Ἰάειρος

Jairus

Definition

Jairus is a personal name referring to a Jewish synagogue ruler in the New Testament. In the Gospels, he is specifically identified as a ruler of the synagogue (ἀρχισυνάγωγος) in the town of Capernaum. His primary role in the biblical narrative is as a desperate father who seeks Jesus's help to heal his dying daughter, as recorded in Mark 5:22-23 and Luke 8:41-42. The name itself does not carry multiple senses in the text; it functions solely as the identifier for this specific individual.

Biblical Usage

The name Ἰάειρος is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in parallel accounts of the same event. It appears in Mark 5:22 and Luke 8:41, where he is introduced as a synagogue ruler who approaches Jesus. The usage is strictly as a proper noun to name a specific character in the narrative of Jesus's healing ministry. Both accounts use his name to personalize the story of faith and miraculous restoration.

Etymology

The name Ἰάειρος (Jairus) is the Greek form of the Hebrew name יָאִיר (Ya'ir), meaning 'he enlightens' or 'he will awaken'. It is derived from the Hebrew root אור ('or), meaning 'light'. This name appears in the Old Testament for several figures, most notably Jair the Gileadite in Judges 10:3-5. The New Testament usage continues this Hebrew onomastic tradition through its Greek transliteration.

Semantic Range

While a proper name, Jairus's story is theologically significant as a powerful narrative of faith, desperation, and Jesus's authority over life and death. His position as a synagogue ruler—a respected community leader—humbling himself before Jesus underscores the accessibility of Christ's power to all, regardless of social status. The account (Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56) highlights Jesus's compassion and his power to restore life, prefiguring his own resurrection, and demonstrates that faith is often exercised in the midst of hopeless circumstances.

As a 'ruler of the synagogue' (ἀρχισυνάγωγος), Jairus held a position of significant social and religious authority in a 1st-century Jewish community. He would have been responsible for organizing synagogue services, maintaining the building, and inviting speakers. His public pleading with Jesus, a controversial teacher, involved a considerable risk to his own reputation, emphasizing the depth of his paternal desperation. This cultural status makes his act of faith and the subsequent miracle particularly striking to the original audience.

ἀρχισυνάγωγος (archisynagōgos, G752) — This is not a synonym for the name Jairus, but his title, meaning 'ruler of the synagogue', which defines his social role.

Word Details

Scripture References