πόντος G4195
Pontus, a region along the southern shore of the Black Sea in northern Asia Minor
A geographical region along the Black Sea coast in what is now northern Turkey. The name literally means 'sea,' but in Greek geography 'Pontus' specifically designated the area around the Black Sea (Pontos Euxeinos). In Acts 2:9, Jews from Pontus were among those present at Pentecost who heard the gospel in their own languages. Peter addresses his first letter to believers scattered throughout 'Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia' (1 Pet 1:1)—regions of northern and western Asia Minor. Pontus was known for its Hellenistic culture and significant Jewish population.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The geographical region of Pontus on the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor, home to Jewish diaspora communities who became part of the early church. At Pentecost, Pontian Jews heard the gospel; later, Peter writes to believers there among a string of northern provinces. The region had strategic importance, known for trade and its Jewish population. The consistent naming across languages marks this as straightforward geography—a specific territory bordering the Black Sea, where early Christianity took root among both Jewish and Gentile populations. 2×
AR["بُنطُسَ", "بُنْطُسَ"]·ben["পন্তুর", "পন্তুসের"]·DE["Pontus", "Πόντον"]·EN["Pontos", "of-Pontus"]·FR["Pont", "Πόντου"]·heb["פּוֹנְטוֹס"]·HI["पुन्तुस"]·ID["Pontus"]·IT["Ponto", "pontou"]·jav["Pontus", "saking-Pontus,"]·KO["본도", "아시아-를"]·PT["Ponto", "de-Ponto,"]·RU["Понта,", "Понте"]·ES["Póntos", "de-Ponto"]·SW["Ponto", "wa-Ponto"]·TR["Pontus"]·urd["پنطس", "پُنتُس،"]
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πόντος, ὁ: Epic dialect genitive ἐκ ποντόφιν Refs 8th c.BC+:—sea, especially open sea, common from Refs 8th c.BC+; in the general sense, ὁπότε πνεῦμα ἐκ πόντου εἴη LXX+5th c.BC+; π. ἀπείριτος, ἀπείρων, εὐρύς, μεγακήτης, Refs 8th c.BC+; κέλευθοι, πλάξ, πεδίον πόντου, Refs 5th c.BC+; π. ἁλὸς πολιῆς the wide waters of the grey brine, Refs 8th c.BC+; πόντου γέφυρα, πύλαι, of the Isthmus, Refs 5th…