Κυρήνιος (Kurēnios)
Kurēnios
Quirinius
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Kurēnios refers to Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, a Roman official whose Greek form means "warrior." He served as consul in 12 BC and later held the governorship of Syria. Luke identifies him specifically as the leader during a census that required Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth registration (Luke 2:2).
Historical records suggest Quirinius may have governed Syria twice, with an earlier term possibly beginning around 4 BC. This timeline aligns with the Gospel account of the nativity census. Later, Acts 5:37 mentions him in connection with a subsequent uprising led by Judas the Galilean during his second known administrative period.
Translators consistently render this name as Quirinius or Cyrenius to preserve its Latin roots. The term appears only twice in the New Testament, anchoring the birth narrative within specific Roman political history and highlighting how imperial decrees intersected with biblical events.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Quirinius appears in the Gospels to anchor the birth of Jesus within real history. Luke mentions him as the official governing Syria during a census that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. This detail shows that God’s plan unfolded through known Roman leaders and established facts.
Knowing this helps us see that our faith is not based on myths or vague stories. It rests on events that happened in specific places at specific times. The same man appears again in Acts, linked to later unrest in Judea. This connects the quiet moment of Jesus’ birth with the broader political landscape of the first century.
When we read these names, we are reminded that God uses ordinary history for His purposes. You can trust that the God who guided a census is also present in your daily life. His work is real, grounded in truth, and lasting.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Quirinius.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Κυρηνίου.1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:2
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
This verse identifies Quirinius as the Syrian governor during the census that required Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem for Jesus' birth registration.