"pr. a dwelling; the dwelling of a deity, a temple, Mt. 26:61; Acts 7:48; used figuratively of individuals, Jn. 2:19; 1 Cor. 3:16; spc. the cell of a temple; hence, the Holy Place of the Temple of Jerusalem, Mt. 23:35; Lk. 1:9; a model of a temple, a shrine, Acts 19:24"
Definition and meaning
pr. a dwelling; the dwelling of a deity, a temple, Mt. 26:61; Acts 7:48; used figuratively of individuals, Jn. 2:19; 1 Cor. 3:16; spc. the cell of a temple; hence, the Holy Place of the Temple of Jerusalem, Mt. 23:35; Lk. 1:9; a model of a temple, a shrine, Acts 19:24
In the original Greek the word is written: ναός
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 naos (G3485) across the King James Bible.
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
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Common questions
Strong's G3485 (naos) is a Greek word that means: pr. a dwelling; the dwelling of a deity, a temple, Mt. 26:61; Acts 7:48; used figuratively of individuals, Jn. 2:19; 1 Cor. 3:16; spc. the cell of a temple; hence, the Holy Place of the Temple of Jeru... It appears 40 times in the King James Bible.
The word naos (G3485) appears 40 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3485 is naos, a Greek word defined as: pr. a dwelling; the dwelling of a deity, a temple, Mt. 26:61; Acts 7:48; used figuratively of individuals, Jn. 2:19; 1 Cor. 3:16; spc. the cell of a t. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
naos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.