Brief Overview of στρατιώτης (Strong’s G4757: stratiōtēs)

Strong’s G4757: A soldier, warrior, or one who serves in an army. From στρατιά (army, host). Primarily refers to Roman soldiers in NT contexts, appearing in significant narratives including the crucifixion and early church persecution, illustrating both human authority and divine sovereignty.

U- Unveiling the Word

Στρατιώτης represents more than just a military profession; it embodies the concept of disciplined service under authority. In the New Testament, it primarily refers to Roman soldiers who interact with Jesus and the early church in various contexts – from the centurion’s faith to the crucifixion guards. Early church fathers drew spiritual parallels between military service and Christian discipleship, emphasizing qualities of obedience, discipline, and loyalty. Today, στρατιώτης reminds us of both the reality of earthly authority and our higher calling as soldiers of the Messiah.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: στρατιώτης, stratiōtēs, /strat-ee-o’-tace/
• Detailed Pronunciation: strat-ee-OH-tace (emphasis on third syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Root word: στρατιά (stratia) – “army”
• -της (-tēs) – suffix indicating agent or doer
  The combination denotes one who serves in an army.

D – Defining Meanings

• A soldier in active service
• A warrior or fighter
• One under military authority
• A member of an armed force

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

Translation Options:

1. “Soldier” – Most direct equivalent
2. “Warrior” – Emphasizes combat role
3. “Military man” – Highlights professional aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

1. ὁπλίτης (hoplitēs) /hop-lee’-tace/ – heavy-armed soldier. See G3693
2. στρατολογήσας (stratologēsas) /strat-ol-og-eh’-o/ – one who enlists soldiers. See G4758
3. συστρατιώτης (systratiōtēs) /soo-strat-ee-o’-tace/ – fellow soldier. See G4961

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, στρατιώτης exhibits these features:

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

Examples of morphological changes:

• Singular: στρατιώτης (nominative), στρατιώτου (genitive), στρατιώτῃ (dative), στρατιώτην (accusative)
• Plural: στρατιῶται (nominative), στρατιωτῶν (genitive), στρατιώταις (dative), στρατιώτας (accusative)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its specific reference to Roman soldiers. Thayer’s notes its professional military meaning. LSJ documents its use in military contexts. Vine’s highlights its literal and metaphorical applications. Strong’s connects it to organized service. Moulton and Milligan show its common use in military documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:

“For I too am a man under authority, with [στρατιώτης] soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes.” Matthew 8:9

Additional References:
Matthew 27:27
Mark 15:16
John 19:2
Acts 10:7
Acts 12:6
Acts 21:32
Acts 27:31
Acts 28:16

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Στρατιώτης powerfully illustrates both earthly authority and spiritual warfare. From the faith of the centurion to the soldiers at the cross, these figures remind us that all authority ultimately serves God’s purposes. As spiritual soldiers, we’re called to similar discipline and loyalty in service to our supreme Commander, the Messiah.

D – Did You Know?

1. Roman soldiers mentioned in the NT were typically from auxiliary units rather than legionaries.
2. Early Christian writers often used στρατιώτης metaphorically for spiritual warfare.
3. The term appears in both positive (centurion’s faith) and negative (crucifixion) contexts in the Gospels.

Strong’s G4757: A soldier, warrior, or one who serves in an army. From στρατιά (army, host). Primarily refers to Roman soldiers in NT contexts, appearing in significant narratives including the crucifixion and early church persecution, illustrating both human authority and divine sovereignty.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: soldier, warrior, roman-military, authority, discipline, service, military-service, crucifixion, roman-empire, greek-noun​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​