σουδάριον
soudarion
handkerchief
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word "σούδαριον" (soudarion) is a noun that refers to a handkerchief. It is used four times in the Bible, indicating its significance in ancient Greek culture. In this context, a handkerchief was not just a personal item for wiping one's nose, but it also held symbolic value. The fact that soudarion is classified under the semantic domain of "Royalty & Authority" suggests that it may have been used in a ceremonial or official capacity. This could imply that the handkerchief was not just a practical item, but also a symbol of status or power. The limited number of occurrences in the Bible (four times) suggests that soudarion was not a commonly used word in everyday conversation. Its presence in the text, however, highlights its importance in the cultural and social context of the time.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences across the text
Another came, saying, ‘Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,
John 11:44He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”
John 20:7and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
Acts 19:12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.