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Strong's Concordance
Greek Word Study

Strong's G4686 σπεῖρα (speira)

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

Same number, other testament: Strong's H4686 — matsud (“net”) in the Hebrew Bible.

First usage Interlinear Bible Septuagint Bible
Strong's Number G4686
Language Greek
Linked Usages 12
Books 7

Strong's G4686 Quick Answer

Strong's G4686 σπεῖρα (speira) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. speira (spei`-rah) n. 1. a coil (spira, "spire") 2. (figuratively) a mass of men (a Roman military cohort) It has 12 linked Bible usages across 7 books. Visible English usage signals include men. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Meaning
speira (spei`-rah) n. 1. a coil (spira, "spire") 2. (figuratively) a mass of men (a Roman military cohort)
Usage
12 linked usages
Books
7 indexed books
Corpus
New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Usage Words
men

Meaning and Definition

speira (spei`-rah) n. 1. a coil (spira, "spire") 2. (figuratively) a mass of men (a Roman military cohort) 3. (by analogy) a squad of Levitical janitors [of immediate Latin origin, but ultimately a derivative of G138 in the sense of its cognate G1507] KJV: band Root(s): G1507, G138

Original Word
σπεῖρα
Transliteration
speira
Derivation
Root: αἱρέομαι R1: 1507 R2: 138
Morphology
noun

Across Lexicons

How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G4686. 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)

band

Usage: σπείρα, -ης (on this form of genitive, see M, Pr., 38, 48; Bl., § 7, 1; Mayser, 12; Deiss., BS, 186), [in LXX: Jdth.14:11, 2Ma.8:23 2Mac 12:20 2Mac 12:22 * ;] __1. (= Lat. spira) anything wound or rolled up, a coil. __2. As a military term used (by Polyb. and later writers) of a body of soldiers, a maniple (third part of a cohort) or cohort (see Swete, Mk., 375; Westc., Jo., 251 f.): Mat.27:27, Mrk.15:16, Jhn.18:3, 12, Act.10:1 21:31 27:1.† (AS)

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How Strong's G4686 Is Translated

The English word each shown verse actually uses to render speira, 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.

men John 18:3

How Strong's G4686 Usage Compares

Indexed coverage includes New Testament, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and Septuagint / Greek Old Testament. 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 7 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 G4686 (σπεῖρα) appears 5 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 G4686 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 G4686 in the New Testament

7 indexed usages in New Testament.

Matthew 27:27 KJV

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

Mark 15:16 KJV

And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

John 18:3 KJV

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Strong's G4686 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament

1 indexed usage in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.

Psalms 106:37 Septuagint / Brenton

And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, And they yield fruit of increase.

Strong's G4686 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha

4 indexed usages in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Judith 14:11 Septuagint / Brenton

And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.

2 Maccabees 8:23 Septuagint / Brenton

Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book: and when he had given them this watchword, The help of God: himself leading the first band, he joined battle with Nicanor.

2 Maccabees 12:20 Septuagint / Brenton

And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timothy, who had about him a hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.

Usage Excerpts

First 12 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G4686.

Psalms 106:37 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And they sow fields, and plant vineyards, And they yield fruit of increase.
Matthew 27:27 New Testament, KJV
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
Mark 15:16 New Testament, KJV
And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
John 18:3 New Testament, KJV
Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
John 18:12 New Testament, KJV
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Acts 10:1 New Testament, KJV
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
Acts 21:31 New Testament, KJV
And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Acts 27:1 New Testament, KJV
And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
Judith 14:11 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.
2 Maccabees 8:23 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book: and when he had given them this watchword, The help of God: himself leading the first band, he joined battle with Nicanor.
2 Maccabees 12:20 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timothy, who had about him a hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.
2 Maccabees 12:22 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him that seeth all things, fled amain, one running this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords.

All Indexed Usage Links

Every indexed verse link for Strong's G4686, grouped by book.

Psalms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Psalms 106:37
Matthew 1 usage, New Testament
Matthew 27:27
Mark 1 usage, New Testament
Mark 15:16
John 2 usages, New Testament
John 18:3 John 18:12
Acts 3 usages, New Testament
Acts 10:1 Acts 21:31 Acts 27:1
Judith 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Judith 14:11
2 Maccabees 3 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
2 Maccabees 8:23 2 Maccabees 12:20 2 Maccabees 12:22

Strong's G4686 FAQ

What does speira (σπεῖρα) mean?

Speira (Strong's G4686) is a Greek word most simply glossed "band". speira (spei`-rah) n. 1. a coil (spira, "spire") 2. (figuratively) a mass of men (a Roman military cohort)

How many times is speira (σπεῖρα) used in the Bible?

This page currently indexes 12 linked usages for Strong's G4686 across 7 books.

Where can I study speira (σπεῖρα) in context?

Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G4686 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

What English words translate speira (σπεῖρα)?

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

Does Strong's G4686 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?

Yes. The current local index includes 1 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament and 4 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha for Strong's G4686, with linked reader references where each row is available.