Greek semantic domain

Geographical Objects and Features

The semantic domain entitled Geographical Objects and Features includes certain lexical items which refer to objects not perceptually evident, for example, ‘heaven’ and ‘hell,’ but from the manner in which the meanings of these terms are employed in NT Greek, the reference is clearly to spacially defined objects or regions rather than to psychological states.

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Source hierarchy

Advanced domain details

Domain ID: SDBC-DOMAIN-UBS-GRK-001
Source code: 001
Level: 1
Scheme: UBS Greek Lexical Domains

Member senses (132)

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ἈβραάμAbraham’s bosom, heaven
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: Abraham’s bosom) the heavenly abode, with the implication of close interpersonal relations
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000011-02
ἄβυσσοςabyss, abode of evil spirits, very deep place
Sense details
(a figurative extension of meaning of ἄβυσσος ‘pit,’ not occurring in the NT) a location of the dead and a place where the Devil is kept (Revelation 20:3), the abode of the beast as the antichrist (Revelation 11:7), and of Abaddon, as the angel of the underworld (Revelation 9:11)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000012-01
ἀγρόςfield, land
Sense details
land under cultivation or used for pasture
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000068-01
ἀγρόςcountryside, fields, rural area
Sense details
a rural area in contrast with a population center
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000068-02
ἀγρόςfarm settlement, hamlet
Sense details
a relatively small village, possibly merely a cluster of farms
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000068-03
ᾅδηςthe world of the dead, Hades
Sense details
a place or abode of the dead, including both the righteous and the unrighteous (in most contexts ᾅδης[a] is equivalent to the Hebrew term Sheol)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000086-01
ἀήρair
Sense details
the space immediately above the earths surface, and not including the dome arching over the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000109-01
ἀήρair, sky
Sense details
the space above the earth inhabited by and under the control of certain supernatural powers^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000109-03
αἰγιαλόςbeach, shore
Sense details
a strip of land immediately bordering the edge of a body of water and gradually sloping down into the water
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000124-01
αἰώνuniverse
Sense details
the universe, perhaps with some associated meaning of ‘eon’ or ‘age’ in the sense of the transitory nature of the universe (but this is doubtful in the contexts of Hebrews 1:2 and Hebrews 11:3)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000164-02
ἄμμοςbeach
Sense details
a sandy beach or shore
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000283-02
ἄμφοδονcity street
Sense details
a thoroughfare within a city
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000296-01
ἀνωτερικόςinland, upland, interior
Sense details
pertaining to an inland or higher area, presumably away from the shoreline
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000509-01
ἀστήρstar, planet
Sense details
a star or a planet
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000789-01
ἀστήρmorning star, bright star in the morning sky
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: morning star) a planet which is conspicuous in the morning sky (usually either Venus or Mars)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000789-02
ἄστρονstar, planet
Sense details
a star or a planet
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000795-01
ἄστρονconstellation
Sense details
a group of stars
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000795-02
ἀτμίςsteam
Sense details
a hot steamy vapor
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000818-01
βάθοςthe world below
Sense details
a place or region which is low
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000898-04
βασιλείαkingdom
Sense details
an area or district ruled by a king
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-000930-02
βόθυνοςpit, ditch, hole
Sense details
a hole, trench, or pit, natural or dug
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001008-01
βουνόςhill, mound
Sense details
a relatively low elevated land formation, in contrast with ὄρος ‘mountain’ (semantic domain 1.46), which refers to something higher
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001022-01
βυθόςopen sea, high sea, the deep, ocean
Sense details
the relatively deep area of the sea or ocean sufficiently far from land as to be beyond the range of any protection from the seacoast
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001044-01
γέενναGehenna, hell
Sense details
a place of punishment for the dead
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001078-01
γεώργιονfield
Sense details
cultivated land, normally restricted to tilled fields or orchards, in contrast with pasture land (in the NT γεώργιον is used only figuratively of people whom God cares for and nurtures)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001104-01
γῆearth, world
Sense details
the surface of the earth as the dwelling place of mankind, in contrast with the heavens above and the world below^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001106-01
