Λασαία
Lasea
Definition
Λασαία (Lasea) is a proper noun referring to a specific city on the island of Crete. It is identified as a coastal settlement located near the middle of Crete's southern shore, close to the port of Fair Havens mentioned in Acts 27:8. The city is not mentioned in any other ancient literature, making its sole historical attestation the biblical account. Its mention serves to provide a precise geographical anchor for the narrative of Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:8. It functions strictly as a geographical location name, providing a specific detail about the Apostle Paul's journey. The usage is purely descriptive, noting that after sailing along the coast of Crete with difficulty, the ship passed near a city called Lasea, which was close to a place called Fair Havens.
Etymology
The etymology of Λασαία (Lasaia) is uncertain, as it is a proper name for a city. It is derived directly from the Greek language, but its specific root and meaning are lost to history. It has no known cognates or clear derivations from other common Greek words, which is typical for many ancient place names.
Semantic Range
Lasea was a city in the Roman province of Crete. Its mention highlights the detailed, historical nature of Luke's account in Acts, lending credibility to the narrative. For ancient readers familiar with Mediterranean geography, it provided a concrete location. Today, its exact site is uncertain, though it is believed to be near the modern village of Lendas on Crete's south coast.
None applicable for a unique proper noun.
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.
Full methodology & sources →