Greek word · G2430

Ἰκόνιον

ikonion

Iconium

A major city on the high plain of south-central Asia Minor (modern Konya), in the Roman province of Galatia. Ancient writers disagreed over whether it belonged to Phrygia or Lycaonia.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ἰκόνιον, -ου, τό

Iconium, a city of the province of Galatia: Acts 13:51 14:1, 19 14:21 16:2, 2 Timothy 3:11.†

(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 Acts 16:2

Range of meaning

A major city on the high plain of south-central Asia Minor (modern Konya), in the Roman province of Galatia. Ancient writers disagreed over whether it belonged to Phrygia or Lycaonia.

Against the English

No translation issue.

Used elsewhere in the period

Xenophon (Anabasis 1.2.19) calls Iconium the last city of Phrygia. Acts 14:6 likewise implies Iconium was not in Lycaonia, since Paul fled from it 'to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia.' Acts 13:51–14:5 describes the church founded there and the plot to stone the apostles.

Where it appears

Acts · 5

  1. Acts 13:51 Ἰκόνιον. Iconium.

    So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

    Here: Modern Konya in Turkey. It was a prosperous city on the high plateau, about 140–150 km (roughly 90 miles) southeast of Pisidian Antioch along the Roman road called the Via Sebaste, and lay in the Roman province of Galatia.

  2. Acts 14:1 Ἰκονίῳ Iconium

    At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

    Here: A large city on the high plateau of south-central Anatolia (modern Konya), about 150 km east-southeast of Pisidian Antioch, in the Roman province of Galatia.

  3. Acts 14:19 Ἰκονίου Iconium

    Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.

    Here: Modern Konya, about 30 km (18 miles) from Lystra. There a plot to mistreat and stone the apostles had already formed (14:5).

  4. Acts 14:21 Ἰκόνιον Iconium

    They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

    Here: Modern Konya. Here a plot to mistreat and stone them had forced them to flee (14:5–6).

  5. Acts 16:2 Ἰκονίῳ Iconium

    The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

    Here: A bigger city about 30 km (18 miles) north-east of Lystra, where Paul had also planted a church (Acts 13:51–14:6). Its mention shows the churches knew each other and Timothy was known beyond his home congregation.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 3:11 Ἰκονίῳ, Iconium,

    my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

    Here: Modern Konya. Here a plot to mistreat and stone the missionaries forced them to flee (Acts 14:1–6).

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