"a distinguishing mark; an ensign of a ship, Acts 28:11*"
Definition and meaning
a distinguishing mark; an ensign of a ship, Acts 28:11*
In the original Greek the word is written: παράσημος
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 parasemos (G3902) across the King James Bible.
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G3902 (parasemos) is a Greek word that means: a distinguishing mark; an ensign of a ship, Acts 28:11* It appears 1 times in the King James Bible.
The word parasemos (G3902) appears 1 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3902 is parasemos, a Greek word defined as: a distinguishing mark; an ensign of a ship, Acts 28:11*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
parasemos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.