Κυρήνιος G2958
Quirinius, Roman governor during the census (Luke 2:2)
Luke dates Jesus' birth by reference to 'the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria' (Luke 2:2). This chronological note has sparked considerable historical debate, as Quirinius' governorship is dated to AD 6-7, while Jesus' birth is usually placed earlier. Various solutions have been proposed: an earlier governorship, a previous census, or understanding 'first' as 'before' the famous census. Whatever the precise historical relationship, Luke intends to anchor the nativity in datable Roman history.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke provides historical anchoring for Jesus' birth through reference to Quirinius' governorship and the census. The genitive form identifies him as the Syrian governor at the time Luke has in view. All language witnesses transliterate the Latin name (P. Sulpicius Quirinius) with phonetic variations. The historical puzzle of coordinating Luke's reference with known dates of Quirinius' governorship has generated much scholarly discussion. Luke's intent is clear even if details remain debated: the Messiah's birth belongs to datable, public history, not myth. 1×
AR["كِيرِينِيُوسُ"]·ben["কুরীণিয়ের"]·DE["Κυρηνίου"]·EN["Kyrēnios"]·FR["Quirinus"]·heb["קוּרֵנִיוֹס"]·HI["कुरेनियुस"]·ID["Kirenius"]·IT["kureniou"]·jav["Kirénius."]·KO["구레네"]·PT["Quirínio"]·RU["Квириния"]·ES["Kyr ́ēnios"]·SW["Kurēnios"]·TR["Kirinus"]·urd["کرینیاس-کے"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Κυρήνιος (prop. -ίνιος, see Bl., 13; -ῖνος L, -εῖνος, Tr., WH, mg.), -ου, ὁ, Quirinus, prop. Quirinius: Luk.2:2.† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)