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Greek · G4716 · unreviewed

σταυρός

Cross

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σταυρός G4716
Pronunciation staurós

What does σταυρός (staurós) mean in the Bible?

σταυρός (staurós) is a Greek word meaning "cross". σταυρός, -oῦ, ὁ __1. Defines discipleship as identification with Christ’s suffering and redemptive work. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah, Redemption.

Full entry for σταυρός (G4716) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

cross
Extended definition

The Cross metonymically represents Christ's redemptive death and sacrifice, not merely the physical instrument.

1an upright pale or stake (Hom., Hdt., Thuc., al.)
2In late writers (Diod., Plut., al.) of the Roman instrument of crucifixion, the Cross: of the Cross on which Christ suffered, Mat.27:32, 40 27:42, Mrk.15:21, 30 15:32, Luk.23:26, Jhn.19:17, 19 19:25, 31, Col.2:14, Heb.12:2; θάνατος σταυροῦ, Php.2:8; τ. αἷμα τοῦ σ., Col.1:20. Metaphorical, in proverbial sayings: αἴρειν (λαμβάνειν, βαστάζειν) τὸν σ., Mat.10:38 16:24, Mrk.8:34 10:21, 15:21, Luk.9:23 14:27 (for an interesting ex. of metaphorically use in π., see MM, xxiii) By meton., for Christ's death on the Cross: 1Co.1:17, Gal.5:11 6:12, 14, Eph.2:16, Php.3:18; ὁ λόγος ὁ τοῦ σ., 1Co.1:18.
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Defines discipleship as identification with Christ’s suffering and redemptive work.
Symbol of sacrificial allegiance.
Represents identification with Christ’s path of suffering and obedience.
Instrument of execution and symbol of redemption.
Represents suffering and surrender aligned with Christ. Luke 14:25–35
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine 1 Cor 1:17 1×
Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 27:40 · Matt 27:42 · Mark 15:30 · Mark 15:32 · John 19:19 · John 19:31 · 1 Cor 1:18 · Gal 5:11 · Eph 2:16 · Phil 2:8 · Phil 3:18 · Col 1:20 12×
Dative · Singular · Masculine John 19:25 · Gal 6:12 · Gal 6:14 · Col 2:14 4×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Matt 10:38 · Matt 16:24 · Matt 27:32 · Mark 8:34 · Mark 15:21 · Luke 9:23 · Luke 14:27 · Luke 23:26 · John 19:17 · Heb 12:2 10×
27 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Canonical Themes
Messiah Redemption
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences
Luke 14:25–35 σταυρόν staurós
Cross
Luke 23:26–31 σταυρόν staurós
Cross
Luke 9:23–27 σταυρόν staurós
Cross
Mark 8:34–38 σταυρός staurós
cross; instrument of execution
New Testament Witnesses
Luke 14:25–35 σταυρὸν staurós Accusative · Singular · Masculine
cross
Luke 23:26–32 σταυρός staurós Accusative · Singular · Masculine
cross
Luke 9:23–27 σταυρός staurós Accusative · Singular · Masculine
cross
Mark 8:34–38 σταυρός staurós Accusative · Singular · Masculine
cross
Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

λόγος · σταυρός G3056, G4716
the message or proclamation concerning the cross of Christ
βαστάζω · σταυρός G941, G4716
bearing/carrying the cross
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 1 — The Cross of Christ Against Boasting, Division, and Worldly Wisdom Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son Luke 14 — Kingdom Humility, Banquet Mercy, and the Cost of Discipleship Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Luke 9 — The Christ Revealed, the Cross Announced, and the Jerusalem Road Begun Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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