γῆland
Sense details
dry land, in contrast with the sea
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001106-02
γῆregion, territory, land (and even district, though this might imply too precisely a governmental area)
Sense details
region or regions of the earth, normally in relation to some ethnic group or geographical center, but not necessarily constituting a unit of governmental administration^{[source note 3]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001106-04
γῆheaven and earth, universe
Sense details
a more or less fixed phrase: the heavens and the earth, equivalent to a single lexical item: the totality of God’s creation
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001106-06
διέξοδοςwhere a main street leaves the city (possibly at the city wall)
Sense details
possibly a street crossing, but more probably the place where a principal thoroughfare crosses a city boundary and extends into the open country
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001343-01
διθάλασσοςsandbar, reef
Sense details
a bar or reef produced in an area where two currents meet
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001353-02
δόξαglory, heaven
Sense details
a place which is glorious and as such, a reference to heaven
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001411-08
ἔδαφοςground
Sense details
the surface of the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001500-01
ἐξώτεροςouter darkness, darkness outside
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: the outer darkness) a place or region which is both dark and removed (presumably from the abode of the righteous) and serving as the abode of evil spirits and devils
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001872-01
ἐπαρχείαprovince, region
Sense details
a part of the Roman Empire (usually acquired by conquest) and constituting an administrative unit ruled over by an ἔπαρχος selected by the Roman Senate
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001902-01
ἐπίγειοςon the earth, in the world
Sense details
pertaining to being located on the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-001935-01
ἐπουράνιοςin the sky, celestial
Sense details
(derivative of οὐρανός[a] ‘sky,’ semantic domain 1.5) related to or located in the sky
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002050-01
ἐπουράνιοςheavenly, in heaven, pertaining to heaven
Sense details
(derivative of οὐρανός[b] heaven, semantic domain 1.11) related to or located in heaven
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002050-02
ἐπουράνιοςheavenly body
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: heavenly body, occurring in the NT only in the plural^{[source note 2]}) the luminous objects in the sky: sun, moon, and other planets and stars
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002050-04
ἐρημίαdesert, wilderness, lonely place
Sense details
a largely uninhabited region, normally with sparse vegetation (in contrast with πόλις[a] ‘a population center,’ semantic domain 1.88)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002063-01
ἔρημοςdesert, wilderness, lonely place
Sense details
a largely uninhabited region, normally with sparse vegetation (in contrast with πόλις[a] ‘a population center,’ semantic domain 1.88)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002064-02
ζόφοςgloomy hell, black darkness
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: the gloom of darkness) the dark, gloomy nature of hell as a place of punishment
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002230-02
ἥλιοςthe sun
Sense details
the large celestial body that gives warmth and light to earth in the daytime
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002257-01
θάλασσαthe sea
Sense details
a generic collective term for all bodies of water (in this sense θάλασσα[a] is contrasted with the sky and the land)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002287-01
θάλασσαsea, lake
Sense details
a particular body of water, normally rather large
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002287-02
ἶριςrainbow or halo
Sense details
a circular or semicircular band of light, whether colored or not^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002465-01
καπνόςsmoke
Sense details
the visible gases and particles given off by burning matter; varies in appearance from white to black and rises in the air
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002590-01
καταχθόνιοςthe world below, what is beneath the earth, under the earth
Sense details
pertaining to being below the surface of the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002717-01
κῆποςgarden, orchard
Sense details
a field used for the cultivation of herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002792-01
κλίμαregion, territory, land, district (though this might imply too precisely a governmental area)
Sense details
region or regions of the earth, normally in relation to some ethnic group or geographical center, but not necessarily constituting a unit of governmental administration^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002838-01
κόλποςbay, gulf
Sense details
a part of the sea which is partially enclosed by land
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002873-03
κόλποςAbraham’s bosom, heaven
