Νικολαΐτης
Nikolaḯtēs
G3531 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A member or adherent of a group referred to as the 'Nicolaitans.' Refers to persons characterized by association with Nikolaos, either as a founder, teacher, or symbolic figure. The term denotes a specific group or movement identified in certain New Testament contexts, generally defined by its distinct practices or teachings, though the exact nature is debated.
Semantic Range
follower or adherent of Nikolaos, member of a sect or group associated with Nikolaos, Nicolaitan
Root / Etymology
From the personal name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), formed with the suffix -ΐτης (-itēs) to indicate association or membership. The root Νικόλαος itself derives from νίκη (victory, conquest) + λαός (people).
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term Νικολαΐτης occurs in the New Testament only in the book of Revelation (2:6, 2:15), referring to a group whose practices or doctrines were opposed by the author. The identity and teachings of the Nicolaitans are unclear; early Christian writers (e.g., Irenaeus, Hippolytus) associate them with antinomianism or moral laxity, sometimes relating them to similar movements in Asia Minor, but their testimony is secondary and possibly polemical. The formation -ΐτης is typical in Greek for group affiliation, analogous to 'Herodian' (Ἡρῳδιανός) or 'Christian' (Χριστιανός). English tradition renders the term 'Nicolaitans,' but this transliterates rather than translates and does not clarify the group's nature. No extrabiblical contemporary evidence for the group exists outside Christian sources, and the details should not be assumed from patristic accounts alone.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Νικόλαος; a Nicolaïte, i.e. adherent of Nicolaüs:--Nicolaitane.
Root Family
Νικολαΐτ- (Nikolaḯtēs) — adherent of Nikolaos, member of Nikolaos's group
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3531-01 |
Νικολαϊτῶν | nikolaiton | N GEN M PL |
Nicolaitans | of Nikolaos-adherents | Nikolaos-adherents | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3531-01 |
Revelation 2:6 | Νικολαϊτῶν | nikolaiton | N GEN M PL |
Nicolaitans | of Nikolaos-adherents | Nikolaos-adherents |
G3531-01 |
Revelation 2:15 | Νικολαϊτῶν | nikolaiton | N GEN M PL |
of the Nicolaitans | of Nikolaos-adherents | of Nikolaos-adherents |