### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **Damaskēnós**, represented by `{{G1153}}`, is a term for **a Damascene or inhabitant of Damascus**. It appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible. This word is derived from `{{G1154}}` **Damaskós**, the name for the city of Damascus, and is used to identify the people of that specific city.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single biblical use of `{{G1153}}` occurs in [[2 Corinthians 11:32]], where it describes a moment of peril. The verse states that in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas "kept the city of the **Damascenes** with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me." This highlights a situation where the city's inhabitants were under the watch of a military guard, commanded by an official with the specific intent of capturing the speaker.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the event surrounding the **Damascenes**:
* `{{G1154}}` **Damaskós**: The city of **Damascus** itself. It serves as a significant location in the book of Acts, being the destination for Saul's journey and the site of his first preaching ([[Acts 9:2-3]], [[Acts 9:27]]).
* `{{G1481}}` **ethnárchēs**: This word, meaning **the governor (not king) of a district**, identifies the official who controlled the city's garrison on behalf of the king [[2 Corinthians 11:32]].
* `{{G4172}}` **pólis**: Meaning **a town** or **city**, this term describes Damascus as the location of the event. It is used elsewhere to refer to places like the "city of David" [[Luke 2:11]] and the heavenly "city of the living God" [[Hebrews 12:22]].
* `{{G5432}}` **phrouréō**: Defined as **to mount guard as a sentinel**, this verb is used to describe how the city was **kept with a garrison**. The same word is used figuratively for the peace of God which shall **keep** hearts and minds [[Philippians 4:7]].
* `{{G702}}` **Arétas**: The proper name of the **Arabian** king under whose authority the ethnarch was acting [[2 Corinthians 11:32]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1153}}` is revealed entirely through the context of its singular use. It marks a people and their city as the setting for a conflict between human authority and divine purpose.
* **Hostile Authority:** The guarding of the **Damascenes**' city was ordered by a worldly power structure, including a **king** `{{G935}}` and his **governor** `{{G1481}}`. This authority was used with the desire `{{G2309}}` to **apprehend** `{{G4084}}` an individual [[2 Corinthians 11:32]].
* **A Stage for Peril:** The city becomes the backdrop for a moment of intense opposition. This worldly attempt to capture and control stands in contrast to God's ultimate power to **keep** `{{G5432}}` his followers through faith [[1 Peter 1:5]].
* **Geographic Grounding:** The use of **Damaskēnós** anchors a key event in a specific time and place. It demonstrates that spiritual opposition occurs in real-world locations, such as **Damascus** `{{G1154}}`, the same city where Saul began his transformative journey [[Acts 9:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1153}}` is a straightforward identifier for an inhabitant of Damascus. Its sole appearance in scripture places the **Damascenes** in the middle of a narrative of persecution, where their city was guarded by a garrison under orders from a king. The word's significance is not in a deep theological meaning of its own, but in its function to pinpoint the people and place of a specific instance of apostolic peril.
TRV