Διόσκουροι (Dioskouroi)
Dioskouroi
the twin gods
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Diōskouroi refers to the twin gods Castor and Pollux, known in Roman tradition as the Dioscuri. These figures were revered as the protective deities of sailors, invoked for safety during dangerous sea voyages.
In Scripture, this term appears only once, in Acts 28:11. Luke notes that Paul and his companions spent the winter on the island of Malta aboard a ship bearing this emblem on its prow. The reference highlights the cultural backdrop of travel in the first century, where pagan symbols marked vessels seeking divine favor.
The name itself combines Zeus with a word for son, identifying them as offspring of the chief god. By mentioning the ship’s insignia, the text grounds the narrative in the real-world context of ancient maritime life without endorsing the mythology.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The term Dioskouroi refers to the twin gods Castor and Pollux, figures from ancient mythology revered as protectors of sailors. In Acts 28:11, Luke mentions a ship from Alexandria bearing their image on its prow. This detail places Paul’s journey in Malta within the real-world context of first-century travel, where pagan symbols were common on vessels seeking safety at sea.
For your faith, this reference reminds us that God’s providence works through ordinary historical details. While the ship carried a symbol meant to invoke divine favor from false gods, Paul and his companions experienced the true protection of God. The presence of such imagery highlights the contrast between human attempts to control fate and the steady care of the Lord.
Understanding this background helps us see how Scripture engages with the culture of its time without endorsing it. It encourages trust in God’s guidance, even when we travel through unfamiliar or spiritually diverse places.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] Dioscuri;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Διοσκούροις·1×
Key Verses
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Acts 28:11
After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.”
This verse identifies the ship's emblem as 'The Twin Brothers,' grounding Paul's journey in the specific cultural context of ancient maritime travel.