σωτήρ
Savior
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.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does σωτήρ (sōtḗr) mean in the Bible?
σωτήρ (sōtḗr) is a Greek word meaning "savior". σωτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ (σώζω), [in LXX for יָשַׁע and cognate forms ;] saviour, deliverer, preserver, a frequently epithet of kings in the Ptolemaic and Rom. Identifies Jesus as the deliverer from sin. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Messiah, Redemption.
Meaning
One who delivers from danger or destruction; applied to God and Christ as ultimate rescuer.
(σώζω), [in LXX for יָשַׁע and cognate forms ;] saviour, deliverer, preserver, a frequently epithet of kings in the Ptolemaic and Rom. periods (Deiss., BS, 83; LAE, 368 f.; MM, xxiv), in NT,
Why This Word Matters
Identifies Jesus as the deliverer from sin. 1 John 4:13-16
Identifies Jesus as fulfillment of covenant promise. 1 Timothy 2:1-7
God is identified as Savior, linking prayer to His redemptive character and purposes. Acts 13:13-41
Christ’s identity as Savior defines the scope and purpose of His mission. John 4:27–42
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
Additional Occurrences
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.
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.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain