Νίγερ (Niger)
Niger
Niger
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Niger appears only once in the New Testament, identifying Simeon as "Niger" in Acts 13:1. Derived from the Latin word niger, meaning black, it functions as a descriptive surname or nickname rather than a traditional Hebrew given name. This single occurrence highlights the multicultural nature of the early church in Antioch, where individuals with Roman or African backgrounds held prominent roles alongside Jewish believers.
While most biblical names carry deep theological significance rooted in Hebrew, Niger stands out for its straightforward, physical descriptor. Its presence underscores that leadership in the early Christian community was not limited by ethnicity or linguistic background. The text uses this name simply to distinguish Simeon from others, reflecting the diverse composition of the prophetic and teaching ministry in that city.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Niger appears just once in the New Testament, attached to Simeon in Acts 13:1. It comes from Latin, meaning black, and likely served as a descriptive nickname rather than a formal given name. This simple detail reminds us that the early church was not a monolith but a gathering of people from different backgrounds.
Simeon stood alongside Barnabas, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul as a prophet and teacher in Antioch. His presence shows that leadership in the first-century church was open to those with Roman or African roots. God used this diverse group to guide the spread of the gospel, proving that ethnic origin never limits one’s role in His work.
When we read this list today, it invites us to see our own communities through a wider lens. The Spirit moves through many voices and faces. We are called to value every member, recognizing that God has placed each person exactly where they need to be for the good of the whole body.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Niger1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Νίγερ1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 13:1
Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
This verse lists Simeon Niger among the prophets and teachers, highlighting his prominent role in the multicultural leadership of the Antioch church.