ἱππεύς
a mounted soldier
Definition
A ἱππεύς is a mounted soldier, specifically a cavalryman or horse-soldier. In the New Testament, it refers to a Roman military rider, distinct from a foot soldier. This term is used exclusively in Acts 23:23 and Acts 23:32 to describe the mounted escort provided by the Roman tribune Claudius Lysias to transport the Apostle Paul safely from Jerusalem to the Roman governor Felix in Caesarea. The word emphasizes the specific military unit (cavalry) assigned for this protective detail.
Biblical Usage
The word ἱππεύς is used only twice in the New Testament, both in Acts 23. It describes the Roman cavalry soldiers tasked with guarding Paul during a critical transfer. In Acts 23:23, the tribune orders 'two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen (ἱππεῖς), and two hundred spearmen' to depart for Caesarea. In Acts 23:32, the horsemen (ἱππεῖς) return to their barracks after delivering Paul to the infantry escort. Its usage is strictly military and narrative, highlighting Roman protocol and the serious protective measures taken.
Etymology
Derived directly from the Greek noun ἵππος (hippos, G2462), meaning 'horse.' The suffix -εύς (-eus) typically denotes an agent or person associated with the root, thus forming 'horseman' or 'rider.' It is a straightforward compound common in Greek for professions or roles, similar to ναυτεύς (nauteus, sailor) from ναῦς (naus, ship).
Semantic Range
In the Roman world, cavalry (ἱππεῖς) were a specialized and often elite military component, providing speed, reconnaissance, and shock value. They were more expensive to equip and maintain than infantry. The presence of seventy horsemen in Acts 23:23-32 signifies the high value the Roman tribune placed on Paul's safety and the perceived threat from the conspirators. This detail underscores the Roman Empire's role, at times unwittingly, in facilitating the spread of the gospel by protecting its key messengers.
στρατιώτης (stratiōtēs, G4757) — a broader term for a soldier, often a foot soldier. ἱππότης (hippotēs, G2461) — a less common synonym also meaning horseman or rider.
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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