Greek word · G3683

Ὀνησίφορος

onēsiphoros

Onesiphorus

Personal name meaning 'bringing profit' or 'bringing help', a name commonly given to slaves and freedmen in the Greek world.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ὀνησίφορος, -ου, ὁ

(i.e. bringing advantage),

Onesiphorus: 2 Timothy 1:16 4:19.†

(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 2 Timothy 4:19

Range of meaning

Personal name meaning 'bringing profit' or 'bringing help', a name commonly given to slaves and freedmen in the Greek world.

Against the English

All versions simply transliterate it. The name's meaning, which fits his helpful service in 1:16–18, does not come through in English.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament he appears only at 2 Tim 1:16–18 and here. The second-century Acts of Paul and Thecla makes him a householder of Iconium with wife Lectra and sons Simmias and Zeno. That is a legend built on this letter, not independent history.

Where it appears

2 Timothy · 2

  1. 2 Timothy 1:16 Ὀνησιφόρου of Onesiphorus

    May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.

    Here: A man's name meaning 'profit-bringer' or 'bringer of help'. It fits his conduct well, though Paul does not play on it here. He is mentioned only here and in 4:19 (both times through his household).

  2. 2 Timothy 4:19 Ὀνησιφόρου of Onesiphorus

    Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus.

    Here: 'Of Onesiphorus.' This is the man praised in 1:16–18 for searching Rome until he found the imprisoned Paul. Paul greets his household but not the man himself, which is a striking detail.

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