Understanding Ἀνδρέας (Andreas) Strong’s G406: The Apostle’s Name that Reveals Divine Strength and Masculine Leadership

Pronunciation Guide: an-DREH-as (ἀν-δρέ-ας)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G406: Ἀνδρέας (Andreas) is a masculine proper name meaning “manly, brave.” As the name of one of the twelve apostles, it carries rich connotations of masculine strength and leadership. The name is derived from ἀνήρ (aner), the Greek word for “man” or “male,” emphasizing qualities of courage, strength, and mature masculinity.

Etymology and Morphology

• Proper noun, masculine
• Derived from ἀνήρ (aner), meaning “man” or “male”
• Greek origin
• Primarily appears in narrative sections of the Gospels and Acts
• Used exclusively as a personal name in the New Testament

Ἀνδρέας Morphology:

• Ἀνδρέας (nominative singular) – Andreas (as subject)
• Ἀνδρέαν (accusative singular) – Andreas (as object)
• Ἀνδρέου (genitive singular) – of Andreas
• Ἀνδρέᾳ (dative singular) – to/for Andreas

Origin & History

The name Ἀνδρέας has its roots in ancient Greek culture, where names often carried significant meaning and were chosen to reflect desired qualities or divine attributes. While not commonly found in classical Greek literature, it gained prominence during the Hellenistic period. The historian Herodotus (Histories, 6.126) mentions an Ἀνδρέας of Sicyon, showing the name’s use in pre-Christian Greek society.

In Jewish context during the Second Temple period, the adoption of Greek names alongside Hebrew ones became increasingly common, especially in Galilee where Andrew the apostle lived. This practice reflected the cultural synthesis occurring in the region while maintaining Jewish identity and faith.

The name appears in early Christian literature beyond the New Testament, with Eusebius (Church History, 3.1) recording traditions about Andrew’s missionary work in Scythia, and Clement of Alexandria (Stromateis, 6.13) referencing Andrew’s teachings.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A man characterized by bravery and strength
• One who exhibits masculine leadership qualities
• A name signifying maturity and courage
• A person demonstrating manly virtues

Ἀνδρέας Translation Options:

• Andreas – Direct transliteration preserving the Greek form
• Andrew – Traditional English rendering, maintaining connection to historical usage
• Manly One – Literal translation of the name’s meaning, though rarely used in translation
• Brave One – Capturing the connotative meaning while maintaining personal name status

Biblical Usage

Ἀνδρέας first appears in Matthew 4:18 as Simon Peter’s brother and one of the first disciples called by Jesus. His presence in key Gospel narratives often highlights his role in bringing others to the Messiah, demonstrating the meaning of his name through active discipleship and leadership.

The name occurs 13 times in the New Testament, primarily in contexts that demonstrate Andrew’s initiative and leadership qualities. His actions consistently reflect the meaning of his name – showing courage in following Jesus and strength in leading others to Him.

• “Matthew 4:18 – “And walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew [Ἀνδρέαν] his brother”
• “Mark 1:16 – “As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew [Ἀνδρέαν]”
• “John 1:40 – “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew [Ἀνδρέας]”
• “John 6:8 – “One of His disciples, Andrew [Ἀνδρέας], Simon Peter’s brother”
• “John 12:22 – “Philip came and told Andrew [Ἀνδρέᾳ]; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus”

Cultural Insights

In ancient Greek culture, names were often chosen to inspire their bearers to embody specific virtues or characteristics. The name Ἀνδρέας would have carried strong cultural associations with ideals of masculine virtue, leadership, and courage. This takes on particular significance in the context of first-century Judaism, where Greek names were often chosen alongside Hebrew ones to function in both Jewish and Hellenistic contexts.

The fishing culture of Galilee, where Andrew worked before his calling, required physical strength and courage – qualities reflected in his name. Fishing on the Sea of Galilee was dangerous work that demanded both individual bravery and cooperative leadership, characteristics that would later serve Andrew well in his apostolic ministry.

Theological Significance

The meaning of Andrew’s name – “manly, brave” – takes on deeper theological significance in light of his role as one of the first disciples called by Jesus. His immediate response to follow the Messiah demonstrates the very courage his name suggests. This connection between name and character points to divine providence in how God prepares individuals for their calling.

The masculine qualities suggested by Andrew’s name find their perfect fulfillment in his relationship with the Messiah Jesus, showing how human strength and courage are most fully expressed in submission to and service of God. Andrew’s leadership style, seen in consistently bringing others to Jesus, illustrates how true masculine strength is expressed through servant leadership rather than domination.

This pattern reflects the broader biblical theme of how God transforms natural human qualities – in this case, masculine strength and courage – into instruments for His kingdom purposes. Andrew’s name and ministry demonstrate that genuine spiritual leadership flows from a character aligned with God’s purposes.

Personal Application

Understanding the meaning of Andrew’s name challenges us to consider how our own God-given qualities can be surrendered to His purposes. Just as Andrew’s masculine strength found its true expression in bringing others to Jesus, we too are called to offer our natural abilities and characteristics in service to God.

Modern believers can learn from how Andrew lived up to his name – not through aggressive assertion of strength, but through courageous initiative in following Jesus and leading others to Him. This provides a powerful model for authentic Christian leadership that combines strength with humility.

Related Words

• ἀνήρ (aner) – man, male, husband – emphasizes mature masculinity and leadership responsibility. See G435
• ἀνδρεῖος (andreios) – manly, brave, courageous – adjectival form sharing the same root. See G407
• ἀνδρίζομαι (andrizomai) – to act like a man, be brave – verbal form expressing masculine action. See G407
• ἄρσην (arsen) – male – another term for masculinity with focus on gender distinction. See G730

Did you Know?

• Archaeological evidence from first-century Galilee shows that many Jewish families gave their children both Hebrew and Greek names, explaining why a fisherman from Bethsaida would have a Greek name like Andreas.
• The name Ἀνδρέας continues to be popular in modern Greece and Cyprus, where it’s often given to boys born on November 30th, the feast day of St. Andrew in the Orthodox Church.
• Early Christian traditions, recorded by Eusebius, tell that Andrew’s ministry took him as far as Scythia (modern-day Ukraine and southern Russia), where his courage and strength were tested through persecution and ultimately martyrdom.

Remember This

Andrew’s name embodies the transformation of natural strength into spiritual power when surrendered to the Messiah’s lordship, showing how God repurposes our inherent qualities for His kingdom purposes.