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: Abraham’s bosom) the heavenly abode, with the implication of close interpersonal relations
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002873-04
κολωνίαcolony
Sense details
a city or town with special privileges in that the inhabitants of such a town were regarded as Roman citizens (such towns were originally colonized by citizens of Rome)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002876-01
κοσμικόςearthly, on earth
Sense details
pertaining to the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002902-01
κόσμοςcosmos, universe
Sense details
the universe as an ordered structure
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002905-01
κόσμοςearth, world
Sense details
the surface of the earth as the dwelling place of mankind, in contrast with the heavens above and the world below^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002905-02
κρημνόςsteep slope
Sense details
steep slope, steep side of a hill
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002926-01
κτίσιςuniverse, creation, what was made
Sense details
the universe as the product of God’s activity in creation
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002953-03
κώμηvillage
Sense details
a relatively unimportant population center (in contrast with πόλις[b] ‘city,’ semantic domain 1.89)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002985-01
κωμόπολιςtown, market town
Sense details
a city that had the status of a κώμη (semantic domain 1.92) as far as its legal standing or constitution was concerned
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-002986-01
λιμήνharbor
Sense details
a relatively small area of the sea which is well protected by land but deep enough for ships to enter and moor
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003060-01
λίμνηlake, pool
Sense details
a relatively small body of water either natural or artificial, surrounded by land
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003061-01
λίμνηlake of fire, hell
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: lake of fire (and sulfur), occurring in some slightly different forms six times in Revelation, three times with the addition of θεῖον ‘sulfur’) a place of eternal punishment and destruction^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003061-02
μερίςdistrict
Sense details
an administrative district
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003226-02
μέροςregion, territory, land, district (though this might imply too precisely a governmental area)
Sense details
region or regions of the earth, normally in relation to some ethnic group or geographical center, but not necessarily constituting a unit of governmental administration^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003229-03
μεσουράνημαhigh in the sky, midpoint in the sky, directly overhead, straight above in the sky
Sense details
a point or region of the sky directly above the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003237-01
νεφέληcloud
Sense details
visible mass of particles of water in the sky; varies in color from white to dark grey; source of rain
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003410-01
νησίονa small island
Sense details
No concise definition supplied.
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003422-01
νῆσοςisland
Sense details
an area of land completely surrounded by water
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003423-01
νομήpasture
Sense details
pasture land in contrast with cultivated fields
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003445-01
ξηρόςland
Sense details
dry land, in contrast with the sea
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003487-03
ὁδόςroad, highway, street, way
Sense details
a general term for a thoroughfare, either within a population center or between two such centers
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003501-01
οἰκουμένηearth, world
Sense details
the surface of the earth as the dwelling place of mankind, in contrast with the heavens above and the world below^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003529-01
οἰκουμένηempire, people of the empire
Sense details
the Roman Empire, including its inhabitants (οἰκουμένη[b] differs from οἰκουμένη[a] ‘earth,’ semantic domain 1.39, in that those outside of the Roman Empire are specifically excluded, that is to say, no census was to be taken of the barbarians, but only of the inhabitants of the Empire)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003529-02
ὁμίχληfog, mist
Sense details
a cloud-like mass of moisture close to the earth's surface
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003566-01
ὀπήhole, opening
Sense details
an opening or hole in the ground, either large as in Hebrews 11:38 or relatively small as in James 3:11
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003599-01
ὀρεινόςmountainous region, hill country
Sense details
pertaining to an area characterized by mountains or hills
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003621-01
ὅριονregion, territory, land, district (though this might imply too precisely a governmental area)
Sense details
region or regions of the earth, normally in relation to some ethnic group or geographical center, but not necessarily constituting a unit of governmental administration^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003631-01
ὄροςmountain
Sense details
