Ἰούδα
Judah, Judas, Jude
Definition
The Greek name Ἰούδα (Judah, Judas, or Jude) primarily refers to the tribe of Judah, the territory of Judah, or individuals bearing the name. In the New Testament, it most often denotes the tribe of Judah, from which Jesus descended (Hebrews 7:14, Revelation 5:5). It can also refer to the geographical region of Judea (Luke 1:39). As a personal name, it is used for several figures, most notably Judas Iscariot, though the specific references here (e.g., Matthew 2:6, Revelation 7:5) focus on the tribe and territory, not the betrayer.
Biblical Usage
The word is used in various contexts across the New Testament. In the Gospels and Acts, it often refers to the region of Judea (Luke 1:39). In the Epistles and Revelation, it emphasizes the tribe of Judah in a theological, prophetic, or symbolic sense, highlighting Jesus's Davidic lineage and messianic fulfillment (Hebrews 7:14, Revelation 5:5). It appears in quotations of Old Testament prophecies (Matthew 2:6, Hebrews 8:8).
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah), meaning 'praised.' The Greek form Ἰούδα is a direct transliteration. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), it consistently translates the Hebrew for the patriarch Judah, his tribe, and the kingdom.
Semantic Range
This name is theologically significant as it directly connects to the messianic promise. Jesus is identified as the 'Lion of the tribe of Judah' (Revelation 5:5), fulfilling the prophecy that the ruler would come from Judah (Genesis 49:10, Matthew 2:6). The New Testament emphasizes that Jesus's priesthood is of a different order than Levi's because he descended from Judah (Hebrews 7:14), central to the argument for his superior, eternal priesthood.
In first-century Jewish culture, 'Judah' evoked national identity, royal lineage, and prophetic hope. The tribe of Judah held preeminence, and the territory of Judea was the heartland. For the original readers, references to Judah immediately recalled the Davidic covenant and the expectation of a Messiah from David's line and Judah's tribe.
Ἰουδαία (ioudaia, G2449) — Refers specifically to the geographical region or province of Judea. Ἰούδας (ioudas, G2455) — An identical form often used for the personal name Judas (e.g., Judas Iscariot).
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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