δεισιδαίμων (deisidaimōn)
deisidaimōn
religious
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective deisidaimōn describes someone who is deeply religious or reverent toward the divine. Its roots combine a word for fear with one for deity, literally suggesting a person who holds the gods in awe. In Acts 17:22, Paul addresses the Athenians as "very religious," using this term to acknowledge their sincere, albeit misguided, devotion to various deities.
While modern translations often render it simply as "religious," the word carries a nuance of intensity that can border on superstition. Ancient usage sometimes distinguished between healthy piety and excessive, anxious reverence. The comparative form found in some manuscripts suggests a degree of being "more religious" than others, highlighting a cultural context where outward displays of devotion were highly valued.
This term captures the complex attitude of the Athenians, who had an altar to an unknown god. It reflects a genuine desire to honor the divine, even when the understanding of that deity was incomplete. Paul uses this observation not to condemn, but to bridge the gap between their existing reverence and the revelation of the 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 deisidaimōn captures a deep reverence for the divine, rooted in awe and respect. In Acts 17:22, Paul calls the Athenians "very religious," acknowledging their sincere desire to honor God, even when their understanding was incomplete. This term reminds us that genuine spiritual seeking is valuable, regardless of how fully one grasps the truth.
For your faith, this highlights the importance of approaching others with grace. Many people around you already possess a heart for God, shaped by their own experiences and questions. By recognizing their sincerity, we can build bridges rather than walls, sharing the fullness of the Gospel in love and respect.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- very religious1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δεισιδαιμονεστέρους1×
Key Verses
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Acts 17:22
Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.
Paul uses this term to acknowledge the Athenians' sincere but incomplete reverence for the divine as a starting point for sharing the Gospel.