Greek word · G1216

Δημήτριος

dēmētrios

Demetrius

A personal name derived from Demeter, the Greek goddess of grain and harvest. It was very common across the Greek-speaking world, including among slaves, freedmen and citizens.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Δημήτριος, -ου, ὁ

Demetrius;

1. a silversmith, Acts 19:24 38.

2. A Christian disciple, 3 John 1:12.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 3 John 1:12

Range of meaning

A personal name derived from Demeter, the Greek goddess of grain and harvest. It was very common across the Greek-speaking world, including among slaves, freedmen and citizens.

Against the English

English versions simply carry the name over. There is no translation issue.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the only other Demetrius is the silversmith at Ephesus who stirred up a riot against Paul (Acts 19:24, 38). The name is found in thousands of Greek inscriptions and papyri. A later church document, the fourth-century Apostolic Constitutions (7.46), says the apostle John appointed a Demetrius as bishop of Philadelphia, but that tradition comes too late to be relied on.

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 19:24 Δημήτριος Demetrius

    It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.

  2. Acts 19:38 Δημήτριος Demetrius

    So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.

    Here: The silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis and stirred up the riot (19:24–27). The name is a common Greek one, derived from the goddess Demeter.

3 John · 1

  1. 3 John 1:12 Δημητρίῳ To Demetrius

    Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

    Here: A common Greek name, meaning 'belonging to Demeter' (the grain goddess). The Greek puts it in the 'to/for' form and first in the sentence, so Demetrius is the person the testimony is given to and the person the sentence is about.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.