στέμμα (stemma)
stemma
wreath
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun stemma refers to a wreath or garland, typically made of leaves or flowers and worn around the head. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 14:13, where it describes the ritual objects brought by the crowd in Lystra.
This single occurrence places the word in a specific cultural context. The people of Lystra, mistaking Paul and Barnabas for gods, wanted to offer sacrifices. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates to adorn them before the offering. Here, stemma signifies a ceremonial decoration used in pagan worship, marking the boundary between the sacred ritual space and the ordinary world.
Etymologically, the word relates to the verb stemmō, meaning to put around or encircle. While other Greek words for crown like stephanos denote victory or honor in a competitive sense, stemma focuses on the physical object itself—a circular band of foliage. Its rarity in Scripture highlights how local customs and specific ritual items can briefly enter the biblical narrative without becoming central theological terms.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word stemma refers to a wreath or garland, typically woven from leaves or flowers and worn around the head. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 14:13. Here, the priest of Zeus brought oxen and garlands to the city gates to prepare for a pagan sacrifice. The crowd mistook Paul and Barnabas for gods and wanted to honor them with these ritual decorations.
This single occurrence reminds us that cultural practices often carry meanings we might not immediately recognize. While stemma denotes a physical object of ceremonial use, it stands in contrast to other Greek words for crown, like stephanos, which symbolize victory or honor earned through effort. Understanding this distinction helps us see how ancient customs reflected their specific worldviews.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on what we choose to honor and worship. It highlights the importance of discerning truth from cultural assumptions. By grounding ourselves in Scripture, we can navigate these nuances with clarity and confidence, focusing on the eternal rather than the temporary symbols of our time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wreaths1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- στέμματα1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 14:13
The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.
This verse uniquely identifies stemma as a ritual object brought by the priest of Zeus to adorn the city gates before a pagan sacrifice, highlighting its use in local religious customs rather than general honor.