Greek word · G2381

Θωμᾶς

thōmas

Thomas

Thōmas represents Aramaic tə'ōmā, 'twin' (Hebrew tə'ôm). Didymos is the standard Greek word for 'twin', and it was also used as a personal name in the Greek-speaking world. So the phrase means roughly 'Twin, the one known as Twin'. John gives the meaning for readers who did not know Aramaic.

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

θωμᾶς, -ᾶ, ὁ (Heb.: תָּאוֹם, a twin; cf. δίδυμος),

Thomas the Apostle: Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, John 11:16 14:5 20:24-28 21:2, Acts 1:13.†

(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 John 11:16

Range of meaning

Thōmas represents Aramaic tə'ōmā, 'twin' (Hebrew tə'ôm). Didymos is the standard Greek word for 'twin', and it was also used as a personal name in the Greek-speaking world. So the phrase means roughly 'Twin, the one known as Twin'. John gives the meaning for readers who did not know Aramaic.

Against the English

Most English versions (KJV, BSB, NASB, WEB, NIV) keep 'Didymus' as if it were a second proper name. ESV and NLT translate it as 'the Twin', which shows the reader that it is a gloss.

How it drifted

Left untranslated, 'Didymus' sounds to English readers like a surname or a separate formal name. That hides the fact that John is translating the nickname.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) uses didyma for Rebekah's twins (Gen 25:24) and Tamar's twins (Gen 38:27). John uses the same double name in 20:24 and 21:2. Later Syriac Christianity knew him as 'Judas Thomas'. The Gospel of Thomas opens with 'Didymos Judas Thomas'. The Old Syriac (Curetonian) reads 'Judas Thomas' at John 14:22, and Eusebius (Church History 1.13) gives 'Judas who is also called Thomas'. The Acts of Thomas (3rd century) went further and made him Jesus' twin. That is later legend, with no support in John.

From the study of John 20:26

Range of meaning

A Greek spelling of the Aramaic name or nickname tə'ōmā, 'twin'. John explains it with the Greek Didymos, 'twin' (11:16; 20:24; 21:2).

Against the English

English readers hear only a name. The meaning 'twin' is lost unless the reader notices 'called Didymus'.

Used elsewhere in the period

John 11:16 (willing to go and die with Jesus), 14:5 ('we do not know where you are going'), 20:24–29, 21:2. Syriac tradition calls him 'Judas Thomas' (Acts of Thomas; Gospel of Thomas prologue 'Didymos Judas Thomas'). These are later writings, from the 2nd–3rd century.

From the study of Matthew 10:3

Range of meaning

A transliteration of the Aramaic tə'ōmā (Hebrew tə'ôm), "twin." It is not known as an ordinary personal name in Jewish sources before this, so it is probably a nickname.

Against the English

English "Thomas" sounds like an ordinary given name. Readers lose the fact that it meant "Twin."

How it drifted

Its use as a saint's name made it a common European first name, and the meaning faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

John 11:16; 20:24; 21:2: "Thomas, called Didymus" (Greek for twin). Syriac tradition calls him "Judas Thomas" (Acts of Thomas; the opening line of the Gospel of Thomas: "Didymos Judas Thomas"). Those texts are later, but they suggest his given name may have been Judas.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 10:3 Θωμᾶς Thomas

    Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

    Here: A Greek spelling of the Aramaic tə'ōmā, "twin." John's Gospel translates it for Greek readers as Didymos, "Twin" (John 11:16). It may be a nickname rather than a birth name.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 3:18 Θωμᾶν Thomas

    Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,

    Here: The Aramaic word tᵊʾōmāʾ, 'twin', put into Greek. It is a nickname. John translates it as Didymus, Greek for 'twin' (John 11:16). In Syriac tradition his given name was Judas.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 6:15 Θωμᾶν Thomas

    Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot;

John · 7

  1. John 11:16 Θωμᾶς Thomas

    Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

    Here: A Greek spelling of the Aramaic word for 'twin' (tə'ōmā). It works more like a nickname than a given name. This is the first time Thomas speaks in John's Gospel.

  2. John 14:5 Θωμᾶς· Thomas;

    “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

    Here: A Greek spelling of the Aramaic nickname tᵉʾômā, 'Twin'. John translates it elsewhere as Didymus, 'Twin' (11:16; 20:24; 21:2). Thomas is the second of four disciples in chapters 13–14 who break into Jesus' farewell speech with a question.

  3. John 20:24 Θωμᾶς Thomas

    Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

  4. John 20:26 Θωμᾶς Thomas

    Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

    Here: A name from Aramaic tə'ōmā, 'twin', which John translates as Didymus (20:24). He missed the first appearance and set his own conditions for believing (20:25).

  5. John 20:27 Θωμᾷ· to Thomas;

    Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”

    Here: The Greek form of the Aramaic word for "twin." John adds its Greek equivalent, Didymus (v. 24). He is the disciple who was absent a week earlier and had sworn he would not believe without seeing and touching (v. 25).

  6. John 20:28 Θωμᾶς Thomas

    Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”

    Here: From Aramaic tə'ōmā, 'twin', which is why John also calls him Didymus, the Greek for 'twin' (11:16; 20:24; 21:2). He is the disciple who had refused to believe on the others' word (20:25).

  7. John 21:2 Θωμᾶς Thomas

    Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 1:13 Θωμᾶς, Thomas,

    When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

    Here: From Aramaic te'oma, 'twin'. John's Gospel translates it as Didymus (John 11:16). It may have been a nickname rather than a given name.

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