Brief Overview of Πάρθοι (Strong’s G3934: Parthoi)

Strong’s G3934: A plural noun referring to “Parthians,” inhabitants of the Parthian Empire, mentioned in Acts 2:9 among those present at Pentecost. Significant as representing the eastern extent of the gospel’s initial spread and demonstrating God’s inclusion of diverse peoples in the early church.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πάρθοι represents the Parthians, people from a powerful empire that rivaled Rome. In Acts, their presence at Pentecost symbolizes the universal reach of the gospel message, extending beyond Roman boundaries to the East. The term carries historical significance as Parthia was a haven for Jewish communities during this period. Early church writers saw the Parthians’ presence at Pentecost as fulfillment of prophecies about all nations hearing God’s word. Today, it reminds us of Christianity’s early multicultural nature and global mission.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Πάρθοι, Parthoi, /PAR-thoy/
• Detailed pronunciation: PAR (stressed) + thoy (as in ‘toy’)
• Part of Speech: Noun (Plural)

Etymology:

• Derived from Old Persian “Parthava”
• Geographic/ethnic designation
• No Greek prefixes or suffixes

D – Defining Meanings

• Parthians
• People from Parthia
• Eastern empire inhabitants

Translation Options:

• “Parthians” – standard English translation
• “People of Parthia” – descriptive translation
• “Parthian Jews” – contextual translation for Acts 2

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Μῆδοι (Mēdoi) /MAY-doy/ – Medes, another eastern people
• Ἐλαμῖται (Elamitai) /el-am-EE-tai/ – Elamites, neighboring people
• Πέρσαι (Persai) /PER-sai/ – Persians, historical predecessors

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a plural noun, Πάρθοι exhibits:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Plural only (in NT)
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: 2nd

Examples:
Πάρθοι (nom. pl.)
Πάρθων (gen. pl.)
Πάρθοις (dat. pl.)
Πάρθους (acc. pl.)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes their significance at Pentecost. Thayer’s notes their political importance. LSJ documents their historical significance. Vine’s highlights their representation of eastern peoples. Moulton and Milligan note references in contemporary documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“[Πάρθοι] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia” (Acts 2:9)

Additional References:
None in the New Testament

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πάρθοι represents both a significant political power and the eastward extent of early gospel proclamation, symbolizing Christianity’s universal scope from its inception.

D – Did You Know?

• The Parthian Empire was Rome’s principal eastern rival
• Many Jews lived in Parthian territory after the Babylonian exile
• Parthian Jews maintained strong connections with Jerusalem

[Lexicon Summary]
A plural noun referring to “Parthians,” inhabitants of the Parthian Empire, mentioned in Acts 2:9 among those present at Pentecost. Significant as representing the eastern extent of the gospel’s initial spread and demonstrating God’s inclusion of diverse peoples in the early church.

Part of speech: Noun (Plural)

Tags: #noun #acts #pentecost #parthians #nations #early_church #biblical_greek #new_testament #missions #diaspora​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​