Greek word · G3099
Μαδιάν
madian
Midian
Midian: the territory of the Midianites, a semi-nomadic people based mainly in northwest Arabia, east of the Gulf of Aqaba, who also roamed into the Sinai and the Negev. Genesis traces them to Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:1–2).
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
Μαδιάμ, ὁ indecl. (Heb. מִדְיָן),
Midian;
1. son of Abraham (Genesis 25:2).
2. An Arabian tribe (Genesis 36:35, Psalms 83:9, al).
3. γῆ Μ. (Heb. מִדְיָן אֶרֶץ), the land of Midian (Exodus 2:15, al.): Acts 7:29.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Midian: the territory of the Midianites, a semi-nomadic people based mainly in northwest Arabia, east of the Gulf of Aqaba, who also roamed into the Sinai and the Negev. Genesis traces them to Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:1–2).
- Against the English
KJV 'Madian' follows the Greek spelling. Modern versions use the Hebrew-based 'Midian'.
- Used elsewhere in the period
LXX Exod 2:15 'ἐν γῇ Μαδιαμ', 'in the land of Midian'. Moses marries Zipporah, daughter of the Midianite priest Reuel/Jethro (Exod 2:16–22; 3:1; 18:1–12).
Where it appears
Acts · 1
-
Acts 7:29 Μαδιάμ, of Midian,
At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
Here: The region of the Midianites, east of the Gulf of Aqaba and in the wider Sinai and Arabian desert. The name does not change its ending. Here it means 'of Midian'.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.