βωμός (bōmos)
bōmos
altar
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun bōmos refers to an elevated place or platform, specifically one used for offering sacrifices. In the New Testament, it appears only once in Acts 17:23, where Paul observes an altar in Athens dedicated "to an unknown god." This usage highlights how the term could describe a physical structure erected for religious devotion, even when the specific deity was not identified.
While often synonymous with hiestēriom (a more common word for sacrifice altar), bōmos carries a broader sense of any raised spot. The sources note its connection to the Hebrew bamah in the Septuagint, which often referred to high places of worship. This distinction allows the word to encompass both formal sacrificial altars and general sites of reverence, reflecting the diverse religious landscape of the ancient world.
Its single New Testament occurrence underscores the cultural intersection between Greek philosophy and Jewish monotheism. Paul uses it to bridge the gap, showing that even an unidentified object of worship points toward a divine reality. This brief mention captures the tension between pagan practices and the Christian proclamation of one true God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bōmos appears just once in the New Testament, found in Acts 17:23. Paul uses it to describe an altar in Athens dedicated to an unknown god. This single occurrence shows how the term can refer to any raised place of religious devotion, even when the specific deity is not clearly identified.
For your faith, this highlights a beautiful truth: human longing for the divine often takes many forms. Paul does not dismiss the Athenians' reverence but uses it as a starting point to reveal the true God. It reminds us that every sincere search for meaning points toward Christ, even if we do not yet know His name.
This word encourages us to see our own world with fresh eyes. Wherever people seek truth or holiness, there is an opportunity to share the good news. We can trust that God meets us in those moments of genuine seeking, turning unknown longings into known relationships.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- an altar1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βωμὸν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 17:23
For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you.
This is the only New Testament occurrence of bōmos, where Paul identifies an Athenian altar dedicated to an unknown god as a bridge to proclaiming the true Creator.