ἔπαυλις

a farm, estate, dwelling

Definition

The Greek noun ἔπαυλις refers to a rural dwelling or homestead, specifically a farm or country estate. It denotes a permanent habitation outside a city, often implying a working agricultural property. In its single New Testament occurrence in Acts 1:20, it is used metaphorically in a quotation from Psalm 69:25 (LXX) to describe a person's 'dwelling place' or habitation, which in the context of Judas Iscariot is left desolate. The word carries the sense of a settled, personal abode rather than a temporary shelter.

Biblical Usage

ἔπαυλις is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 1:20. Here, Peter applies a passage from the Psalms to Judas Iscariot, saying, 'Let his homestead (ἔπαυλις) become desolate.' The usage is entirely metaphorical, drawing on the Old Testament language of the Septuagint (Psalm 69:25) to signify the utter and permanent loss of one's place or inheritance among God's people. There is no literal reference to a physical farm or estate in the New Testament context.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek preposition ἐπί (epi, meaning 'upon' or 'at') and the noun αὐλή (aulē, meaning 'courtyard,' 'dwelling,' or 'palace'). Literally, it means a dwelling 'upon' or 'at' a courtyard, evolving to signify a homestead or farmstead—a settled rural residence. It is related to the verb αὐλίζομαι (aulizomai, G835), meaning 'to lodge' or 'spend the night.'

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a common noun for a dwelling, its theological significance in Acts 1:20 is profound. It is used in a prophetic judgment pronouncement against Judas, fulfilling Scripture and highlighting the theme of divine justice and the consequences of betrayal. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by connecting Peter's speech directly to the Septuagint's poetic language of desolation and loss, emphasizing the complete forfeiture of Judas's place among the apostles.

In the Greco-Roman world, an ἔπαυλις was a recognizable type of property—a working farm or country estate, distinct from a city house (οἰκία, oikia, G3614). It represented stability, livelihood, and family heritage. The metaphorical use in Acts 1:20 would have resonated with listeners as a powerful image of losing one's foundational place in the community and means of sustenance.

οἰκία (oikia, G3614) — a general term for a house or household, often in a city. οἰκητήριον (oikētērion, G3613) — a dwelling place, sometimes with a more permanent or heavenly connotation. μονή (monē, G3438) — an abiding place, dwelling, used of rooms in John 14:2. κατοικία (katoikia, G2733) — a settlement or habitation, emphasizing the act of dwelling in a place.

Word Details

Scripture References