Τραχωνῖτις (Trachōnitis)
Trachōnitis
Trachonitis
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Trachōnitis refers to a rugged region south of Damascus, situated between the Anti-Lebanon mountains and the highlands of Batanaea. Its name derives from the Greek word for "rough" or "harsh," reflecting the terrain’s rocky, uneven landscape. This area was historically known for being difficult to traverse and somewhat lawless, inhabited by groups often described as robbers or outlaws who used the rough ground for cover.
In the New Testament, this specific place name appears only once, in Luke 3:1. The evangelist uses it to anchor John the Baptist’s ministry in a precise geographical context, listing it alongside other political and religious centers of the time. By mentioning Trachōnitis, Luke highlights that the message of repentance extended beyond major cities into these remote, turbulent borderlands, reaching people in even the most challenging environments.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Trachonitis comes from a Greek word meaning rough or harsh. It describes a rocky region south of Damascus where the ground was uneven and difficult to walk. In ancient times, this rugged landscape offered hiding places for those who lived outside the law. The terrain itself seemed to mirror the moral state of the area—wild and untamed.
Yet in Luke 3:1, this remote place is mentioned alongside major political centers. This shows that the message of John the Baptist reached every corner of society. No matter how rough or distant a place was, the call to repentance extended there too. God’s word does not stop at city limits.
For you, this reminds us that no part of your life is too broken or far gone for grace. Whether you feel like you are in a spiritual wilderness or a literal rugged place, the invitation to turn back to God remains open. His reach extends into every hidden valley and steep hill.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Trachonitis1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Τραχωνίτιδος1×
Key Verses
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Luke 3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
This verse places John the Baptist’s ministry in a remote, rugged borderland, showing that the call to repentance reached even the most lawless and difficult regions.