σικάριος (sikarios)
sikarios
assassin
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun sikarios refers to a specific type of violent criminal: an assassin or bandit who concealed a dagger, known as a sica, beneath their clothing to strike unexpectedly. This term derives from Latin and describes the Sicarii, a radical Jewish faction active before the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. These individuals were not merely thieves but political terrorists who used stealth and treachery to eliminate perceived enemies, including collaborators with Roman rule.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 21:38. The Roman commander identifies the Apostle Paul as a suspected sikarios, assuming he is the Egyptian rebel leading a fourth band of insurgents into the wilderness. This single usage highlights how deeply feared and politically charged these figures were in first-century Judea, representing a threat to public order that went beyond ordinary crime.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sikarios describes a terrifying figure in first-century Judea: an assassin who hid a dagger, or sica, under their clothes to strike unexpectedly. These were not common thieves but political terrorists who used stealth and treachery to eliminate enemies, including those they saw as collaborators with Rome. This term carries the weight of fear and betrayal, representing a direct threat to public order that went far beyond ordinary crime.
In Acts 21:38, the Roman commander mistakenly identifies Paul as one of these dangerous insurgents. This moment highlights how deeply feared these figures were in Jerusalem. For us, it reminds us that even when surrounded by suspicion and false accusations, God’s purpose remains secure. The same God who protected Paul from this misunderstanding is with you in every season of trial.
Your faith does not depend on being understood by the world. When others misjudge you or project their fears onto you, remember that God sees your heart. He knows your intentions are pure, even when circumstances seem chaotic. This assurance allows you to rest in His sovereignty rather than striving to prove yourself to those who do not know you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Assassins?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σικαρίων;¶1×
Key Verses
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Acts 21:38
Aren’t you then the Egyptian who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?”
The Roman commander uses this term to mistakenly identify Paul as the Egyptian rebel, showing how the word carried immediate political danger and suspicion in first-century Jerusalem.