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Strong's Concordance
Greek Word Study

Strong's G139 αἵρεσις (hairesis)

Hairesis means “sect” — full meaning, definition, and every linked Bible usage across the indexed canon.

Same number, other testament: Strong's H139 — adonitsedeq (“Adonizedec”) in the Hebrew Bible.

First usage Interlinear Bible Septuagint Bible
Strong's Number G139
Language Greek
Linked Usages 13
Books 7

Strong's G139 Quick Answer

Strong's G139 αἵρεσις (hairesis) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. hairesis (hai'-res-is) n. 1. (properly) a choice 2. (by extension) a preference It has 13 linked Bible usages across 7 books. Visible English usage signals include sect. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Meaning
hairesis (hai'-res-is) n. 1. (properly) a choice 2. (by extension) a preference
Usage
13 linked usages
Books
7 indexed books
Corpus
New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Usage Words
sect

Meaning and Definition

hairesis (hai'-res-is) n. 1. (properly) a choice 2. (by extension) a preference 3. (specially) a (religious) party, a sect, a denomination 4. (abstractly) disunion [from G138] KJV: heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect Root(s): G138

Original Word
αἵρεσις
Transliteration
hairesis
Derivation
Root: αἱρέομαι R1: 138
Morphology
noun

Across Lexicons

How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G139. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.

Extended Strong's Greek Lexicon (Abbott-Smith based)

sect

Usage: αἵρεσις, -εως, ἡ (αἱρέω, -ομαι), [in LXX for נְדָבָה,] __1. capture. __2. choosing, choice (see MM, VGT, see word). __3. that which is chosen, hence, opinion; esp. a peculiar opinion, heresy: 1Co.11:19, Gal.5:20, 2Pe.2:1 R, txt. __4. In late writers (MM, VGT), of a set of persons professing particular principles or opinions, a school, sect, party, faction: Act.5:17 15:5 24:5,14 26:5 28:22, I Co, Ga, II Pe, l.with, R, mg. (Cremer, 614). † (AS)

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How Strong's G139 Is Translated

The English word each shown verse actually uses to render hairesis, taken from the interlinear word alignment (the same word underlined in the excerpts below). Where a rendering is used more than once, the count is shown.

sect Acts 5:17 5×

How Strong's G139 Usage Compares

Indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.

  • The largest indexed corpus on this page is New Testament with 9 linked usages.
  • This page lets readers compare New Testament usage with Septuagint / Greek Old Testament usage, which is a key THF advantage over narrower Strong's pages.
  • Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha rows are counted separately so readers can decide how those texts relate to the main word study.

In the Septuagint (LXX)

Strong's G139 (αἵρεσις) appears 4 times in the Greek Septuagint — the Old Testament the New Testament authors quoted.

Sample Septuagint occurrences:

Read the full Greek Septuagint interlinear with Strong's →

Strong's G139 by Corpus

Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.

Strong's G139 in the New Testament

9 indexed usages in New Testament.

Acts 5:17 KJV

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

Acts 15:5 KJV

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Acts 24:5 KJV

For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

Strong's G139 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament

3 indexed usages in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.

Genesis 49:5 Septuagint / Brenton

Simeon and Levi, brethren, Accomplished the injustice of their cutting off.

Leviticus 22:18 Septuagint / Brenton

Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the congregation of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Any man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that abide among them in Israel, who shall offer his gifts according to all their confession and according to all their choice, whatsoever they may bring to the Lord for whole burnt offerings—

Leviticus 22:21 Septuagint / Brenton

And whatsoever man shall offer a peace offering to the Lord, discharging a vow, or in the way of freewill offering, or an offering in your feasts, of the herds or of the sheep, it shall be without blemish for acceptance: there shall be no blemish in it.

Strong's G139 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha

1 indexed usage in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

1 Maccabees 8:30 Septuagint / Brenton

Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think meet to add or diminish anything, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified.

Usage Excerpts

First 13 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G139.

Genesis 49:5 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Simeon and Levi, brethren, Accomplished the injustice of their cutting off.
Leviticus 22:18 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the congregation of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Any man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that abide among them in Israel, who shall offer his gifts according to all their confession and according to all their choice, whatsoever they may bring to the Lord for whole burnt offerings—
Leviticus 22:21 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And whatsoever man shall offer a peace offering to the Lord, discharging a vow, or in the way of freewill offering, or an offering in your feasts, of the herds or of the sheep, it shall be without blemish for acceptance: there shall be no blemish in it.
Acts 5:17 New Testament, KJV
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Acts 15:5 New Testament, KJV
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 24:5 New Testament, KJV
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
Acts 24:14 New Testament, KJV
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Acts 26:5 New Testament, KJV
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Acts 28:22 New Testament, KJV
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
1 Corinthians 11:19 New Testament, KJV
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Galatians 5:20 New Testament, KJV
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
2 Peter 2:1 New Testament, KJV
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
1 Maccabees 8:30 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think meet to add or diminish anything, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified.

All Indexed Usage Links

Every indexed verse link for Strong's G139, grouped by book.

Genesis 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Genesis 49:5
Leviticus 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Leviticus 22:18 Leviticus 22:21
Acts 6 usages, New Testament
Acts 5:17 Acts 15:5 Acts 24:5 Acts 24:14 Acts 26:5 Acts 28:22
1 Corinthians 1 usage, New Testament
1 Corinthians 11:19
Galatians 1 usage, New Testament
Galatians 5:20
2 Peter 1 usage, New Testament
2 Peter 2:1
1 Maccabees 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
1 Maccabees 8:30

Strong's G139 FAQ

What does hairesis (αἵρεσις) mean?

Hairesis (Strong's G139) is a Greek word most simply glossed "sect". hairesis (hai'-res-is) n. 1. (properly) a choice 2. (by extension) a preference

How many times is hairesis (αἵρεσις) used in the Bible?

This page currently indexes 13 linked usages for Strong's G139 across 7 books.

Where can I study hairesis (αἵρεσις) in context?

Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G139 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

What English words translate hairesis (αἵρεσις)?

The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as sect. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.

Does Strong's G139 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?

Yes. The current local index includes 3 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament and 1 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha for Strong's G139, with linked reader references where each row is available.