γερουσία
gerousía
G1087 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A council or body of elders; specifically, an assembly composed of older or senior men, often invested with advisory or governing authority. In Hellenistic and Second Temple contexts, can refer to senior leadership bodies, including but not limited to the Judean elders' council (sometimes, though not exclusively, understood as equivalent or parallel to the Sanhedrin). Also in secular Greek, denotes a senate or council of elders in civic or tribal governments.
Semantic Range
council of elders, assembly of elders, eldership, senate (in civic or tribal contexts), the Judean elders' council, governing or advisory body of elders
Root / Etymology
From the root γερων (gérōn, 'old man, elder') + the abstract noun suffix -σία (-sia), indicating a collective or body/state, thus 'body of elders'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
γερουσία is a term widely used in classical Greek for the council of elders in various city-states, most notably Sparta (where it referred to the apex legislative and judicial body below the kings). In Hellenistic Greek, it denotes a governing or advisory body composed of elders, often paralleling city senates. In the context of Second Temple Judean society, γερουσία appears in Josephus, Philo, and 2 Maccabees as a collective leadership group; in the New Testament era, while sometimes associated with the Sanhedrin, the term is more general and not consistently synonymous. English translations often render it as 'senate' or 'council of elders', but 'eldership' or 'body of elders' more accurately reflects its original breadth. The term does not imply specifically religious or exclusively Judean functions outside context; its meaning varies by setting, ranging from city government senate to local elder council. The semantic field overlaps with πρεσβύτεροι (presbyteroi, elders), but γερουσία is a more formal, institutional collective.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from γέρων; the eldership, i.e. (collectively) the Jewish Sanhedrin:--senate.
Root Family
γερουσία (gerousia) — elder, old man, senior; council of elders; eldership; senate
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1087-01 |
Γερουσίαν | gerousian | N ACC F SG |
senate | council of elders | council of elders | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1087-01 |
Acts 5:21 | Γερουσίαν | gerousian | N ACC F SG |
senate | council of elders | council of elders |