Brief Overview of στράτευμα (Strong’s G4753: strateuma)

Strong’s G4753: An army, body of soldiers, armed force. From στρατεύω (to serve as a soldier). Used in both literal and figurative contexts in the New Testament to describe military forces and, by extension, organized groups under authority, highlighting themes of power and divine sovereignty.

U- Unveiling the Word

Στράτευμα represents an organized military force or army, emphasizing not just soldiers but the concept of unified, disciplined power under authority. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from literal armies in parables to Herod’s guards and the Roman garrison. The early church saw deeper significance in this term, recognizing both earthly authority structures and the reality of God’s superior power over all armies. Today, στράτευμα reminds us that while earthly powers exist, they ultimately serve God’s sovereign purposes.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: στράτευμα, strateuma, /strat’-yoo-mah/
• Detailed Pronunciation: STRAT-yoo-mah (emphasis on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Root word: στρατεύω (strateuō) – “to serve as a soldier”
• -μα (-ma) – noun suffix indicating result or product
  The combination denotes the collective result of military service – an organized army.

D – Defining Meanings

• An army or military force
• A body of troops
• An organized group under military authority
• A garrison or guard unit

For compound words: Not applicable as στράτευμα is a simple noun with suffix.

Translation Options:

1. “Army” – Emphasizes organized military force
2. “Troops” – Highlights the collective nature
3. “Armed forces” – Captures both organization and military aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

1. στρατιά (stratia) /strat-ee’-ah/ – host, army, more general term. See G4756
2. παρεμβολή (parembolē) /par-em-bol-ay’/ – camp, army, fortress. See G3925
3. λεγιών (legiōn) /leg-eh-own’/ – legion, specific to Roman military. See G3003

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, στράτευμα exhibits these features:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative/Genitive/Dative
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Neuter
• Declension: Third

Examples of morphological changes:

• Singular: στράτευμα (nominative/accusative), στρατεύματος (genitive), στρατεύματι (dative)
• Plural: στρατεύματα (nominative/accusative), στρατευμάτων (genitive), στρατεύμασι(ν) (dative)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use for organized military units. Thayer’s notes its application to both large and small military groups. LSJ documents its broad usage in military contexts. Vine’s highlights its organized nature. Strong’s connects it to active service. Moulton and Milligan show its common use in military documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:

“But the king was enraged, and he sent his [στράτευμα] armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.” Matthew 22:7

Additional References:
Luke 23:11
Acts 23:10
Acts 23:27
Revelation 9:16
Revelation 19:14
Revelation 19:19

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Στράτευμα reminds us that while earthly powers exist and operate under authority, the Messiah commands the armies of heaven. This word appears in contexts showing both human military might and divine power, ultimately pointing to Jesus as King of kings, before whom all armies will bow. It encourages us that no earthly force can thwart God’s purposes.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word appears in Revelation describing the armies of heaven following the Messiah.
2. Roman military documents used στράτευμα for units of various sizes.
3. Early Christians used this term to describe the church’s spiritual organization.

Strong’s G4753: An army, body of soldiers, armed force. From στρατεύω (to serve as a soldier). Used in both literal and figurative contexts in the New Testament to describe military forces and, by extension, organized groups under authority, highlighting themes of power and divine sovereignty.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: army, military-forces, divine-authority, sovereignty, power, organized-force, heavenly-armies, roman-military, warfare, greek-noun​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​