### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **Lykaonistí**, represented by `{{G3072}}`, is an adverb meaning **in the speech of Lycaonia**. It is derived from the language of the Lycaonians. It appears **1 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible, marking a specific and pivotal linguistic moment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G3072}}` occurs in the book of Acts. After the people `{{G3793}}` saw `{{G1492}}` what Paul had done `{{G4160}}`, they reacted with astonishment. In this moment, "they lifted up their voices, saying **in the speech of Lycaonia**, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men" [[Acts 14:11]]. The use of their native tongue highlights the spontaneous and culturally-specific nature of their conclusion, attributing divine status to the apostles.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from this event provide a fuller picture of the scene:
* `{{G5456}}` **phōnḗ** (voice): This word, defined as "an address... saying or language," describes how the people expressed their belief. It is also used for the **voice** of the archangel [[1 Thessalonians 4:16]] and the great **voice** from heaven [[Revelation 21:3]].
* `{{G1869}}` **epaírō** (to raise up): The crowd **lifted up** their voices in their excitement. This same term is used figuratively and literally in other contexts, such as when Jesus **lifted up** his eyes to heaven in prayer [[John 17:1]] or when believers are to pray, **lifting up** holy hands [[1 Timothy 2:8]].
* `{{G2316}}` **theós** (a deity): The people exclaimed that the **gods** had appeared. While they used it in a pagan sense, this word is used throughout scripture to refer to the supreme Divinity, the one true **God** who loved the world [[John 3:16]] and who is the recipient of believers' prayers [[Philippians 4:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G3072}}` is tied exclusively to its context in [[Acts 14:11]].
* **Misguided Worship:** The use of the Lycaonian language signifies a profound but mistaken interpretation of a divine act. The crowd immediately processed what they saw through their pagan worldview, exclaiming in their native tongue that **gods** `{{G2316}}` had **come down** `{{G2597}}` in the likeness of **men** `{{G444}}`.
* **Cultural and Linguistic Barriers:** The cry in **Lykaonistí** created a momentary barrier, as the apostles did not immediately understand the people's intention to worship them. This underscores the challenge of communicating the Gospel across different cultures and languages.
* **Human Reaction to the Supernatural:** The event captures a raw human response to perceived miracles. The people's use of their own dialect, **Lykaonistí**, to deify Paul demonstrates a tendency to explain the supernatural using familiar, earthly concepts, in this case, by comparing men to **gods**.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3072}}` is a highly specific term that pinpoints a unique cultural and linguistic event. Its single appearance in scripture is not incidental; it marks the precise moment a crowd, speaking in their local tongue, misinterpreted a miracle. It illustrates the collision of the apostolic message with pagan belief and highlights the human tendency to filter the divine through the lens of one's own language and culture.
TRV