791. asteios

Strong's Lexicon

asteios: Comely, fair, elegant

Original Word: ἀστεῖος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: asteios
Pronunciation: as-ti'-os
Phonetic Spelling: (as-ti'-os)
Definition: Comely, fair, elegant
Meaning: (lit: belonging to the city; then: witty, clever), elegant, pretty, fair, fine, beautiful.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word ἄστυ (asty), meaning "city" or "town."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent that conveys a similar sense of beauty or comeliness is יָפֶה (yafeh), Strong's Hebrew #3303, which is used in various Old Testament passages to describe physical beauty.

Usage: The Greek adjective "asteios" is used to describe someone or something as comely, fair, or elegant. It conveys a sense of beauty or attractiveness that is pleasing to the eye. In the context of the New Testament, it is used to describe the physical appearance of a person, indicating a notable or exceptional beauty.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, beauty and elegance were highly valued traits, often associated with nobility and favor. The term "asteios" would have been understood as a compliment, indicating that someone possessed a refined or distinguished appearance. In the context of the early Christian community, such descriptions would have been used sparingly, focusing more on inner virtues than outward appearances.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from astu (a city)
Definition
of the town, by impl. courteous, elegant
NASB Translation
beautiful (1), lovely (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 791: ἀστεῖος

ἀστεῖος, ἀστεῖον (ἄστυ a city);

1. of the city; of polished manners (opposed to ἄγροικος rustic), genteel (from Xenophon, and Plato down).

2. elegant (of body), comely, fair (Judith 11:23; Aristaenet. 1, 4, 1 and 19, 8): of Moses (Exodus 2:2), Hebrews 11:23; with τῷ Θεῷ added, unto God, God being judge, i. e. truly fair, Acts 7:20; cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 4 a., p. 212 (199); (248 (232)); Buttmann, 179 (156); (Philo, vit. Moys. i., § 3, says of Moses γεννηθείς ὁ παῖς εὐθύς ὄψιν ἐνεφηνεν ἀστειοτεραν ἤ κατ' ἰδιωτην). (Cf. Trench, § cvi.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

handsome, fair.

From astu (a city); urbane, i.e. (by implication) handsome -- fair.

Forms and Transliterations

αστεία αστειον αστείον ἀστεῖον αστειος αστείος ἀστεῖος asteion asteîon asteios asteîos

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 7:20 Adj-NMS
GRK: καὶ ἦν ἀστεῖος τῷ θεῷ
NAS: was born; and he was lovely in the sight
KJV: was exceeding fair, and nourished up
INT: and was beautiful to God

Hebrews 11:23 Adj-ANS
GRK: διότι εἶδον ἀστεῖον τὸ παιδίον
NAS: they saw he was a beautiful child;
KJV: they saw [he was] a proper child;
INT: because they saw beautiful the little child

Strong's Greek 791
2 Occurrences

ἀστεῖον — 1 Occ.
ἀστεῖος — 1 Occ.