What does Πύθων (Pýthōn) mean in the Bible?
Πύθων (Pýthōn): Spirit of divination working through human mediums, named after Apollo's serpent oracle.
Greek · G4436
Πύθων
Divining spirit
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Πύθων G4436
Pronunciation Pýthōn
What does Πύθων (Pýthōn) mean in the Bible?
Πύθων (Pýthōn): Spirit of divination working through human mediums, named after Apollo's serpent oracle.
Full entry for Πύθων (G4436) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4436?
The BSB source-word alignment has 1 aligned row for this entry. Common renderings include of divination (1).
Where does Πύθων (Pýthōn) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Acts 16:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It of divination 1× Acts 16:16
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Acts 16:16
Aligned rows 1
Books represented 1
Acts 1
Source forms
Πύθωνα 1x Pythōna Acts 16:16
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 1x Acts 16:16
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Spirit of divination working through human mediums, named after Apollo's serpent oracle.
Strong's G4436
Lexical occurrences 0 verses Greek text appearances 1 time Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Acts 16:16-24 Source Gloss
divining spirit
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Spirit of divination working through human mediums, named after Apollo's serpent oracle.
1in cl., Python, a serpent slain by Apollo, who is hence surnamed the Pythian.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
1 Greek text appearance shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Acts 16:16 Noun Genitive Singular Masculine
Πύθωνος puqwnov
a divining spirit
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
New Testament Witnesses
A spirit associated with oracular prediction.
Why This Word Matters
Identifies the demonic source behind the girl’s proclamations. Acts 16:16-24
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain