Brief Overview of Σαῦλος (Strong’s G4569: Saulos)

Strong’s G4569: The Greek form of the Hebrew name שָׁאוּל (Sha’ul), meaning “asked for.” Used exclusively in Acts to refer to Paul before and during his conversion, representing his Jewish identity and background before becoming known by his Roman name Παῦλος (Paul).

U- Unveiling the Word

Σαῦλος represents more than just a name in Acts; it embodies Paul’s pre-Christian identity and Jewish heritage. First appearing in Acts 7:58 at Stephen’s martyrdom, the name signals Paul’s role as a zealous persecutor of the early church. The early church saw profound significance in the transition from Saul to Paul, representing the transformation from persecutor to apostle. Today, this name continues to symbolize how God’s grace can radically transform even the fiercest opponents of the gospel.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σαῦλος, Saulos, /sow’-los/
• Pronunciation Guide: ‘sow’ as in ‘sour’, ‘los’ as in ‘loss’
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Greek form of Hebrew שָׁאוּל (Sha’ul)
• Related to Hebrew verb שָׁאַל (sha’al) meaning “to ask”
• Greek ending -ος (-os) adapts the name to Greek grammar

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meaning: Hellenized form of Hebrew name Sha’ul
• Historical meaning: Paul’s pre-conversion name
• Cultural meaning: Marker of Jewish identity

Translation Options:

• Saul – Traditional English rendering
• Saulos – Direct Greek transliteration
• Sha’ul – Hebrew original

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Παῦλος (Paulos) /pow’-los/ – His Roman name after conversion. See G3972
• Σαούλ (Saoul) /sah-ool’/ – Alternative Greek form. See G4549

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second declension

Examples:

• Nominative: Σαῦλος
• Genitive: Σαύλου
• Dative: Σαύλῳ
• Accusative: Σαῦλον

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies Σαῦλος as Paul’s pre-conversion name. Thayer’s emphasizes its Hebrew origin. LSJ notes its use in Jewish contexts. Vine’s highlights the significance of the name change. Strong’s connects it to the concept of being “asked for.” Moulton and Milligan document its use in Jewish-Greek texts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 7:58: “And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul [Σαῦλος].”

Additional References:
Acts 8:1, Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1, Acts 9:8, Acts 9:11

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σαῦλος powerfully demonstrates that no one is beyond God’s transforming grace. From persecutor to apostle, the change from Saul to Paul proclaims the good news that Christ can radically transform anyone. This name reminds us that God often chooses unlikely vessels to carry His message.

D – Did You Know?

1. The name appears only in Acts before Paul begins his missionary journeys
2. Acts uses both Σαῦλος and Παῦλος during the transition period
3. Early church tradition saw prophetic significance in both names

Strong’s G4569: Greek form of Hebrew Sha’ul, used exclusively in Acts to identify Paul before and during his conversion experience. Represents his Jewish identity and pre-Christian life, highlighting the dramatic nature of his transformation through divine grace.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: paul, conversion, damascus-road, jewish-identity, persecution, transformation, acts, name-change, divine-calling, apostleship​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​