"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea... the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness."
Biblical Name · Latin Origin
Tiberius Meaning in the Bible
Tiberius
boy
Tiberius means "Of the Tiber River; Son of the river", a boy's name of Latin origin. Tiberius appears in the King James Bible, and Luke 3:1-2 is the passage most often tied to it. Tiberius reigned when God's word came — kings set up and removed, times and seasons changed, the emperor who unwittingly served the divine timetable.
Is Tiberius in the Bible?
Yes — Tiberius appears in the King James Bible, including Luke 3:1-2.
Pronunciation:/ty-BEER-ee-us/
OriginLatin
MeaningOf the Tiber River; Son of the river
What does Tiberius mean?
Tiberius is a boy name of Latin origin meaning "Of the Tiber River; Son of the river". Tiberius was Caesar when Christ began His ministry. 'Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar...
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Editor’s reflection
The emperor named in Luke's dating of John the Baptist — 'of the river Tiber.'
Tiberius is a Roman name formed from the river Tiber, which runs through Rome; the sense is simply 'of the Tiber.' It was an old praenomen long before it belonged to an emperor, and it is one of the few Roman names that anchors a New Testament event to a datable year.
Luke uses it precisely: 'Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar... the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness' (Luke 3:1-2). That single verse is the main peg historians use to place the start of John's ministry around AD 28-29, and with it the public ministry of Jesus.
Tiberius also stands behind the 'tribute penny' exchange, since the denarius shown to Jesus bore the reigning emperor's image (Matthew 22:19-21), and behind the name of Tiberias, the town Herod Antipas built on the Sea of Galilee in his honour (John 6:23). As a given name it is rare and deliberately grand, with Ty as the practical short form.
“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar... the word of God came unto John.”
What does Tiberius mean in the Bible?
Tiberius means "Of the Tiber River; Son of the river" and is a name of Latin origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Tiberius was Caesar when Christ began His ministry. 'Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar... the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.' God's word came during Tiberius's reign — empires serve God's timing.
Where does Tiberius appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Tiberius is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Luke 3:1-2. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings."
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Which books of the Bible mention Tiberius?
Tiberius is mentioned across 2 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Tiberius?
Tiberius reigned when God's word came — kings set up and removed, times and seasons changed, the emperor who unwittingly served the divine timetable.
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Names that pair well with Tiberius
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Aurora
girl
"Dawn; Sunrise"
Tiberius & Aurora
Celeste
girl
"Heavenly; Celestial"
Tiberius & Celeste
Celeste
girl
"Heavenly; Of the sky"
Tiberius & Celeste
Juniper
girl
"Evergreen; Young"
Tiberius & Juniper
Juniper
girl
"Juniper tree; Young; Evergreen"
Tiberius & Juniper
Natalia
girl
"Born on Christmas Day; Birthday of the Lord"
Tiberius & Natalia
Share the meaning of Tiberius
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Tiberius name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes, once by name. Luke 3:1 dates the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry to the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. He is also the emperor reigning during Jesus' ministry and crucifixion, and the town of Tiberias in John 6:23 was named after him.
Yes — Tiberius appears in the King James Bible, including Luke 3:1-2.
Tiberius means "Of the Tiber River; Son of the river." It is a Latin name. The King James Bible uses it in Luke 3:1-2, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Tiberius
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Tiberius?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Tiberius?
You can read every verse where Tiberius appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.