Bible Encyclopedia: Lydia

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LYDIA (1)

lid'-i-a (Ludia): An important country in the western part of Asia Minor bounded on the North by Mysia, on the East by Phrygia, on the South by Caria, and on the West by the Aegean Sea. Its surface is rugged, but along the valleys between its mountain ranges ran some of the most important highways from the coast cities to the distant interior. Of its many rivers the chief are the Cayster, the Lower Hermus, the Cogamos, the Caicus and, during a part of its course, the Meander.

Lydia was an exceedingly ancient and powerful kingdom whose history is composed chiefly of that of its individual cities. In 546 B.C. it fell into the hands of the Persians, and in 334 B.C. it became a part of Alexander's empire. After the death of Alexander its possession was claimed by the kings both of Pergamos and of Seleucia, but in 190 B.C. it became the undisputed possession of the former (1 Maccabees 8:8). With the death of Attalus III, 133 B.C., it was transferred by the will of that king to Rome, and Lydia, which then became but a name, formed, along with Caria, Mysia and Phrygia, a part of the Roman province of Asia (see ASIA). Chief among its cities were Smyrna and Ephesus, two of the most important in Asia Minor, and Smyrna is still the largest and wealthiest city of that part of Turkey. At Ephesus, the seat of the goddess Diana, Paul remained longer than elsewhere in Asia, and there his most important missionary work was done (Acts 19). Hence, Lydia figures prominently in the early history of the church; it became Christianized during the residence of the apostle at Ephesus, or soon afterward (see also LUD).

E. J. Banks

LYDIA (2)

lid'-i-a (Ludia): The feminine of Lydian, a native of Lydia, a large country on the West of Asia Minor, and the name of Paul's first convert in Europe. This name was a popular one for women (compare Horace Odes i0.8; iii0.9; vi.20), but Ramsay thinks she "was familiarly known in the town by the ethnic that showed her origin" (H D B, under the word "Lydia"; compare Paul the Traveler, 214). It has always been and is still a common custom in the Orient to refer to one living in a foreign land by employing the adjective which designates the nationality. Renan thinks it means "the Lydian"; Thyatira is a city of Lydia. Lydia was (1) living in Philippi, (2) of the city of Thyatira, (3) a seller of the purple-dyed garments from her native town, (4) and "one that worshipped God." Her occupation shows her to have been a woman of some capital. The phrase which describes her religion (sebomene ton Theon) is the usual designation for a proselyte. She was in the habit of frequenting a place of prayer by a riverside, a situation convenient for the necessary ablutions required by the Jewish worship, and there Paul and his companions met her. After she had been listening to Paul (Greek imperfect), the Lord opened her heart to give heed to his teaching ("To open is the part of God, to pay attention that of the woman," Chrysostom). Her baptism and that of her household followed. To prove her sincerity she besought the missionaries to accept the hospitality of her home. Her house probably became the center for the church in Philippi (Acts 16:14, 15, 40). Lydia is not mentioned in Paul's letter to the Philippians, but, if Ramsay be correct, she may have been Euodias or Syntyche (Philippians 4:2).

S. F. Hunter

Greek

3070. Ludia -- Lydia, a Christian woman
... Lydia, a Christian woman. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Ludia
Phonetic Spelling: (loo-dee'-ah) Short Definition: Lydia Definition: Lydia, a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3070.htm - 6k

4554. Sardeis -- Sardis, the chief city of Lydia
... Sardis, the chief city of Lydia. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
Sardeis Phonetic Spelling: (sar'-dice) Short Definition: Sardis Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4554.htm - 6k

2363. Thuateira -- Thyatira, a city of Lydia
... Thyatira, a city of Lydia. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: Thuateira
Phonetic Spelling: (thoo-at'-i-rah) Short Definition: Thyatira Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2363.htm - 6k

5359. Philadelpheia -- Philadelphia, a city of Lydia
... Philadelphia, a city of Lydia. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
Philadelpheia Phonetic Spelling: (fil-ad-el'-fee-ah) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5359.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3865. Lud -- a son of Shem, also his desc. and their land
... and their land NASB Word Usage Lud (5). Lud, Lydia. Probably of foreign derivation;
Lud, the name of two nations -- Lud, Lydia. 3864, 3865. Lud. 3866 . ...
/hebrew/3865.htm - 6k

Library

Lydia, the First European Convert
... Lydia, the First European Convert. A Sermon (No.2222). Intended for Reading on
Lord's-day, September 20th, 1891,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lydia the first european convert.htm

The Conquest of Lydia.
... CHAPTER VII. THE CONQUEST OF LYDIA. BC546 Reasons which induced Croesus
to invade Media."The Lacedaemonians."Embassadors to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter vii the conquest of.htm

Croesus.
... must now be changed, for a time, from Persia and Media, in the East, to Asia Minor,
in the West, where the great Croesus, originally King of Lydia, was at this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter iv croesus.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9
... THE IRANIAN CONQUEST. THE IRANIAN RELIGIONS -- CYRUS IN LYDIA AND AT BABYLON;
CAMBYSES IN EGYPT -- DARIUS AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE EMPIRE. ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 9/title page.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... CHAPTER II"THE POWER OF ASSYRIA AT ITS ZENITH; ESARHADDON AND ASSUR-BANI-PAL. THE
MEDES AND CIMMERIANS: LYDIA"THE CONQUEST OF EGYPT, OP ARABIA, AND OF ELAM. ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria.htm

