Μαδιάν (Madian)
Madian
Midian
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The proper noun Madian refers to Midian, a region and people group situated near the Red Sea. In the New Testament, it appears only once in Acts 7:29, where Stephen recounts how Moses fled into this land after killing an Egyptian.
The term derives from the Hebrew Midyan, named for the son of Abraham born to Keturah. Biblical tradition identifies Midian as both a geographic territory and an Arabian tribe that often stood in opposition to Israel. While some interpretations suggest the name implies "strife" or "contention," the text primarily uses it as a place name.
Stephen’s mention highlights Midian as the location of Moses’ forty-year exile before his calling at the burning bush. This brief reference connects the New Testament narrative to the broader Old Testament history of Abraham’s descendants and the formative years of Israel’s leader.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Midian appears in Scripture as a place of hiding for Moses, but also as a season of preparation. When Stephen mentions this region in Acts 7:29, he reminds us that God often uses times of isolation to shape His leaders. Moses spent forty years there, far from the palace and the power he once knew.
This history offers comfort when we feel pushed out of our comfort zones. Your current season may feel like exile, but it can also be a classroom where God teaches you patience and dependence. The land of Midian was not a dead end; it was the training ground for the man who would later lead Israel out of Egypt.
Trust that God is working even when you are in unfamiliar territory. He knows your location, and He is preparing you for what comes next. You are never far from His purpose, even in the wilderness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Midian,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Μαδιάμ,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:29
Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
This verse identifies Midian as the specific refuge where Moses lived as a stranger after fleeing Egypt, marking the start of his long preparation.