The Greek word Trōgýllion, represented by G5175, identifies Trogyllium, a place in Asia Minor. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. With an uncertain derivation, its use in scripture is exclusively as a specific geographical name, marking a point in a journey.
The sole biblical appearance of G5175 occurs within the detailed travel narrative of Acts. The account chronicles a stop during Paul's third missionary journey. After sailing from Chios and arriving at Samos, the travelers "tarried at Trogyllium" for a short period before proceeding to their next destination Acts 20:15. The name functions purely to record a location on their itinerary.
The context of this journey is built with several related words that describe travel and location:
- G636 apopléō (to set sail): This verb marks the beginning of a sea voyage, indicating that they sailed away from a previous port to get to this region Acts 20:15.
- G3846 parabállō (to reach a place): This is used to describe how the group arrived at Samos, the location just before Trogyllium Acts 20:15.
- G3306 ménō (to stay): This word signifies the action that took place at Trogyllium, where the travelers tarried or remained for a time Acts 20:15.
- G3399 Mílētos (Miletus): A city in Asia Minor, it is mentioned as the destination immediately following the stop at Trogyllium Acts 20:15.
The significance of G5175 is entirely geographical and narrative, rather than theological. It serves to add precision and authenticity to the biblical account.
- Geographical Anchor: Naming Trogyllium grounds the journey in a real-world location, adding a layer of historical detail to the narrative.
- Itinerary Marker: Its inclusion helps map the specific route taken by the travelers, documenting their path from Samos on their way to Miletus Acts 20:15.
- Narrative Detail: The act of tarrying at Trogyllium provides a small but concrete detail that enhances the credibility of the travel log, showing it was a carefully recorded journey.
In summary, G5175 Trōgýllion is a simple geographical reference with no complex meaning. Its single mention in scripture serves to document one of the stopping points during the apostolic journeys recorded in the book of Acts. It functions as a historical marker, contributing to the detailed and factual nature of the biblical narrative of travel and ministry.
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