STRONGS NUMBER G3097

Original Word: μάγος
Transliteration: magos
Phonetic Spelling: (mag'-os)
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Short Definition: a Magian, an (Oriental) astrologer, by implication a magician
Meaning: a Magian, an (Oriental) astrologer, by implication a magiciansorcerer, magician

Of foreign origin (Rab-Mag); a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician -- sorcerer, wise man.

see HEBREW Rab-Mag

STRONGS NT 3097: μάγος

μάγος, μαγου, ὁ (Hebrew מַג, plural מָגִים; a word of Indo-Germanic origin; cf. Gesenius, Thesaurus, ii., p. 786; J. G. Müller in Herzog viii., p. 678; (Vanicek, Fremdwörter, under the word; but the word is now regarded by many as of Babylonian origin; see Schrader, Keilinschriften as above with 2te Aufl., p. 417ff)); from Sophocles and Herodotus down; the Sept. Daniel 2:2 and several times in Theod. ad Dan. for אַשָׁף; a magus; the name given by the Babylonians (Chaldaeans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augurs, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.; cf. Winers RWB, under the word; J. G. Müller in Herzog, the passage cited, pp. 675-685; Holtzmann in Schenkel iv., p. 84f; (BB. DD., under the word ). In the N. T. the name is given:

1. to the oriental wise men (astrologers) who, having discovered by the rising of a remarkable star (see ἀστήρ, and cf. Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, i. 209ff) that the Messiah had just been born, came to Jerusalem to worship him: Matthew 2:1, 7, 16.

2. to false prophets and sorcerers: Acts 13:6, 8,cf. 8:9,11.