- λῃστής
- λῃστής, οῦ, ὁ (ληϊς, epic form of λεία ‘booty, spoils’; Soph., Hdt.+; ins, pap, LXX; ApcSed 15:3; Joseph.; loanw. in rabb.; Ar. 3, 2; Just., Tat., Ath., R. 19 p. 72, 25; Theoph. Ant. 3, 14 [p. 232, 13]).① robber, highwayman, bandit (in Palestine: Jos., Bell. 2, 125; 228 al.) Lk 10:30, 36; 2 Cor 11:26 (Chariton 6, 4, 6 λῃσταῖς θαλάττῃ); Mt 26:55; Mk 14:48; Lk 22:52; so also MPol 7:1. Crucified w. Christ Mt 27:38, 44; Mk 15:27. W. κλέπτης (Pla., Rep. 351c; Ep. 63 of Apollonius of Tyana [Philostrat. I 363, 21]) J 10:1, 8. σπήλαιον λῃστῶν a bandits’ cave or hideout (Jer 7:11) Mt 21:13; Mk 11:17; Lk 19:46; 2 Cl 14:1 (GBuchanan, HUCA 30, ’59, 169–77: ‘cave of brigands’; s. ἱερόν b, end; Schürer II 600).—This mng. was extended to signify② revolutionary, insurrectionist, guerrilla (Jos., Bell. 2, 254=σικάριος; 253; 4, 504, Ant. 14, 159f; 20, 160f; 167) of Barabbas (cp. μετὰ τ. στασιαστῶν Mk 15:7) J 18:40 (HRigg, Jr., JBL 64, ’45, 444 n. 95; HWood, NTS 2, ’55/56, 262–66 and JTwomey, Scripture (Edinburgh) 8, ’56, 115–19 support this, but see MHengel, Die Zeloten, ’61, 25–47; 344–48); prob. also in the words of Jesus Mt 26:55; Mk 14:48; Lk 22:52; MPol 7:1 (cp. Mt 26:55).—More precise def. depends on assessment of ‘social banditry’, s. RHorsley, Josephus and the Bandits: Journal for the Study of Judaism 10, ’79, 37–63; RHorsley/JHanson, Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs ’85.—B. 791. DELG s.v. λεία. M-M. TW. Spicq.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.