Αὔγουστος (Augoustos)
Augoustos
Augustus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Augoustos refers specifically to Augustus, the first Roman emperor, whose name was originally a title meaning "venerable" or "sacred." In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 2:1, where it identifies the ruler under whom Caesar issued a decree for a census. The term carries the weight of imperial authority, reflecting the political reality that shaped the setting of Jesus’ birth.
Derived from the Latin augustus, the word was conferred upon Octavian to denote his sanctity and near-divine status in Roman culture. By using this specific title, Luke anchors the gospel narrative in precise historical context, showing how the birth of Christ occurred under the jurisdiction of the most powerful man in the known world. The sources note that this usage highlights the contrast between earthly empire and the coming kingdom.
Translators consistently render Augoustos as "Augustus" to preserve the proper name rather than translating it as an adjective like "venerable." This choice maintains the historical identity of the emperor, allowing readers to recognize the specific figure who held power during the events described in Luke 2. The word serves as a brief but significant marker of time and place in the biblical record.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Augustus reminds us that God works within real history, not outside of it. When Luke mentions this Roman emperor, he places the birth of Jesus in a specific time and place known to the ancient world. This shows that the divine story is grounded in human events.
It also highlights a quiet contrast between earthly power and spiritual truth. While Augustus held authority over the known world, the newborn child represented a different kind of kingdom. We can find comfort in knowing that our faith is not abstract but connected to actual history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Augustus1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Αὐγούστου1×
Key Verses
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Luke 2:1
Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
This verse anchors the gospel narrative in precise historical context by identifying the specific ruler under whom the census took place.