"pr. one to whom a pure Greek dialect is not native; one who is not a proper Greek, a barbarian, Rom. 1:14; Col. 3:11; Acts 28:2, 4; a foreigner speaking a strange language, 1 Cor. 14:11*"
Definition and meaning
pr. one to whom a pure Greek dialect is not native; one who is not a proper Greek, a barbarian, Rom. 1:14; Col. 3:11; Acts 28:2, 4; a foreigner speaking a strange language, 1 Cor. 14:11*
In the original Greek the word is written: βάρβαρος
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of barbaros (G915) across the King James Bible.
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
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Common questions
Strong's G915 (barbaros) is a Greek word that means: pr. one to whom a pure Greek dialect is not native; one who is not a proper Greek, a barbarian, Rom. 1:14; Col. 3:11; Acts 28:2, 4; a foreigner speaking a strange language, 1 Cor. 14:11* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word barbaros (G915) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G915 is barbaros, a Greek word defined as: pr. one to whom a pure Greek dialect is not native; one who is not a proper Greek, a barbarian, Rom. 1:14; Col. 3:11; Acts 28:2, 4; a foreigner speaki. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
barbaros is a Greek word found in the New Testament.