a relatively high elevation of land, in contrast with βουνός hill (semantic domain 1.48), which is by comparison somewhat lower
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003641-01
οὐράνιοςheavenly, in heaven, pertaining to heaven
Sense details
(derivative of οὐρανός[b] heaven, semantic domain 1.11) related to or located in heaven
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003675-01
οὐρανόθενfrom the sky
Sense details
the sky as a source or as a location from which implied movement takes place
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003676-01
οὐρανόςsky
Sense details
space above the earth, including the vault arching high over the earth from one horizon to another, as well as the sun, moon, and stars
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003677-01
οὐρανόςheaven
Sense details
the supernatural dwelling place of God and other heavenly beings (οὐρανός[b] also contains a component denoting that which is above or in the sky, but the element of abode is evidently more significant than location above the earth)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003677-02
οὐρανόςheaven and earth, universe
Sense details
a more or less fixed phrase: the heavens and the earth, equivalent to a single lexical item: the totality of God’s creation
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003677-04
οὐρανόςon earth
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: under the sky) pertaining to being on the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003677-07
ὀφρῦςcliff, brow of a hill
Sense details
(a figurative extension of meaning of ὀφρῦς ‘brow,’ not occurring in the NT) the upper portion of a precipitous or steep contour of a hill or mountain
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003695-01
παράδεισοςparadise
Sense details
a dwelling place of the righteous dead in a state of blessedness (generally equated with οὐρανός[b] ‘heaven,’ semantic domain 1.11)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003759-01
παραθαλάσσιοςby the seaside, by the lake
Sense details
pertaining to being located beside the sea or along the shore
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003765-01
παράλιοςcoastal region
Sense details
a territory bordering on the sea, in contrast with an inland area (compare ἀνωτερικός, semantic domain 1.65)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003782-01
παρεμβολήcamp
Sense details
a temporary population center consisting of an encampment^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003827-01
πατρίςhomeland, hometown
Sense details
the region or population center from which a person comes, that is to say, the place of one’s birth or childhood or the place from which one’s family has come
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003869-01
πέλαγοςopen sea, high sea, the deep, ocean
Sense details
the relatively deep area of the sea or ocean sufficiently far from land as to be beyond the range of any protection from the seacoast
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003892-01
περίχωροςsurrounding region
Sense details
an area or region around or near some central or focal point
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003970-01
πηγήspring
Sense details
a source of water flowing onto the surface or into a pool somewhat below ground level
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-003981-01
πλατύςavenue, wide street
Sense details
a wide street within a city
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004022-02
πόλιςcity, town
Sense details
a population center, in contrast with a rural area or countryside and without specific reference to size^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004075-01
πόλιςcity
Sense details
a population center of relatively greater importance (in contrast with κώμη[a] ‘village,’ semantic domain 1.92, and κωμόπολις ‘town,’ semantic domain 1.91), due to its size, economic significance, or political control over a surrounding area (it is possible that fortification of walls and gates also entered into the system of classification of a πόλις[b], in contrast with other terms for population centers)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004075-02
πόντοςopen sea, high sea, the deep, ocean
Sense details
the relatively deep area of the sea or ocean sufficiently far from land as to be beyond the range of any protection from the seacoast
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004097-01
ποταμόςriver, stream
Sense details
a river or stream normally flowing throughout the year (in contrast with χείμαρρος[b] ‘winter stream,’ semantic domain 1.77)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004117-01
πρωϊνόςmorning star, bright star in the morning sky
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: morning star) a planet which is conspicuous in the morning sky (usually either Venus or Mars)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004309-02
ῥύμηnarrow street, lane, alley
Sense details
a city thoroughfare which is relatively narrow
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004407-01
σελήνηmoon
Sense details
a celestial body smaller than the sun that gives light to earth in the nighttime; the moon’s appearance changes over the course of each month as the angle we can see the moon’s half-illuminated surface changes
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004482-01
σιρόςpit, deep hole
Sense details
No concise definition supplied.
