Word Study for G5344 (Φῆλιξ) | Strong's Concordance

Phēlix /fay'-lix/ Ask about this word

Rootof Latin origin

Meaninghappy; Phelix (i.e. Felix), a Roman

KJV usageFelix.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Phēlix — 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 name Phēlix, represented by G5344, is of Latin origin and means "happy." It appears 9 times across 8 unique verses and refers to a specific Roman governor who plays a significant role in the legal proceedings against the apostle Paul. He is a figure of political authority who is personally confronted with the claims of the gospel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, Felix G5344 is the governor G2232 to whom Paul G3972 is sent for protection and judgment Acts 23:24. He receives Paul under the authority of a letter from Claudius Lysias Acts 23:26. Along with his wife G1135 Drusilla G1409, Felix G5344 sends for Paul and hears him speak concerning the faith G4102 in Christ G5547 Acts 24:24. As Paul reasoned G1256 about righteousness G1343, temperance G1466, and future judgment G2917, Felix G5344 becomes afraid G1719 but defers a decision, saying he will call for Paul at a more convenient season G2540 Acts 24:25. Ultimately, to do a pleasure G5485 for the Jews G2453, Felix G5344 leaves Paul bound G1210 for two years G1333 until he is succeeded by Festus G5347 Acts 24:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related individuals and terms clarify the context of Felix's story:

G2232 hēgemṓn (governor): This word defines the official political office held by Felix G5344, establishing his authority and responsibility in the Roman province where Paul was held Acts 23:26.
G1256 dialégomai (reasoned): This term describes the manner in which Paul presented the gospel to Felix G5344, engaging him in a thorough discussion about profound spiritual truths Acts 24:25.
G5347 Phēstos (Festus): The Roman official who became the successor G1240 to Felix G5344. It is Festus who inherits the unresolved case of Paul, who was left G2641 in bonds by Felix G5344 (Acts 24:27, Acts 25:14).
G1409 Droúsilla (Drusilla): Identified as the wife G1135 of Felix G5344 and a Jewess G2453, she was present when Paul testified about his faith, connecting Felix's household directly to the events Acts 24:24.

Theological Significance

The narrative role of Felix G5344 is primarily one of judicial and political authority encountering divine truth.

A Figure of Power: As the "most excellent governor" G2903, Felix G5344 is shown respect and holds the power to judge Paul's case, a decision he repeatedly defers (Acts 23:26, Acts 24:22).
A Troubled Conscience: He is not indifferent to Paul's message. When Paul reasoned G1256 about righteousness and judgment, Felix G5344 trembled G1719, indicating that the gospel message had a significant emotional and spiritual impact on him Acts 24:25.
Political Expediency: Despite his fear and "more perfect knowledge" of the Way, his final action is political. He leaves Paul imprisoned as a pleasure G5485 to the Jews G2453, choosing to appease a political faction rather than act on what he heard Acts 24:27.

Summary

In summary, Felix G5344 is portrayed as a Roman governor who is given a direct and powerful opportunity to respond to the gospel from the apostle Paul himself. Though intellectually aware and emotionally stirred by the truth, his desire for political favor and a "convenient season" that never arrives leads him to leave Paul in chains. His story stands as a cautionary account of a person in power who hears the truth but ultimately rejects it for worldly purposes.

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 9 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Nominative Singular Masculine Individual 5×
Accusative Singular Masculine Individual 1×
Dative Singular Masculine Individual 1×
Genitive Singular Masculine Individual 1×
Vocative Singular Masculine Person Gentilic 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Vocative: Direct address — naming who is spoken to.
Singular: One.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Person: The name of a person.
Gentilic: Naming a people or nationality.

Related Words

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

8 verses, all in Acts — and none of the other 26 New Testament books.

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.