominantly in genealogical contexts and is primarily understood as the name of Saul’s father. In the New Testament, the name serves to remind readers of Israel’s early monarchy and God’s selection of Saul as king. The usage in Acts 13:21 links the early Christian message to Israel’s history, emphasizing continuity and fulfillment of God’s plans from the Old Testament to the New Testament era. While the term does not carry extensive theological connotations independently, its use in Acts provides a genealogical anchor in the narrative. This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.
Acts 13:21: “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish [Κίς], a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.”
1 Samuel 9:1 (Septuagint): “Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish [Κίς], the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.”
Author | Name of Work | Text Excerpt |
---|---|---|
Septuagint | 1 Samuel 9:1 | “Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish ([Κίς])…” |
Josephus | Antiquities | “Kish ([Κίς]) was the father of Saul, who was chosen as Israel’s first king.” |
Septuagint | 1 Samuel 10:21 | “And they brought forward the family of Matri, and Saul the son of Kish ([Κίς]) was taken.” |
Κίς (Kis), though a simple proper noun, holds significance in Biblical genealogies. The word connects the New Testament audience to Israel’s monarchical history, particularly in the context of God’s interaction with His chosen people. Understanding Κίς enhances our appreciation for how the New Testament writers utilized Old Testament references to convey theological continuity.
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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