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G4606 · Greek · New Testament
Σιδώνιος
Sidonios
Adjective/Proper Noun
of Sidon / Sidonian

Definition

Sidonios (G4606) means 'of Sidon' or 'Sidonian' — referring to the great Phoenician coastal city north of Israel (modern Lebanon). Sidon appears throughout both Testaments as a Gentile city that nevertheless sometimes receives God's grace more readily than Israel.

Usage & Theological Significance

The Sidonian widow of Zarephath (Lk 4:26; 1 Kgs 17) becomes Jesus' paradigmatic example of grace extended to Gentiles over Israel — delivered at the Nazareth synagogue, it nearly got him killed. 'There were many widows in Israel... yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.' The Syrophoenician woman (Mk 7:24-30) — from the region of Tyre and Sidon — demonstrates faith that Jesus marvels at. The Sidonian, the outsider, repeatedly appears at key moments of faith in the Gospels. Jesus declares Tyre and Sidon will be better off in judgment than Chorazin and Bethsaida (Matt 11:21-22) who saw his miracles and rejected them. Proximity to revelation without response is more culpable than ignorance.

Key Bible Verses

Luke 4:26 Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
Matthew 11:21 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago.
Mark 7:26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth.
Acts 27:3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly.
Luke 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!

Related Words

External Resources

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