Brief Overview of πύθων (Strong’s G4436: python)
Strong’s G4436: A masculine noun originally referring to the mythological Python serpent slain by Apollo at Delphi, later denoting a spirit of divination. In Acts, describes a slave girl’s spirit of fortune-telling, representing demonic influence in pagan religious practices.
U- Unveiling the Word
πύθων carries deep significance in both Greco-Roman mythology and biblical demonology. Originally referring to the serpent killed by Apollo at Delphi, it came to represent divination spirits and fortune-telling practices in the ancient world. In its sole New Testament appearance, Luke uses this term to identify the spirit possessing a slave girl in Philippi, demonstrating the reality of demonic influence behind pagan religious practices. Early church fathers frequently referenced this term when discussing spiritual warfare and false prophecy. Today, it continues to warn about deceptive spiritual practices and affirm Christ’s authority over all spiritual powers.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: πύθων, python, /poo-thone/
- Detailed pronunciation: POO-thone (with ‘th’ as in “thin”)
- Part of Speech: Noun (masculine)
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Etymology:
- Root: Derived from Πυθώ (Pytho) – ancient name of Delphi
- Related to mythology of Apollo slaying the Python
- No prefixes or suffixes
- Name became associated with divination spirits
D – Defining Meanings
- Spirit of divination
- Prophetic or fortune-telling spirit
- Reference to the Pythian serpent/oracle
For compound words: Not a compound word
Translation Options:
- “Spirit of divination” – Most contextual translation
- “Python spirit” – More literal but requires explanation
- “Fortune-telling spirit” – Modern equivalent meaning
E – Exploring Similar Words
- μαντεύομαι (manteuomai) /man-tyoo-om-ahee/ – “to practice divination” – See G3132
- δαιμόνιον (daimonion) /dahee-mon-ee-on/ – “demon” – See G1140
- πνεῦμα (pneuma) /pnyoo-mah/ – “spirit” – See G4151
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
As a masculine noun of the second declension, πύθων exhibits:
- Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
- Number: Singular and Plural
- Gender: Masculine
- Declension: Second
Examples of morphological changes:
- Nominative: ὁ πύθων (the python spirit)
- Genitive: τοῦ πύθωνος (of the python spirit)
- Dative: τῷ πύθωνι (to/with the python spirit)
- Accusative: τὸν πύθωνα (the python spirit)
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes its connection to the Delphic oracle. Thayer’s notes its evolution from mythological to spiritual reference. LSJ documents its use in pagan religious contexts. Vine’s connects it to demonic divination. Strong’s emphasizes its relation to fortune-telling. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from magical papyri. LEH discusses its absence from the Septuagint.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
Acts 16:16 “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination [πύθωνα] met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.”
Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Plutarch: Moralia | “The priestess spoke by the power of the Python [πύθων]” |
| Strabo: Geography | “The oracle at Delphi where the Python [πύθων] once dwelt” |
| Pausanias: Description | “Apollo slew the Python [πύθων] and established the oracle” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
πύθων reminds us of the reality of spiritual deception and Christ’s authority over all spiritual powers. Paul’s encounter with the slave girl demonstrates that false spiritual power must yield to the true power of Christ. This proclaims the good news that Jesus has authority over all spiritual forces and delivers those bound by deceptive spiritual practices.
D – Did You Know?
- The term gave rise to the modern word “python” in many languages.
- Delphic priestesses were called “Pythia” after this spirit.
- Early Christians used this term when discussing the difference between true and false prophecy.
Strong’s G4436: A masculine noun originally referring to the mythological Python serpent slain by Apollo at Delphi, later denoting a spirit of divination. In Acts, describes a slave girl’s spirit of fortune-telling, representing demonic influence in pagan religious practices.
Part of speech: Noun (masculine)
Tags: divination, fortune-telling, spiritual warfare, demons, pagan practices, Delphi, oracle, false prophecy, spiritual deception, demonic influence, Greek mythology, spiritual deliverance
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