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G2383

Ἰάειρος

Iáeiros /ee-ah'-i-ros/ Ask about this word
of Hebrew origin (יָאִיר)
Jairus (i.e. Jair), an Israelite
Jairus.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Iáeiros — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word Iáeiros, represented by G2383, is the proper name Jairus. It is of Hebrew origin and identifies a specific Israelite man mentioned in the biblical accounts. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses, highlighting a singular, impactful encounter.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, Jairus G2383 is introduced as a man of significant social standing. The accounts describe him as "one of the rulers of the synagogue" G752 Mark 5:22 and "a ruler" G758 of the synagogue G4864 Luke 8:41. In both instances, his arrival is marked by the word "behold" G2400, drawing attention to his presence. Despite his high position, his approach to Jesus G2424 is one of profound humility and desperation. He "fell down at Jesus' feet" Luke 8:41 and "besought" G3870 him to come into his house G3624.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of Jairus's appearance:

  • G752 archisynágōgos (director of the synagogue services): This title in Mark 5:22 establishes Jairus's role as a leader within the Jewish religious community.
  • G758 árchōn (a first in rank or power): Used in Luke 8:41, this term also emphasizes his status as a chief, ruler, or magistrate.
  • G4098 píptō (to fall): This verb describes Jairus's physical act of falling down, a gesture of supplication and reverence toward Jesus (Mark 5:22, Luke 8:41).
  • G3870 parakaléō (to call near, i.e. invite, invoke): This word captures the essence of his appeal to Jesus, as he beseeches or implores Him for help Luke 8:41.
  • G4228 poús (a foot): Jairus falls at Jesus' "feet," signifying a posture of complete submission and earnest appeal before a figure of authority (Mark 5:22, Luke 8:41).

Theological Significance

The brief account of Jairus G2383 carries significant weight. It demonstrates several key themes through his actions.

  • Humility Over Status: As a ruler of the synagogue G752, Jairus held a respected position. His willingness to publicly fall G4098 at the feet G4228 of Jesus shows that his desperation and faith superseded any concern for his social standing.
  • Faith in Action: Jairus does not just send a message; he personally comes G2064 to Jesus. He besought G3870 Jesus to enter G1525 his house G3624, an act demonstrating his belief that Jesus' presence could resolve his crisis.
  • Recognizing Authority: By falling at Jesus' G2424 feet, Jairus, a religious leader, acknowledges a higher authority in Jesus. His actions point toward a recognition of Jesus' power where the established systems could not help.

Summary

In summary, G2383 Iáeiros, while appearing only twice, represents a powerful example of faith and humility. The story of Jairus is not just about a name, but about a respected leader who, in a moment of crisis, set aside his pride to fall at the feet of Jesus. He is remembered as the ruler who recognized true authority and sought help with desperate, active faith.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Nominative Singular Masculine Individual
Nominative
The subject of the verb.
Singular
One.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Mark and Luke (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

1
Mark
1
Luke

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.