Πισιδία
Pisidia
Definition
Πισιδία (Pisidia) refers to a mountainous region in southern Asia Minor, located north of Pamphylia and part of the Roman province of Galatia during the New Testament period. It was known for its rugged terrain and independent-minded inhabitants. In the Bible, Pisidia is specifically mentioned as a destination during Paul's first missionary journey, where he preached in its principal city, Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14). The region is referenced again as Paul and Barnabas passed through it on their return journey to Pamphylia (Acts 14:24).
Biblical Usage
The word Πισιδία is used exclusively in the Book of Acts (Acts 13:14, 14:24) to denote a specific geographical location. It functions as a proper noun identifying the region where Paul and Barnabas traveled and ministered. The usage is purely locative, marking stages in the narrative of the early church's expansion into Asia Minor. There is no symbolic or metaphorical usage; it simply anchors the historical account of the missionary journeys in a real place.
Etymology
The name Πισιδία (Pisidia) is derived from the Greek name for the region and its inhabitants, the Pisidians. It is not derived from a common Greek root word with a broader meaning but is a proper geographical name adopted into Greek from local languages. The term was used by Greek and Roman historians and geographers to designate this specific territory.
Semantic Range
In the 1st century, Pisidia was a culturally mixed region. It had been incorporated into the Roman province of Galatia but retained a strong local identity, with its people known for being tough and resistant to outside control. The city of Antioch in Pisidia was a Roman colony, meaning it had a significant population of Roman veterans and settlers, which influenced its social and political structure. Understanding this context highlights that Paul's missionary strategy often targeted significant urban centers within the Roman world, like this colony, to spread the gospel.
Γαλατία (Galatia, G1053) — The larger Roman province which contained the region of Pisidia. Ἀντιόχεια (Antiocheia, G490) — The major city within Pisidia where Paul preached, distinguished from other cities named Antioch.
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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