Μακεδών
a Macedonian
Definition
Μακεδών refers to a person from Macedonia, a region north of Greece that became a Roman province. In the New Testament, it specifically denotes an inhabitant of this province, which included cities like Philippi and Thessalonica. The term is used both for individuals (e.g., the Macedonian man in the vision of Acts 16:9) and collectively for the people of the region (e.g., the Macedonians who accompanied Paul in Acts 19:29). In Paul's letters, it often highlights the exemplary character of the Macedonian churches, particularly their generosity despite poverty (2 Corinthians 9:2, 9:4).
Biblical Usage
The word appears five times, exclusively in Acts and 2 Corinthians. In Acts, it identifies individuals from Macedonia: the man in Paul's vision (Acts 16:9), companions like Aristarchus and Gaius (Acts 19:29), and the sailor Aristarchus on Paul's voyage (Acts 27:2). In 2 Corinthians, Paul uses it collectively to praise the Macedonian churches for their eagerness to give to the Jerusalem collection, setting an example for the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 9:2, 9:4). The usage shifts from simple geographical identification in Acts to a model of Christian virtue in Paul's epistles.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek Μακεδών (Makedōn), which originally referred to the inhabitants of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia. The name is believed to come from the Greek μακεδνός (makednos), meaning 'tall' or 'high,' possibly describing the people's physical stature or their mountainous homeland. As a proper noun, it retained its ethnic and regional sense into the Roman era, when Macedonia was a province.
Semantic Range
The term is theologically significant as Paul highlights the Macedonians' extreme generosity as a model of Christian stewardship. Despite their 'deep poverty' (2 Corinthians 8:2), they gave abundantly, demonstrating grace-driven giving that surpasses human expectation. This contrasts with the wealthier Corinthians, urging them to excel in this grace. Understanding 'Macedonian' thus enriches reading by connecting ethnic identity to a powerful example of faith in action, emphasizing that sacrificial giving is a fruit of genuine devotion to Christ.
In the 1st century, Macedonians were part of the Roman province of Macedonia, known for their distinct history as the empire of Alexander the Great. Culturally, they were Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) but sometimes viewed by southern Greeks as less refined. Paul's positive portrayal subverts any cultural prejudice, elevating them as spiritual exemplars. Their generosity would have been notable given the region's economic struggles after Roman conquest, making their contribution to the Jerusalem collection especially remarkable.
Ἕλλην (Hellēn, G1672) — a Greek, often referring to Greek culture or language, whereas Μακεδών specifies a regional identity within the Greek world.
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 →