Καππαδοκία (Kappadokia)
Kappadokia
Cappadocia
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
Kappadokia refers to Cappadocia, a substantial Roman province situated in the central-eastern region of Asia Minor. The name itself carries a descriptive meaning: "province of good horses." Under Roman administration, this territory was bordered by Pontus to the north, Armenia Minor to the east, and Cilicia to the south.
In the New Testament, this geographical marker appears only twice. It is listed among the regions represented at Pentecost in Acts 2:9, highlighting the diverse Jewish diaspora present in Jerusalem. The term also anchors the opening of First Peter, where the letter is addressed to believers scattered across several provinces, including this eastern region.
Translators consistently render Kappadokia as "Cappadocia," preserving the proper noun without attempting to translate its etymological meaning. Its brief appearance serves primarily to locate the early Christian communities within the broader political and social landscape of the first-century Roman world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Cappadocia was a real place on the map of the first-century Roman Empire, located in what is now central Turkey. It appears in two brief mentions in the New Testament, serving as a geographical marker for early Christian communities. For readers today, this word reminds us that the Gospel spread far beyond Jerusalem and Judea, reaching diverse peoples across Asia Minor.
When Peter writes to those "scattered" in regions like Cappadocia, he addresses believers living as foreigners in their own lands. This context offers comfort to anyone who feels like an outsider or is navigating a difficult season away from home. The letter encourages these scattered Christians to live with integrity and hope, knowing they are chosen by God.
Similarly, the mention of Cappadocia at Pentecost shows how the early church was immediately multi-ethnic and global. It invites us to see our faith as part of a larger, worldwide family. Whether you feel connected or distant from your spiritual roots, this word points to a community that transcends borders and cultures.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Cappadocia,2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Καππαδοκίας,1×
- Καππαδοκίαν,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 2:9
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
This verse lists Cappadocia among the diaspora Jews present in Jerusalem, showing the early reach of the Gospel to distant regions.
-
I Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter addresses believers living as foreigners in this province, using their status as exiles to encourage steadfast faith and hope.