"pr. a band or fillet; a diadem, the badge of a sovereign, Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 19:12*"
Definition and meaning
pr. a band or fillet; a diadem, the badge of a sovereign, Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 19:12*
In the original Greek the word is written: διάδημα
Historical context
Domitian required people across the empire to address him as Dominus et Deus — Lord and God. Christians who refused to burn incense before the emperor's image faced economic exclusion and imprisonment. The book was written in apocalyptic imagery that believers would recognize but Roman authorities would not — a letter of resistance written to people being crushed by the most powerful empire on earth.
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 diadema (G1238) across the King James Bible.
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
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Common questions
Strong's G1238 (diadema) is a Greek word that means: pr. a band or fillet; a diadem, the badge of a sovereign, Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 19:12* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word diadema (G1238) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1238 is diadema, a Greek word defined as: pr. a band or fillet; a diadem, the badge of a sovereign, Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 19:12*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
diadema is a Greek word found in the New Testament.