Βαριησοῦς (Bariēsous)
Bariēsous
Bar-Jesus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Bariēsous, rendered in English as Bar-Jesus, appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 13:6. It identifies a magician and false prophet encountered by Paul and Barnabas on the island of Cyprus. The term is an Aramaic construction meaning "son of Jesus," combining the word for son with the name Joshua or Jesus.
Scripture notes that this same individual was also known by the Greek name Elymas, a title likely indicating his role as a sorcerer or magician. His brief appearance serves to highlight the spiritual conflict surrounding the early missionary journey, where he attempted to turn the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the faith.
Because the word occurs in just this single verse, its significance lies entirely in its context rather than in a broad range of meanings. It stands as a specific identifier for an opponent of the gospel message during the apostolic era.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Bar-Jesus appears in Acts 13:6 as a specific identifier for a magician who opposed Paul and Barnabas on Cyprus. His real name, meaning 'son of Jesus,' likely carried ironic weight given his role as a false prophet trying to block the gospel. This single occurrence reminds us that spiritual opposition often comes in unexpected forms, sometimes even cloaked in religious language.
When we encounter resistance to truth today, it can feel personal or overwhelming. Yet this story shows that God’s power prevails over deception. The proconsul Sergius Paulus saw through the manipulation and believed, proving that clarity of vision comes from God alone. We are invited to trust in His ability to reveal truth in confusing situations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Bar-Jesus,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Βαριησοῦ,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 13:6
When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar Jesus,
This verse introduces Bar-Jesus as a sorcerer and false prophet who actively tried to prevent the proconsul from hearing Paul's message, highlighting the spiritual conflict behind human opposition.