Who was Lysanias in the bible?
Lysanias is named once in Luke 3:1 as “tetrarch of Abilene” in a list of rulers.
Where Mentioned
He appears in Luke’s time-setting for John’s ministry, alongside other officials (Luke 3:1–2).
Learn More →Name Notes
Strong’s G3078 gives his Greek name as Λυσανίας (Lysanias), derived from elements including lysis (“divorce”) and “trouble.”
Learn More →Lysanias is named in Scripture as “tetrarch of Abilene,” appearing in Luke’s opening historical setting for the ministry of John. The Greek name (Λυσανίας, Lysanias) is linked by lexicon derivation to components involving lysis (“divorce”) and “trouble.”
Lysanias in Scripture
Lysanias is mentioned once, in a list of rulers and officials used to locate the moment when “the word of God came to John.” Luke places Lysanias alongside Roman and regional authorities.
Luke 3:1 (WEB): “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,”
In this same setting, Luke continues by naming the high priests and then shifting from political and priestly offices to the prophetic call of John.
Luke 3:2 (WEB): “in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.”
The narrative then describes John’s activity and message in the region of the Jordan.
Luke 3:3 (WEB): “He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins.”
Luke frames this preaching as the fulfillment of Scripture, quoting Isaiah about preparing the Lord’s way.
Luke 3:4 (WEB): “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”
Within this chapter-opening sequence, Lysanias is not described by family ties, actions, or personal speech; he functions as part of the governing landscape: “Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene.”
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Greek as Λυσανίας, transliterated Lysanias, and pronounced loo-san-ee’-as. Lexicon derivation connects the name to components from a term for “trouble” and from lysis (λύσις), glossed as “divorce.”
Observation
Luke’s single reference places Lysanias among multiple rulers—“Tiberius Caesar,” “Pontius Pilate,” “Herod,” and “Philip”—as the narrative turns to John, “preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins” (Luke 3:1, 3).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Lysanias mean?
The name Lysanias is derived from a word for “loosing” and a word for “trouble.”
How many times does Lysanias appear in the Bible?
Lysanias appears 1 time.
Who was Lysanias?
Lysanias is a person named in the New Testament. He is mentioned in Luke 3:1.
In what context is Lysanias mentioned?
He is mentioned in a list of rulers used to mark the time: “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip …” (Luke 3:1).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Lysanias interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
