Brief Overview of πλανήτης (Strong’s G4107: planētēs)

Strong’s G4107: Wanderer, roaming star; derived from πλανάω (to wander, stray). Used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe false teachers who, like wandering stars, lead others astray from the truth. Modern English “planet” derives from this term.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πλανήτης carries the primary meaning of “wanderer” or “roaming one,” particularly referring to celestial bodies that appear to wander against the fixed stars. In its sole New Testament appearance in Jude, it serves as a powerful metaphor for false teachers who lead others astray. The early church fathers expanded on this imagery, using it to contrast the erratic movement of heretical teaching with the fixed, unchanging nature of divine truth. Today, this word reminds us of the importance of remaining anchored in sound doctrine and not being led astray by shifting theological winds.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πλανήτης, planētēs, /plan-ay-tays/
• Detailed pronunciation: plah-NAY-tays (stress on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• From πλανάω (planaō) – verb meaning “to wander” or “to deceive”
• -της (-tēs) – suffix forming agent nouns, indicating “one who does something”

D – Defining Meanings

• Wandering star or planet
• One who wanders or roams
• Vagabond or wanderer

Translation Options:

• “Wandering stars” – emphasizes the astronomical context
• “Roaming bodies” – captures the sense of movement
• “Planets” – modern derivative, though potentially misleading in biblical context

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πλάνη (planē) /plan-ay/ – error, deceit, wandering
  See G4106
• πλανάω (planaō) /plan-ah-oh/ – to cause to wander, deceive
  See G4105

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: First declension

Examples:

• Nominative singular: πλανήτης
• Genitive singular: πλανήτου
• Nominative plural: πλανῆται
• Accusative plural: πλανήτας

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes the word’s astronomical origins and metaphorical application. Thayer’s highlights its connection to wandering stars and erratic movement. LSJ provides extensive classical usage in astronomical contexts. Vine’s notes its metaphorical application to false teachers. Strong’s connects it to the concept of wandering and deception. Moulton and Milligan document its usage in astronomical texts and metaphorical applications in Hellenistic literature.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Jude 1:13: “They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering [πλανήτης] stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πλανήτης serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of staying true to God’s unchanging truth. Just as wandering stars deviate from fixed patterns, false teachers lead people away from the gospel. The good news is that Jesus Christ is our fixed point, the North Star of our faith, unwavering and trustworthy. In Him, we find our true orientation and avoid being led astray by deceptive teachings.

D – Did You Know?

1. The English word “planet” comes directly from πλανήτης
2. Ancient astronomers identified seven “wandering stars”: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn
3. The term was used in ancient navigation texts to warn sailors about the unreliability of using moving celestial bodies for direction

Strong’s G4107: Wanderer, roaming star; derived from πλανάω (to wander, stray). Used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe false teachers who, like wandering stars, lead others astray from the truth. Modern English “planet” derives from this term.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: astronomy, false-teachers, wandering, deception, Jude, planets, stars, metaphor, navigation, heresy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​