ἱερόσυλος (hierosulos)
hierosulos
temple robber
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hierosulos describes a person who commits sacrilege or robs sacred spaces. Its meaning is built from two parts: hieron, meaning "temple" or holy place, and sulō, which means to plunder or strip bare. Together, they paint a vivid picture of someone violating the sanctity of a religious site for personal gain.
This term appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 19:37. The city clerk uses it to calm an angry mob in Ephesus, reminding them that Paul and his companions are not temple robbers despite their disruptive preaching. This specific usage highlights how the word carried serious legal and social weight, accusing individuals of a crime against both divine honor and civic order.
While some translations render it simply as "sacrilegious," the root sense of physical plundering remains strong. The sources note its presence in the Septuagint (2 Maccabees), where it similarly refers to those who steal from holy objects or places. This connects the New Testament usage to a broader Jewish understanding of protecting sacred property.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hierosulos describes someone who violates a sacred space for personal gain. In Acts 19:37, the city clerk uses this term to defend Paul and his companions from an angry mob in Ephesus. He clarifies that they are not temple robbers, nor do they insult the goddess Artemis. This distinction was vital because accusations of sacrilege carried heavy legal consequences in the ancient world.
Understanding this word reminds us how seriously early Christians were viewed by their neighbors. Paul’s message did not seek to destroy religious order but to proclaim a new truth about Jesus. The clerk’s careful wording shows that even in times of tension, facts mattered more than fear. We can learn from this example of seeking peace through clear communication rather than violence.
For your faith, this passage highlights the importance of living with integrity. When others misunderstand our beliefs, we are called to respond with calmness and truth. God honors those who respect holy things and seek justice in their interactions with others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- temple plunderers1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἱεροσύλους1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 19:37
For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
The city clerk uses this specific term to legally distinguish Paul’s peaceful preaching from the crime of stealing sacred items, protecting the apostles from mob violence.