Ἰαννῆς
Jannes
Definition
Ἰαννῆς (Jannes) is the name of an Egyptian magician who, along with Jambres, opposed Moses before Pharaoh. The name appears only in 2 Timothy 3:8, where Paul references these figures as archetypes of those who resist the truth. They are presented as corrupt in mind and counterfeit in faith, specifically opposing God's work through Moses during the Exodus plagues. While not named in the Old Testament, Jewish tradition identifies them as the chief magicians of Pharaoh's court from Exodus 7:11-12.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used only once in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 3:8. Paul employs the names Jannes and Jambres as a historical analogy to describe false teachers who oppose the truth in the last days. The usage is typological, drawing from extra-biblical tradition to illustrate a spiritual principle about resistance to God's message.
Etymology
The name Ἰαννῆς is of Egyptian origin, Hellenized into Greek. Its exact Egyptian root is uncertain, but it was preserved in Jewish and early Christian tradition as the name of Pharaoh's magician. The form is a direct transliteration into Greek, with no known Greek root meaning.
Semantic Range
Jannes serves as a significant theological type for apostasy and active opposition to God's truth. Paul's reference underscores the continuity of spiritual conflict—from Moses' day to the church era—and warns believers that deception will mimic true power (2 Timothy 3:8-9). Understanding this typology enriches the reading of 2 Timothy by connecting false teaching in the church to a longstanding pattern of resisting God's revealed will.
In first-century Jewish and Christian circles, Jannes and Jambres were well-known figures from interpretive tradition, representing the archety pagan wise men or magicians who use counterfeit spiritual power to oppose God's prophets. This cultural understanding differs from a modern reading, as Paul assumes his audience knows the tradition without needing an Old Testament citation.
γόης (goēs, G1114) — a general term for a sorcerer or imposter, whereas Ἰαννῆς is a specific traditional name. μάγος (magos, G3097) — a Magi or wise man, which can be neutral or negative, while Jannes is explicitly a negative opponent.
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.
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