Ἀδραμυττηνός
belonging to Adramyttium
Definition
Ἀδραμυττηνός is an adjective meaning 'belonging to Adramyttium' or 'of Adramyttium.' It specifically identifies a person or object as originating from or associated with the port city of Adramyttium in Mysia, a region of Asia Minor. In its single biblical occurrence in Acts 27:2, it describes a ship ('a ship of Adramyttium') that Paul boarded as a prisoner en route to Rome. The term functions purely as a geographical identifier, with no additional metaphorical or theological senses in the New Testament.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:2. It is used descriptively to specify the home port or origin of a ship: '...we embarked in a ship of Adramyttium.' The context is the narrative of Paul's voyage to Rome for his appeal to Caesar. The usage is straightforward, serving to provide a specific detail about the vessel's provenance within the historical account.
Etymology
Derived directly from the place name Ἀδραμύττειον (Adramyttium). The suffix -ηνός is a common Greek adjectival ending used to form demonyms, indicating origin or belonging (similar to '-ian' or '-ite' in English). It is not a compound of ἀ- (not/without) and a root 'dramyttēnos'; that analysis is incorrect. The word is simply the geographical name adapted into an adjective.
Semantic Range
Adramyttium was a significant seaport on the northwest coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Edremit, Turkey). In the 1st century, it was part of the Roman province of Asia. Ships like the one mentioned in Acts 27:2 were engaged in coastal trade and travel throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Identifying a ship by its home port was a standard practice, providing information about its likely trade routes and destination. This detail grounds the biblical narrative in the real-world maritime commerce of the Roman Empire.
No direct synonyms for this proper demonym exist in the New Testament. For other geographical descriptors of origin, see: Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios, G2453) — pertaining to Judea/Judah; Ἑλληνιστής (Hellēnistēs, G1675) — a Greek-speaking Jew; Ῥωμαῖος (Rhōmaios, G4514) — pertaining to Rome.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
Full methodology & sources →