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004519-01
σκότοςgloomy hell, black darkness
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: the gloom of darkness) the dark, gloomy nature of hell as a place of punishment
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004559-03
σκότοςouter darkness, darkness outside
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: the outer darkness) a place or region which is both dark and removed (presumably from the abode of the righteous) and serving as the abode of evil spirits and devils
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004559-04
σπήλαιονcave, den, hideout
Sense details
a cave or den generally large enough for at least temporary occupation by persons (since such places were often used for habitation or refuge by those who were refugees or thieves, σπήλαιον has in certain contexts the connotation of a ‘hideout’)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004595-01
σῶμαheavenly body
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: heavenly body, occurring in the NT only in the plural^{[source note 3]}) the luminous objects in the sky: sun, moon, and other planets and stars
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004887-06
ταρταρόωto hold in Tartarus, to cast into hell
Sense details
(derivative of τάρταρος ‘Tartarus,’ ‘hell,’ as a place of torture or torment, not occurring in the NT) to cast into or to cause to remain in Tartarus
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-004926-01
τόποςsandbar, reef
Sense details
a bar or reef produced in an area where two currents meet
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005016-07
τρίβοςpath, beaten path
Sense details
a well-worn path or thoroughfare
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005036-01
ὑπόon earth
Sense details
(an idiom, literally: under the sky) pertaining to being on the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005148-07
ὑψηλόςhigh, world above, sky, heaven, on high
Sense details
a location above the earth and associated with supernatural events or beings
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005199-02
ὕψιστοςhigh, world above, sky, heaven, on high
Sense details
a location above the earth and associated with supernatural events or beings
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005201-01
ὕψοςhigh, world above, sky, heaven, on high
Sense details
a location above the earth and associated with supernatural events or beings
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005202-02
ὕψωμαhigh, world above, sky, heaven, on high
Sense details
a location above the earth and associated with supernatural events or beings
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005204-01
φάραγξravine, narrow steep-sided valley
Sense details
No concise definition supplied.
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005218-01
φραγμόςbyway, path
Sense details
a path or area along a fence, wall, or hedge (where desperately poor people might stay)
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005305-02
φρέαρdeep pit
Sense details
a relatively deep pit or shaft in the ground
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005308-02
φωλεόςhole, den, lair
Sense details
a hole, typically occupied by an animal as a den or lair
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005341-01
φωστήρlight, luminary, star
Sense details
any light-producing object in the sky, such as the sun, moon, and other planets and stars
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005345-01
φωσφόροςmorning star
Sense details
a light-producing heavenly body, probably the morning star (a planet), but possibly the sun
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005346-01
χαμαίon the ground, to the ground
Sense details
a location on the surface of the earth
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005363-01
χάσμαchasm
Sense details
(a figurative extension of meaning of χάσμα ‘yawning,’ not occurring in the NT) a deep, unbridgeable valley or trough between two points
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005377-01
χεῖλοςshore
Sense details
(a figurative extension of meaning of χεῖλος ‘lip,’ not occurring in the NT, except as a metonymy for speech; see χεῖλος[b] semantic domain 33.74) the strip of land close to a body of water
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005378-01
χείμαρροςbrook, winter stream, rainy-season stream
Sense details
a stream or river which flows only during the rainy season (in Palestine this would be during the winter months) or when melting snow from the mountains provides running water for a relatively short period of time
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005380-01
χείμαρροςravine, wadi
Sense details
a ravine or narrow valley in which a stream flows during the rainy season, but which is normally dry during the dry season
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005380-02
χοϊκόςof earth, earthly, made of earth
Sense details
pertaining to having the nature of earthly existence in contrast with that which is heavenly or of heaven
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005402-02
χώραland
Sense details
dry land, in contrast with the sea
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005445-01
χώραregion, territory, land, district (though this might imply too precisely a governmental area)
Sense details
region or regions of the earth, normally in relation to some ethnic group or geographical center, but not necessarily constituting a unit of governmental administration^{[source note 1]}
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005445-02
χώραcountryside, fields, rural area
Sense details
a rural area in contrast with a population center
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005445-03
χώραfield, land
Sense details
land under cultivation or used for pasture
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005445-04
χωρίονfield, land
Sense details
land under cultivation or used for pasture
SDBC-GRK-SENSE-005448-01