Brief Overview of σπεῖρα (Strong’s G4686: speira)

Strong’s G4686: A feminine noun denoting a Roman military cohort, typically consisting of 600 soldiers, or one-tenth of a legion. In New Testament usage, it represents Roman military authority, particularly in the Passion narrative and Acts, symbolizing worldly power encountering divine authority.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σπεῖρα represents a specific unit of Roman military organization, carrying significant historical and theological meaning in the New Testament. As the unit that arrested and mocked Jesus, it symbolizes worldly power’s opposition to divine authority. In the Passion narrative, the σπεῖρα unwittingly participates in God’s redemptive plan while attempting to suppress it. The early church saw deep irony in how this symbol of Roman power actually served God’s purposes. Today, it reminds us that all earthly authority ultimately serves God’s sovereign plan, even when appearing to oppose it.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: σπεῖρα, speira, /ˈspei̯.ra/
• Pronunciation Guide: “SPAY-rah”
• Part of Speech: Feminine Noun

Etymology:

• From ancient Greek σπεῖρα (speira, “coil, twist”)
• Possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *sper- (“to turn, twist”)
• Adopted as technical term for Roman military unit

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meaning: Roman military cohort
• Secondary meaning: Military unit (generally)
• Technical meaning: One-tenth of a Roman legion

Translation Options:

• Cohort – Most precise technical term
• Battalion – Modern military equivalent
• Company – Smaller unit equivalent

E – Exploring Similar Words

• τάγμα (tagma) /ˈtag.ma/ – Military division or rank – See G5001
• λεγιών (legiōn) /le.giˈɔːn/ – Legion, larger military unit – See G3003
• στρατιά (stratia) /straˈti.a/ – Army, host – See G4756

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First declension

Examples:

• Nominative: σπεῖρα (speira)
• Genitive: σπείρης (speirēs)
• Dative: σπείρῃ (speirē)
• Accusative: σπεῖραν (speiran)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its technical military meaning in Roman context. Thayer’s notes its size and organization details. LSJ traces its development from “coil” to military unit. Vine’s highlights its significance in the Passion narrative. Moulton and Milligan provide evidence of its technical usage in military documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Matthew 27:27: “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison [σπεῖρα] around Him.”

Additional References:
John 18:3, John 18:12, Acts 10:1, Acts 27:1

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σπεῖρα reminds us that even the mightiest human institutions serve God’s purposes. In the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, Rome’s military power became an unwitting instrument in God’s plan of salvation, showing how the Messiah’s kingdom transcends and transforms worldly power structures.

D – Did You Know?

• A σπεῖρα typically contained 600 men but could vary in size
• The term originally meant “coil” before becoming a military term
• The cohort that arrested Jesus was likely the Antonia Fortress garrison

Strong’s G4686: A feminine noun designating a Roman military cohort, representing organized worldly power in the New Testament. Its presence in the Passion narrative symbolizes human authority’s ultimate subordination to divine purposes in God’s redemptive plan.

Part of speech: Feminine Noun

Tags: military, Roman army, cohort, Passion narrative, arrest, Jesus trial, Matthew, John, Acts, authority, power​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​