Greek word · G4540

Σαμάρεια

samareia

Samaria

The region of central Palestine between Judea and Galilee, named after the old capital of the northern kingdom. Its people, the Samaritans, worshipped at Mount Gerizim and accepted only the five books of Moses.

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

What it means

Σαμαρία (Rec. -άρεια), -ας, ἡ (Heb. שֹׁמְרוֹן; Aram. שָׁמְרַיִן),

Samaria;

(a) the city: Acts 8:5 (and perhaps also Acts 8:9, 14);

(b) the region: Luke 17:11, John 4:4-5, 7, Acts 1:8 8:1 (and perhaps also Acts 8:9, 14) Acts 9:31 15:3.†

(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 1:8

Range of meaning

The region of central Palestine between Judea and Galilee, named after the old capital of the northern kingdom. Its people, the Samaritans, worshipped at Mount Gerizim and accepted only the five books of Moses.

Against the English

BSB, WEB and the major modern versions keep 'all Judea and Samaria' as one phrase. The KJV ('in all Judæa, and in Samaria') and YLT ('in all Judea, and Samaria') split it, which hides the fact that one Greek article joins the two regions.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jewish–Samaritan hostility is widely attested. Galilean pilgrims were murdered on their way through Samaria (Josephus, Antiquities 20.118–136); John 4:9 says 'Jews do not associate with Samaritans'; a Samaritan village refused Jesus and the disciples wanted to call down fire (Luke 9:52–54). Luke's Gospel goes against this by showing a good Samaritan (10:33) and a grateful Samaritan leper (17:16).

From the study of Acts 8:5

Range of meaning

Both a city and a region. The city was Omri's capital of the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kgs 16:24), was later rebuilt by Herod as Sebaste, and gave its name to the hill country between Judea and Galilee. The Samaritan people lived there, with their worship centered on Mount Gerizim near Shechem.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and ESV read "the city of Samaria," which suggests the named city. BSB, YLT and NIV read "a city in/of Samaria," which suggests some town in the region. The difference comes from the manuscripts (see the variants), not only from the translators' choices.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus tells the story of the Samaritans and their temple on Gerizim (Antiquities 11.302–347). He records John Hyrcanus destroying that temple (c. 111 BC, Ant. 13.254–256) and the city of Samaria (Ant. 13.275–281), and Herod rebuilding the city as Sebaste in honor of Augustus (Ant. 15.292–298). Sirach 50:25–26 shows Jewish contempt for "the foolish people that live in Shechem."

From the study of Acts 8:14

Range of meaning

Originally the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, founded by Omri (1 Kings 16:24). In the first century it was the name of the hill country between Judea and Galilee, and by extension of the people who lived there. The old city itself had been rebuilt by Herod the Great as Sebaste, in honor of Augustus.

Against the English

All the major versions keep "Samaria" except the NLT, which expands it to "the people of Samaria." That is the correct sense, as the plural "them" shows, but it loses the force of a whole land being named at once.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus records the bitter history: John Hyrcanus destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim in the late second century BC (Antiquities 13.254–256); Samaritans defiled the Jerusalem temple with human bones at a Passover (Antiquities 18.29–30); and Galilean pilgrims were killed on the road through Samaria around AD 52 (Antiquities 20.118–136). The Greek of Sirach 50:25–26 lists those living on the mountain of Samaria among the nations the writer detests. John 4:9 notes in passing that Jews and Samaritans did not associate.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 17:11 Σαμαρείας of Samaria

    While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.

John · 3

  1. John 4:4 Σαμαρείας. Samaria.

    Now He had to pass through Samaria.

    Here: Here this means the region, the hill country between Judea in the south and Galilee in the north, home of the Samaritans. It does not mean the old capital city, which Herod had rebuilt as Sebaste. Verse 5 confirms this: 'a town of Samaria called Sychar.'

  2. John 4:5 Σαμαρείας of Samaria

    So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

    Here: The region of Samaria, the hill country between Judea and Galilee where the Samaritan people lived. It does not mean the old capital city of the same name.

  3. John 4:7 Σαμαρείας Samaria

    When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

    Here: The hill country between Judea and Galilee, home of the Samaritans. Here it means the district, not the old capital city of Samaria (rebuilt as Sebaste), which lay several miles away. For a Jewish hearer the name alone signals a rival people.

Acts · 7

  1. Acts 1:8 Σαμαρείᾳ Samaria

    But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

    Here: The central hill country, home of the Samaritans, whom Jews regarded as rivals and of suspect descent. Joining it to Judea points to the old divided Israel made whole again.

  2. Acts 8:1 Σαμαρείας Samaria

    And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

    Here: The region to the north, home of the Samaritans, whom Judeans regarded with deep hostility. Exactly this pair, Judea and Samaria, is named in Jesus' charge in Acts 1:8.

  3. Acts 8:5 Σαμαρείας of Samaria

    Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.

    Here: In Luke's day this usually meant the region between Judea and Galilee (as in Acts 1:8; 8:1; 9:31). The old capital city of that name had been rebuilt by Herod and renamed Sebaste. "Of Samaria" therefore most naturally means "in the district of Samaria."

  4. Acts 8:9 Σαμαρείας of Samaria

    Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,

    Here: The region between Judea and Galilee. In Acts 1:8 it is the second stage of the witness ("Judea and Samaria"), and this chapter is where that stage happens.

  5. Acts 8:14 Σαμάρεια Samaria

    When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

    Here: The region and, by extension, its people, spoken of as one body. To a Jewish ear this was the name of a rival community, not a neutral spot on a map.

  6. Acts 9:31 Σαμαρείας Samaria

    Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

    Here: The central hill country of the Samaritans, long estranged from Judeans. Philip had evangelised it in Acts 8, and it is now counted as part of the one assembly.

  7. Acts 15:3 Σαμάρειαν Samaria

    Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

    Here: The hill country between Galilee and Judea. Its people were Samaritans, whom Jews regarded as outsiders, and Philip's preaching had won believers there (Acts 8).

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