Brief Overview of πορφυρόπωλις (Strong’s G4211: porphuropōlis)

Strong’s G4211: A compound noun meaning “seller of purple fabric,” combining porphura (purple) and pōleō (to sell). Used only once in the New Testament to describe Lydia, a successful businesswoman from Thyatira who became the first European convert to Christianity.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πορφυρόπωλις represents a specialized merchant dealing in luxury purple textiles. The term appears uniquely in Acts to describe Lydia, highlighting both her professional status and the significance of her conversion. Her occupation connected her to elite society, as purple dye was extremely valuable and its trade was often restricted. Early church writers often pointed to Lydia as an example of how the gospel reached people of various social and economic positions. Today, it reminds us that Christ calls people from all vocational backgrounds.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πορφυρόπωλις, porphuropōlis, por-foo-RO-po-lis
• Detailed pronunciation: pohr-foo-ROH-poh-lis (stress on third syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• πορφύρα (porphura) – purple fabric/dye
• πωλέω (pōleō) – to sell
• -ις (-is) – feminine ending

D – Defining Meanings

• Female seller of purple
• Dealer in purple fabrics
• Merchant of purple dye

For compound words:
The combination of πορφύρα and πωλέω creates a specialized trade designation, while the -ις ending makes it specifically feminine.

Translation Options:

• “Purple-seller” – direct translation
• “Merchant of purple” – traditional rendering
• “Dealer in purple goods” – explanatory translation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πορφύρα (porphura, por-FOO-ra) – purple fabric – See G4209
• πωλητής (pōlētēs, po-LAY-tace) – seller – See G4453
• ἔμπορος (emporos, EM-por-os) – merchant – See G1713

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Gender: Feminine
• Number: Singular
• Case: All cases possible
• Declension: 3rd declension

Example morphological changes:

• Nominative: πορφυρόπωλις
• Genitive: πορφυροπώλιδος
• Dative: πορφυροπώλιδι
• Accusative: πορφυρόπωλιν

Cross-references:

• Related noun: πορφύρα (purple)
• Related verb: πωλέω (to sell)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its unique reference to Lydia. Thayer’s notes the prestigious nature of the trade. LSJ documents similar trade designations. Vine’s highlights its significance in Acts. Strong’s connects it to luxury commerce. Moulton and Milligan cite similar trade descriptions in papyri.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 16:14: “And a certain woman named Lydia, a [πορφυρόπωλις] seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened.”

Additional References:
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 16:14.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πορφυρόπωλις embodies how the gospel transcends social and economic boundaries. Lydia’s story shows that successful business people can be receptive to God’s word, and that wealth and status need not be barriers to faith. This term reminds us that Christ calls people from all walks of life into His kingdom.

D – Did You Know?

1. Thyatira was famous for its purple dye industry and textile guilds.
2. Purple sellers were often wealthy due to the high value of their merchandise.
3. Archaeological evidence confirms the presence of purple dye workshops in Thyatira.

Strong’s G4211: A compound noun meaning “seller of purple fabric,” combining porphura (purple) and pōleō (to sell). Used only once in the New Testament to describe Lydia, a successful businesswoman from Thyatira who became the first European convert to Christianity.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: Lydia, purple trade, business, women in Acts, conversion, Thyatira, commerce, first European convert, social status, divine calling​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​