Brief Overview of στρατηγός (Strong’s G4755: stratēgos)

Strong’s G4755: A military commander, captain, or chief magistrate. From στρατός (army) and ἄγω (to lead). In NT contexts, refers to both military officers and civil authorities, particularly temple guards and Roman officials, representing institutional authority and power.

U- Unveiling the Word

Στρατηγός embodies leadership and authority in both military and civil contexts. A compound word literally meaning “army leader,” it represents institutional power and authority. In the New Testament, it appears primarily in contexts involving temple guards and Roman officials, often in opposition to the early church. The early church saw in this term a reminder that earthly authority, while ordained by God, ultimately serves His purposes. Today, στρατηγός helps us understand the relationship between spiritual and secular authority, reminding us that all power ultimately answers to the King of kings.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: στρατηγός, stratēgos, /strat-ay-gos’/
• Detailed Pronunciation: strat-ay-GOSS (emphasis on last syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Root words:
• στρατός (stratos) – “army”
• ἄγω (agō) – “to lead”
• The combination creates a compound noun meaning “army leader” or “commander”

D – Defining Meanings

• Military commander
• Civil magistrate
• Temple guard captain
• Chief of police or security

For compound words:
Στρατός (army) + ἄγω (to lead) combines to indicate one who leads or commands armed forces or security forces

Translation Options:

1. “Commander” – Emphasizes military leadership
2. “Chief officer” – Highlights civil authority aspect
3. “Captain” – Balances both military and civil roles

E – Exploring Similar Words

1. ἄρχων (archōn) /ar’-khone/ – ruler, more general term for authority. See G758
2. χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) /khil-ee’-ar-khos/ – commander of thousand, specific military rank. See G5506
3. ἡγεμών (hēgemōn) /hayg-em-ohn’/ – governor, civil authority. See G2232

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, στρατηγός exhibits these features:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative/Genitive/Dative
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second

Examples of morphological changes:

• Singular: στρατηγός (nominative), στρατηγοῦ (genitive), στρατηγῷ (dative), στρατηγόν (accusative)
• Plural: στρατηγοί (nominative), στρατηγῶν (genitive), στρατηγοῖς (dative), στρατηγούς (accusative)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its dual military and civil roles. Thayer’s notes its specific use for temple guards. LSJ documents its evolution from military to civil authority. Vine’s highlights its authority implications. Strong’s connects it to leadership. Moulton and Milligan show its official usage in administrative documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:

“And he went away and discussed with the [στρατηγός] chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.” Luke 22:4

Additional References:
Luke 22:52
Acts 4:1
Acts 5:24
Acts 5:26
Acts 16:20
Acts 16:22
Acts 16:35
Acts 16:36
Acts 16:38

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Στρατηγός reminds us that while earthly authorities hold power, they are ultimately subject to God’s sovereignty. The same officers who opposed Jesus and His followers unknowingly served God’s plan of salvation. This word teaches us to respect authority while remembering that our ultimate allegiance is to the Messiah, the supreme Commander.

D – Did You Know?

1. The English word “strategy” derives from στρατηγός.
2. In Athens, στρατηγοί were elected annually and held both military and political power.
3. The term was later adopted by the church for certain leadership positions.

Strong’s G4755: A military commander, captain, or chief magistrate. From στρατός (army) and ἄγω (to lead). In NT contexts, refers to both military officers and civil authorities, particularly temple guards and Roman officials, representing institutional authority and power.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: authority, commander, leadership, military-command, civil-authority, temple-guards, roman-officials, power-structure, governance, greek-noun​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​