"a Cyrenian, an inhabitant of Cyrene, Mt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21; Lk. 23:26; Acts 6:9; 11:20; 13:1*"
Definition and meaning
a Cyrenian, an inhabitant of Cyrene, Mt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21; Lk. 23:26; Acts 6:9; 11:20; 13:1*
In the original Greek the word is written: Κυρηναῖος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 kyrenaios (G2956) across the King James Bible.
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
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Common questions
Strong's G2956 (kyrenaios) is a Greek word that means: a Cyrenian, an inhabitant of Cyrene, Mt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21; Lk. 23:26; Acts 6:9; 11:20; 13:1* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word kyrenaios (G2956) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2956 is kyrenaios, a Greek word defined as: a Cyrenian, an inhabitant of Cyrene, Mt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21; Lk. 23:26; Acts 6:9; 11:20; 13:1*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kyrenaios is a Greek word found in the New Testament.