σωτηρ-ία G4991
salvation, deliverance — rescue from danger or sin, the comprehensive saving act of God
Soteria encompasses the full sweep of divine rescue — from physical deliverance to spiritual redemption to eschatological consummation. Its 46 New Testament occurrences include Zechariah's prophecy of 'a horn of salvation' (Luke 1:69), Paul's declaration that the gospel 'is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes' (Rom 1:16), and the eschatological promise that 'salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed' (Rom 13:11). The word's classical Greek background — preservation from shipwreck, safe return from war — enriches the biblical usage: God's salvation is both a rescue already accomplished and a homecoming still awaited. The translations are remarkably consistent: Spanish 'salvacion,' French 'salut,' German 'Rettung/Heil,' each capturing the breadth of deliverance-preservation-redemption in a single term.
Senses
1. of salvation — Deliverance, preservation, and salvation in the fullest sense — encompassing past rescue (the accomplished work of Christ), present experience (the ongoing life of faith), and future consummation (the eschatological hope). Zechariah sings of a 'horn of salvation' raised in the house of David (Luke 1:69, 71), Paul identifies the gospel as 'the power of God for salvation' (Rom 1:16), and the author of Hebrews calls it 'so great a salvation' first announced by the Lord (Heb 2:3). The genitive construction ('of salvation') predominates, qualifying nouns like 'day,' 'helmet,' 'hope,' and 'message.' All 46 occurrences participate in this single, richly layered semantic — physical deliverance, spiritual rescue from sin, and the final redemption of all things. 46×
AR["-الخَلَاصُ", "الخَلاصِ", "الخَلَاصُ", "الْخَلَاصُ", "الْخَلَاصِ", "خَلاصًا", "خَلاصٌ", "خَلاصٍ", "خَلاصِ", "خَلاصِكُمْ", "خَلَاصًا", "خَلَاصٍ", "خَلَاصَ", "خَلَاصِ", "سَلَامَتِكُمْ"]·ben["পরিত্রাণ", "পরিত্রাণ,", "পরিত্রাণের", "পরিত্রাণের;", "পরিত্রাণের।", "রক্ষার"]·DE["Rettung"]·EN["deliverance", "of-salvation", "salvation"]·FR["salut"]·heb["יְשׁוּעָה"]·HI["उद्धार", "उद्धार-का", "उद्धार-के", "छुटकारा", "नाम", "रक्षाकी"]·ID["keselamatan", "keselamatan,"]·IT["salvezza"]·jav["karahayon", "karahayon;", "kaslametan", "kaslametan,", "kawilujengan", "kawilujengan,", "kawilujengan."]·KO["구원", "구원-을", "구원-의", "구원-이", "구원으로", "구원을", "구원의", "구원이"]·PT["de-salvação", "de-salvação.", "salvação", "salvação,", "salvação."]·RU["-спасение", "для-", "когда", "спасение", "спасению", "спасения", "спасения,"]·ES["de-salvación", "salvación"]·SW["wa-wokovu", "wokovu", "wokovu,", "wokovu.", "wokovu;", "ya-wokovu", "ya-wokovu."]·TR["kurtuluş", "kurtuluşa", "kurtuluşumuz", "kurtuluşun", "kurtuluşunuz", "ne-de", "onlara", "ve-"]·urd["نجات", "نجات-کا", "نجات-کے", "نجات۔"]
Mark 16:20, Luke 1:69, Luke 1:71, Luke 1:77, Luke 19:9, John 4:22, Acts 4:12, Acts 7:25, Acts 13:26, Acts 13:47, Acts 16:17, Acts 27:34 (+34 more)
Related Senses
H7965 1. peace, absence of conflict (198×)H3467 1. save, deliver, rescue (Hifil active) (156×)H5127 1. flee, run away (Qal) (144×)G1515 1. peace, well-being, harmony (93×)H8002 1. peace offering(s) (87×)G4982 1. save spiritually, grant salvation (79×)H3444 1. salvation, deliverance (67×)H4422 1. Nifal: escape, flee (63×)H1272 1. flee, run away (Qal) (58×)H6869b 1. distress, trouble (57×)G2347 1. tribulation, affliction, distress (45×)H0983 1. security, safety, confidence (42×)H6031b 1. Piel: afflict, oppress (42×)H6040 1. affliction, misery, suffering (36×)H3468 1. salvation, deliverance (33×)G5343 1. flee, run away (28×)H3467 2. savior, deliverer (Hifil participle substantive) (28×)H8668 1. salvation, deliverance (27×)H8252 1. be quiet, be at rest (26×)G4990 1. Savior (24×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σωτηρ-ία, Ionic dialect -ιη, ἡ, deliverance, preservation, σωτηρίην ὑποθησόμενον ὑμῖν Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀπεργάζεσθαι, πορίζειν, ἐκπορίζεσθαι, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐνεύχομαί σοι τὴν Ἀπολλωνίου σ. Refs 3rd c.BC+; ὀμνύω σωι (or σοι) τὴν σαυτοῦ σ. Refs 3rd c.BC+; ὑπὲρ σωτηρίας.. Αὐτοκράτορος, = Latin pro salute Imperatoris, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 a way or means of safety (= μηχανὴ σωτηρίας Refs 4th c.BC+; ἔχεις…