Brief Overview of Σαλαμίς (Strong’s G4529: Salamis)

Strong’s G4529: The principal city of Cyprus, located on its eastern coast. Significant in early Christian missions as one of Paul and Barnabas’s first stops on their first missionary journey, where they proclaimed God’s word in Jewish synagogues, marking the beginning of organized Gentile evangelism.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σαλαμίς represents a significant milestone in early Christian mission work. First appearing in Acts 13:5, it marks the beginning of Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas. As a major port city with a substantial Jewish population, it served as a strategic starting point for spreading the gospel beyond Palestine. Early church writers saw this visit as exemplifying the pattern of taking the gospel “to the Jew first, then to the Gentile.” Today, Σαλαμίς reminds us of the strategic importance of urban centers in gospel advancement and the pattern of cross-cultural mission work.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σαλαμίς, Salamis, /sal-am-is’/
• Pronunciation Guide: “sal” (like ‘sal’), “am” (like ‘am’), “is” (like ‘ease’)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Pre-Greek origin
• Possibly related to Semitic “shalom” (peace)
• No clear Greek etymological components
• Ancient Mediterranean place name

D – Defining Meanings

• City of Salamis
• Principal port of Cyprus
• Eastern Cypriot metropolis
• Commercial center

For compound words:
Not a compound word – it’s a proper place name

Translation Options:

• “Salamis” – traditional transliteration
• “Salamis of Cyprus” – geographical clarification
• “Port Salamis” – functional description

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Πάφος (Paphos) /paf’-os/ – another Cypriot city See G3974 – related location
• Κύπρος (Kypros) /koo’-pros/ – Cyprus See G2954 – the island
• λιμήν (limēn) /lee-mane’/ – harbor See G3040 – related concept

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Indeclinable in New Testament usage
• No case changes
• No number changes
• No gender variations

The place name remains unchanged in Greek text.

Cross-references:

• No verbal or adjectival forms
• No related word families in biblical Greek

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes Σαλαμίς’s importance as a mission center. Thayer’s notes its commercial significance. LSJ provides historical context of the city. Vine’s highlights its role in Acts. Strong’s identifies it as a major Cypriot city. LEH documents its appearance in Hellenistic literature. Moulton and Milligan show its prominence in commercial documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper. (Acts 13:5)

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The city Σαλαμίς represents the strategic advancement of King Jesus’s kingdom through urban centers. As the first stop on Paul’s initial missionary journey, it exemplifies how God uses established commercial and cultural hubs to spread His gospel. This reminds us that the good news travels along human networks but carries divine power to transform lives and communities.

D – Did You Know?

1. Salamis had multiple synagogues, indicating a substantial Jewish population.
2. The city was later destroyed by earthquakes and Arab invasions.
3. Archaeological remains show evidence of early Christian presence.

Strong’s G4529: The principal city of Cyprus, located on its eastern coast. Significant in early Christian missions as one of Paul and Barnabas’s first stops on their first missionary journey, where they proclaimed God’s word in Jewish synagogues, marking the beginning of organized Gentile evangelism.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Salamis, Cyprus, Paul’s missions, Acts, missionary journeys, ancient cities, evangelism, Jewish diaspora, Mediterranean, urban ministry​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​