The Epistle to the Philippians.
... Lydia, the purple dealer of Thyatira and a half proselyte to Judaism, a native
slave-girl with a divining spirit, which was used by her masters as a means of ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 97 the epistle to.htm

Your Letter Goes On:
... [3164]. Footnotes: [3159] Kings of Lydia and Persia notorious for their wealth.
[3160] Kings of Lydia and Persia notorious for their wealth. ...
/.../4 your letter goes on .htm

In the Regions Beyond
... And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which
worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened." Lydia received the ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 21 in the regions.htm

Acts xvi. 25, 26
... And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they
had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed." (v.36-40.) Even ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxvi acts xvi 25.htm

Acts xvi. 13, 14
... And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which
worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxv acts xvi 13.htm

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Lydia

(land of Lydus), a maritime province in the west of Asia Minor bounded by Mysia on the north, Phrygia on the east, and Caria on the south. It is enumerated among the districts which the Romans took away from Antiochos the Great after the battle of Magnesia in B.C. 190, and transferred to Eumenus II. king of Pergamus. Lydia is included in the "Asia" of the New Testament.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Lydia

A woman of Thyatira, residing at Philippi in Macedonia, and dealing in purple cloths. She was not a Jewess by birth, but had become a proselyte to Judaism and "worshipped God." She was led by the grace of God to receive the gospel with joy; and having been baptized, with her household, constrained Paul and his fellow-laborers to make her house their home while at Philippi, Acts 16:14,40. See PHILIPPI.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) Ezek. 30:5 (Hebrews Lud), a province in the west of Asia Minor, which derived its name from the fourth son of Shem (Genesis 10:22). It was bounded on the east by the greater Phrygia, and on the west by Ionia and the AEgean Sea.

(2.) A woman of Thyatira, a "seller of purple," who dwelt in Philippi (Acts 16:14, 15). She was not a Jewess but a proselyte. The Lord opened her heart as she heard the gospel from the lips of Paul (16:13). She thus became the first in Europe who embraced Christianity. She was a person apparently of considerable wealth, for she could afford to give a home to Paul and his companions. (see THYATIRA.)

Thesaurus

Lydia (5 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LYDIA (1). ...Lydia was an exceedingly ancient and powerful
kingdom whose history is composed chiefly of that of its individual cities. ...
/l/lydia.htm - 12k

Lydia's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lydia's (1 Occurrence). Acts 16:40 They went out
of the prison, and entered into Lydia's house. When they ...
/l/lydia's.htm - 6k

Thyatira (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A city of Asia Minor, on the borders of Lydia
and Mysia. Its modern name is Ak-hissar, ie, "white castle ...
/t/thyatira.htm - 12k

Lud (10 Occurrences)
... which were all to fall by the sword (Ezekiel 30:5). 2. The Semitic Lud: Coming to
the Semitic Lud, it is to be noted that the Assyrians called Lydia Lu(d)du ...
/l/lud.htm - 13k

Ludim (3 Occurrences)
... which were all to fall by the sword (Ezekiel 30:5). 2. The Semitic Lud: Coming to
the Semitic Lud, it is to be noted that the Assyrians called Lydia Lu(d)du ...
/l/ludim.htm - 11k

Euodia (1 Occurrence)
... At Philippi the gospel was first preached to women Acts 16:13, and the church was
first formed among women-evidently in the house of Lydia Acts 16:15, 40. ...
/e/euodia.htm - 10k

Philadelphia (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Brotherly love, a city of Lydia in Asia Minor,
about 25 miles south-east of Sardis. It was the seat of ...
/p/philadelphia.htm - 10k

Sardis (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The metropolis of Lydia in Asia Minor. It stood
on the river Pactolus, at the foot of mount Tmolus. Here ...
/s/sardis.htm - 13k

Philippians (2 Occurrences)
... Paul and his companions talked to the women gathered there, and Lydia was converted. ...
Lydia brings her whole family with her into the church. ...
/p/philippians.htm - 42k

Silas (22 Occurrences)
... At Philippi, Lydia, a seller of purple, was converted, and with her they made their
abode; but the exorcism of an evil spirit from a sorceress brought upon ...
/s/silas.htm - 21k

Bible Concordance

Lydia (5 Occurrences)

Acts 16:14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 16:40 They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia's house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 46:9 Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.
(Root in KJV WBS NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 27:10 Persia and Lud and Put were in your army, your men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in you; they set forth your comeliness.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 30:5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.
(KJV WBS NIV)

Subtopics

Lydia

Lydia: A Woman of Thyatira, Who With Her Household Was Converted Through the Preaching of Paul

Lydia: Entertains Paul and Silas

Lydia: Incorrectly Put for Lud

Related Terms

Lydia's (1 Occurrence)

Thyatira (4 Occurrences)

Lud (10 Occurrences)

Ludim (3 Occurrences)

Euodia (1 Occurrence)

Philadelphia (2 Occurrences)