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γραμματεύς

grammateús

G1122 noun

SILEX Entry

Root γραμματ- to write, to record, to document

Definition

A person professionally engaged in writing or record-keeping; one skilled in reading or composing official documents and texts. Primarily, a scribe or clerk, especially one concerned with legal, religious, or administrative documentation. In various contexts, refers to officials responsible for maintaining records, teaching, or interpreting law, particularly in Judean society during the Second Temple and early Roman periods. The term can extend to educated teachers or interpreters of texts, especially the Torah and related legal traditions.

Semantic Range

scribe, secretary, clerk, record-keeper, expert in legal or religious texts, town-clerk, teacher of law, administrator

Root / Etymology

From the root γράμμα (gramma, 'letter, written character') + the agentive suffix -τεύς, indicating a person who works with or excels in something. Grammateús thus denotes 'one skilled in letters' or 'one who engages with writing.' Cognate with other Greek words for writing and documentation, including γραφεύς (grapheús).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, γραμματεύς denoted a secretary or clerk, especially in civic or administrative contexts. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, particularly in Judean society, the γραμματεῖς (scribes) formed a group of literate elites, often experts in the interpretation and application of Torah and legal traditions; they sometimes overlapped with other leadership groups (e.g., Pharisees, elders), but the terms are not synonymous. In the New Testament, γραμματεύς most commonly refers to institutional specialists in legal or scriptural matters among the Judeans, sometimes appearing as interlocutors with Jesus or as members of official councils. In other Greek literature and inscriptions, the word carries administrative or municipal meanings, including the secretary of an assembly or city official (e.g., town-clerk in Acts 19:35). Standard English translations often use "scribe," but this can obscure the broader range of administrative and educational functions encompassed by the term in Greek sources.

Translation Consistency

primary "scribe" 63 occurrences

'Scribe' is the most common and natural English equivalent (most occurrences appear as “scribes”) and captures the typical roles — legal/religious record-keeper, teacher/interpreter of texts, and official clerk. It is broad enough to cover the SILEX semantic range (secretary, clerk, teacher of law) while remaining the most idiomatic choice for all forms.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"clerk" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from γράμμα. a writer, i.e. (professionally) scribe or secretary:--scribe, town-clerk.

Root Family

γραμματεύς (grammateus) — writer, recorder, documenter, skilled in letters

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1122-01 γραμματεῖς grammateis N ACC M PL scribes professional scribes professional scribes 40
G1122-02 γραμματέων grammateon N GEN M PL scribes of scribes scribes 17
G1122-03 γραμματεὺς grammateus N NOM M SG scribe scribe scribe 5
G1122-04 γραμματεῦσιν grammateusin N DAT M PL scribes to scribes to scribes 2

Occurrences in Scripture

64 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1122-01 Matthew 2:4 γραμματεῖς grammateis N ACC M PL scribes professional scribes professional scribes
G1122-02 Matthew 5:20 γραμματέων grammateon N GEN M PL scribes of scribes scribes
G1122-01 Matthew 7:29 γραμματεῖς grammateis N NOM M PL scribes professional scribes professional scribes
G1122-03 Matthew 8:19 γραμματεὺς grammateus N NOM M SG scribe scribe scribe
G1122-02 Matthew 9:3 γραμματέων grammateon N GEN M PL scribes of scribes scribes
G1122-02 Matthew 12:38 γραμματέων grammateon N GEN M PL scribes of scribes scribes
G1122-03 Matthew 13:52 γραμματεὺς grammateus N NOM M SG scribe scribe scribe
G1122-01 Matthew 15:1 γραμματεῖς grammateis N NOM M PL scribes professional scribes professional scribes
G1122-02 Matthew 16:21 γραμματέων grammateon N GEN M PL scribes of scribes scribes
G1122-01 Matthew 17:10 γραμματεῖς grammateis N NOM M PL scribes professional scribes professional scribes
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