Strong's Lexicon stigma: Mark, brand Original Word: στίγμα Word Origin: From the primary verb στίζω (stizo), meaning "to prick" or "to mark." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "stigma," the concept of marking or branding can be related to Hebrew words like אוֹת (oth, Strong's H226), meaning "sign" or "mark." Usage: In the New Testament, "stigma" refers to a mark or brand on the body. It is used metaphorically to describe marks of ownership or signs of suffering for Christ. The term implies a visible sign of allegiance or identity, often associated with suffering or persecution. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient times, a "stigma" was a physical mark or brand used to identify slaves, soldiers, or criminals. It signified ownership, loyalty, or punishment. In the Greco-Roman world, such marks were often used to denote a person's status or affiliation. For early Christians, bearing the "marks" of Christ symbolized their commitment and willingness to suffer for their faith. HELPS Word-studies 4742 stígma – properly, a brand mark burned into the skin; (figuratively) "holy scars" that go with serving Jesus as Lord (used only in Gal 6:17). 4742 /stígma ("brand-mark") refers to the literal scars on Paul from the lictor's rods at Pisidian Antioch, the stoning at Lystra, etc. These "marked Paul off" as the slave of Jesus (bearing "holy scars for Christ"). [Brand-marks (4742 /stígma), like "tatoos" (Gk stigmata), were burned into the skin of slaves in NT times – proving they belonged to a particular owner.] Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4742: στίγμαστίγμα, στιγματος, τό (from στίζω to prick; (cf. Latinstimulus, etc.; German stechen, English stick, sting, etc.; Curtius, § 226)), a mark pricked in or branded upon the body. According to ancient oriental usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or stamp of their master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were even some devotees who stamped themselves in this way with the token of their gods (cf. Deyling, Observations, iii., p. 423ff); hence, τά στίγματα τοῦ (κυρίου so Rec.) Ἰησοῦ, the marks of (the Lord) Jesus, which Paul in Galatians 6:17 says he bears branded on his body, are the traces left there by the perils, hardships, imprisonments, scourgings, endured by him for the cause of Christ, and which mark him as Christ's faithful and approved votary, servant, soldier (see Lightfoots Commentary on Galatians, the passage cited). (Herodotus 7, 233; Aristotle, Aelian, Plutarch, Lcian, others.) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mark, brandFrom a primary stizo (to "stick", i.e. Prick); a mark incised or punched (for recognition of ownership), i.e. (figuratively) scar of service -- mark. Forms and Transliterations στιγματα στίγματα στιγμάτων stigmata stígmataLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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