Κύπρος

Cyprus

Definition

Κύπρος refers to the island of Cyprus, a significant location in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In the New Testament, it is consistently used as a proper noun denoting this specific island, with no alternative meanings. The island is notable as the homeland of Barnabas (Acts 4:36) and as a strategic point in the early spread of the gospel, particularly among Hellenistic Jews and Gentiles. Key passages, such as Acts 13:4-12, record it as the first destination for Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey, where they proclaimed the word of God.

Biblical Usage

The word Κύπρος appears five times in the New Testament, exclusively in the book of Acts. It is used in geographical and missionary contexts. In Acts 11:19, believers scattered after Stephen's persecution travel to Cyprus, preaching to Jews only. Acts 13:4 and 15:39 highlight its role in Paul's missionary itineraries. Acts 21:3 and 27:4 mention it as a navigational point in sea voyages, showing its importance in ancient travel routes.

Etymology

The word Κύπρος is the native Greek name for the island of Cyprus, likely derived from the Greek word for the cypress tree (κυπάρισσος) or from the Sumerian word for copper (zubar), as the island was famed for its copper mines. It entered biblical Greek directly as a proper noun without significant semantic development.

Semantic Range

Cyprus holds theological significance as a bridge for the gospel from Jerusalem to the Gentile world. As the homeland of Barnabas, a key early church leader known for his encouragement (Acts 4:36), and as the first stop on Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:4), it symbolizes the outward expansion of the Christian mission. The conversion of the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus on Cyprus (Acts 13:12) demonstrates the power of the gospel to reach high-ranking Gentiles, affirming the universal scope of salvation.

In the first-century Roman world, Cyprus was a prosperous island province known for its copper, timber, and strategic location along major sea trade routes. It had a mixed population of Greeks, Romans, and Jews. Culturally, it was a Hellenistic center, which influenced the missionary approach there, as seen in Acts. Its status as a Roman senatorial province, governed by a proconsul, is reflected in the encounter with Sergius Paulus in Acts 13:7.

νῆσος (nēsos, G3520) — A general Greek word for 'island'; Κύπρος is a specific island name.

Word Details

Scripture References