Derbaîos (pronounced der-BAY-os) is a Greek adjective that is used to refer to something or someone associated with the city of Derbe. The word is derived from the proper noun Δέρβη (Dérbē), which is the name of an ancient city located in the region of Lycaonia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The term Δερβαῖος is used to describe a person or an object that is from or belongs to Derbe, essentially meaning “of Derbe” or “a Derbean.”

Root Word and Part of Speech:

• Root Word: Δέρβη (Dérbē), referring to the city of Derbe.
• Part of Speech: Adjective.

Primary Meanings:

• Of or Belonging to Derbe: The primary meaning of Δερβαῖος is to indicate something or someone that originates from or is associated with the city of Derbe. This could refer to a person from Derbe or something characteristic of the city.

Scripture References

Δερβαῖος does not directly appear in the canonical texts of the New Testament. However, the city of Derbe itself is mentioned in the context of Paul’s missionary journeys, notably in the Book of Acts.

1. Acts 14:20-21: “But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe (Δέρβη, Dérbē). When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.”

• Transliteration: Dérbē

1. Acts 16:1: “Paul came also to Derbe (Δέρβη, Dérbē) and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.”

• Transliteration: Dérbē

1. Acts 20:4: “Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe (Δερβαῖος, Derbaîos), and Timothy, and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.”

• Transliteration: Derbaîos

Detailed Description

BDAG (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature) describes Δερβαῖος as an adjective meaning “of Derbe.” The lexicon highlights that the term is used to identify individuals or items that are from or associated with the city of Derbe. The word serves to specify origin or connection to this particular location, which was an important city in the region of Lycaonia during the time of Paul’s missionary work.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon also defines Δερβαῖος as “a Derbean” or “belonging to Derbe,” noting that the word is an adjective formed from the name of the city Δέρβη. Thayer’s emphasizes that such adjectives were commonly used in ancient Greek to denote origin or association with a specific place.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary supports this understanding by explaining that Δερβαῖος is used to describe something or someone from Derbe. Vine’s notes that these geographical adjectives were significant in identifying the origins or affiliations of individuals, particularly in historical and biblical narratives.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance provides a concise definition of Δερβαῖος as “of Derbe” or “a Derbean,” focusing on its role as a descriptor of origin.

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

1. Strabo’s “Geography”: While Δερβαῖος is not explicitly used, Strabo describes the city of Derbe and its significance in the region. Such descriptions would use adjectives like Δερβαῖος to refer to people or things from that city.
2. Pausanias’ “Description of Greece”: Pausanias frequently uses similar adjectives to describe the origin of various people and places in his work. The concept of Δερβαῖος would fit within this usage, as it denotes the origin of someone from Derbe.
3. Plutarch’s “Lives”: In his biographical works, Plutarch often identifies individuals by their city of origin, using adjectives similar to Δερβαῖος to denote their place of birth or residence.

Summary

Derbaîos (G1190) is a Greek adjective meaning “of Derbe” or “a Derbean,” derived from the name of the ancient city Δέρβη (Dérbē) in Lycaonia. The term is used to describe a person or thing originating from or associated with the city of Derbe. While it does not appear directly in the New Testament, its use would be understood in the context of identifying someone from that particular city. Classical Greek literature frequently uses similar adjectives to denote origin, making Δερβαῖος a significant term in understanding geographical and cultural identifiers in both biblical and historical texts.