Berean Strong's Lexicon Petros: Peter Original Word: Πέτρος Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word "πέτρα" (petra), meaning "rock" or "stone." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "Petros," the concept of a "rock" or "stone" can be related to the Hebrew word "צור" (tsur), Strong's Hebrew #6697, often used metaphorically for strength and stability. Usage: The name "Petros" is used in the New Testament to refer to one of Jesus' twelve apostles, Simon Peter. The name signifies "rock" or "stone," highlighting Peter's role as a foundational figure in the early Christian church. Jesus Himself gave Simon the name Peter, indicating his future role in the establishment of the church (Matthew 16:18). Cultural and Historical Background: In the first-century Jewish context, names held significant meaning and often reflected a person's character or destiny. Simon, son of Jonah, was a fisherman by trade before being called by Jesus to become a "fisher of men" (Matthew 4:19). As Peter, he became a leading figure among the apostles and was instrumental in the spread of the Gospel after Jesus' resurrection. His name change from Simon to Peter symbolized his transformation and the pivotal role he would play in the early church. HELPS Word-studies 4074 Pétros (a masculine noun) – properly, a stone (pebble), such as a small rock found along a pathway. 4074 /Pétros ("small stone") then stands in contrast to 4073 /pétra ("cliff, boulder," Abbott-Smith). "4074 (Pétros) is an isolated rock and 4073 (pétra) is a cliff" (TDNT, 3, 100). "4074 (Pétros) always means a stone . . . such as a man may throw, . . . versus 4073 (pétra), a projecting rock, cliff" (S. Zodhiates, Dict). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina noun akin to petra, used as a proper name Definition "a stone" or "a boulder," Peter, one of the twelve apostles NASB Translation Peter (150), Peter's (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4074: ΠέτροςΠέτρος, Πέτρου, ὁ (an appellative proper name, signifying 'a stone,' 'a rock,' 'a ledge' or 'cliff'; used metaphorically of a soul hard and unyielding, and so resembling a rock, Sophocles O. R. 334; Euripides, Med. 28; Herc. fur. 1397; answering to the Chaldean Κηφᾶς, which see, John 1:42 (43)), Peter, the surname of the apostle Simon. He was a native of Bethsaida, a town of Galilee, the son of a fisherman (see Ἰωάννης, 3, and Ἰωνᾶς, 2), and dwelt with his wife at Capernaum, Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38, cf. 1 Corinthians 9:5. He had a brother Andrew, with whom he followed the occupation of a fisherman, Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16; Luke 5:3. Both were received by Jesus as his companions, Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; Luke 5:10; John 1:40-42 (41-43); and Simon, whose pre-eminent courage and firmness he discerned and especially relied on for the future establishment of the kingdom of God, he honored with the name of Peter, John 1:42 (43); Matthew 16:18; Mark 3:16. Excelling in vigor of mind, eagerness to learn, and love for Jesus, he enjoyed, together with James and John the sons of Zebedee, the special favor and intimacy of his divine Master. After having for some time presided, in connection with John and James the brother of our Lord (see Ἰάκωβος, 3), over the affairs of the Christians at Jerusalem, he seems to have gone abroad to preach the gospel especially to Jews (Galatians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Peter 5:13; Papias in Eusebius 3, 39, 15; for Papias states that Peter employed Mark as 'interpreter' (ἑρμηνευτής), an aid of which he had no need except beyond the borders of Palestine, especially among those who spoke Latin (but on the disputed meaning: of the word 'interpreter' here, see Morison, Commentary on Mark, edition 2, Introduction, p. xxix)). But just as, on the night of the betrayal, Peter proved so far faithless to himself as thrice to deny that he was a follower of Jesus, so also some time afterward at Antioch he made greater concessions to the rigorous Jewish Christians than Christian liberty permitted; accordingly he was rebuked by Paul for his weakness and 'dissimulation' (ὑπόκρισις), Galatians 2:11ff. Nevertheless, in the patristic age Jewish Christians did not hesitate to claim the authority of Peter and of James the brother of the Lord in defense of their narrow views and practices. This is not the place to relate and refute the ecclesiastical traditions concerning Peter's being the founder of the church at Rome and bishop of it for twenty-five years and more; the discussion of them may be found in Hase, Protestant. Polemik gegen die röm.-kathol. Kirche, edition 4, p. 123ff; (cf. Schaff, Church History, 1882, vol. i. §§ 25, 26; Sieffert in Herzog edition 2, vol. xi., p. 524ff, and (for references), p. 537f). This one thing seems to be evident from John 21:18ff, that Peter suffered death by crucifixion (cf. Keil ad loc.; others doubt whether Christ's words contain anything more than a general prediction of martyrdom). If he was crucified at Rome, it must have been several years after the death of Paul. (Cf. BB. DD. and references as above) He is called in the N. T., at one time, simply Σίμων (once Συμεών, Acts 15:14), and (and that, too, most frequently (see B. D. under the word Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Peter, rock. Apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock (larger than lithos); as a name, Petrus, an apostle -- Peter, rock. Compare Kephas. see GREEK lithos see GREEK Kephas Forms and Transliterations Πετρε Πέτρε ΠΕΤΡΟΝ Πέτρον ΠΕΤΡΟΣ Πέτρος Πετρου Πέτρου Πετρω Πέτρῳ Petre Pétre Petro Petrō Pétroi Pétrōi PETRON Pétron PETROS Pétros Petrou PétrouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 4:18 N-AMSGRK: τὸν λεγόμενον Πέτρον καὶ Ἀνδρέαν NAS: who was called Peter, and Andrew KJV: Simon called Peter, and Andrew INT: who is called Peter and Andrew Matthew 8:14 N-GMS Matthew 10:2 N-NMS Matthew 14:28 N-NMS Matthew 14:29 N-NMS Matthew 15:15 N-NMS Matthew 16:16 N-NMS Matthew 16:18 N-NMS Matthew 16:22 N-NMS Matthew 16:23 N-DMS Matthew 17:1 N-AMS Matthew 17:4 N-NMS Matthew 17:24 N-DMS Matthew 18:21 N-NMS Matthew 19:27 N-NMS Matthew 26:33 N-NMS Matthew 26:35 N-NMS Matthew 26:37 N-AMS Matthew 26:40 N-DMS Matthew 26:58 N-NMS Matthew 26:69 N-NMS Matthew 26:73 N-DMS Matthew 26:75 N-NMS Mark 3:16 N-AMS Mark 5:37 N-AMS Strong's Greek 4074 |