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a term not found in the A.V. of the O.T., where either Javan is retained, or, as in Joe_3:6, the word is rendered by Grecian. In Maccabees Greek and Grecians seem to be used indifferently (comp. 1Ma_1:10; 1Ma_6:2; also 2Ma_4:10, Greekish). In the N.T., on the other hand, a distinction is observed, ῞Åëëçí being rendered "Greek," and ῾Åëëçíéóôήò ,"Grecian." The difference of the English terminations, however, is not sufficient to convey the differsence of meanings. (See Overkamp, De distinctione inter Judaeos et Graecos, et inter Graec. et barbaros, Gryph. 1782; Amnell, Hellas, N.T. illustrata, Upsal. 1752.) ῞Åëëçí , in the N.T. is either a Greek by race, as in Act_16:1-3; Act_18:17; Rom_1:14; or more frequently a Gentile, as opposed to a Jew (Rom_2:9-10, etc.); so fem. ῾Åëëçíßò Mar_7:26; Act_17:12. ῾Åëëçíéóôήò (properly "one who speaks Greek") is a foreign Jew; opposed, therefore, not to É᾿ïõäáῖïò , but to ῾Åâñáῖïò , a home-Jew, one who dwelt in Palestine. So Schleusner, etc.: according to Salmasius, however, the Hellenists were Greek proselytes, who had become Christians; so Wolf, Parkhurst, etc., arguing from Act_11:20, where ῾Åëëçíéóôáß are contrasted with É᾿ïõäáῖïé in 19. The question resolves itself partly into a textual one, Griesbach having adopted the reading ῞Åëëçíáò , and so also Lachmann, Tischendorf, and others. SEE HELLENIST.