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πάροικος

pároikos

G3941 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A person who resides alongside or among a local population, but does not hold full civic or native rights; a resident alien or sojourner. In various contexts, denotes someone who temporarily or permanently lives in a foreign community, distinct from both citizens and transient visitors. The term also carries the nuance of a social condition marked by partial integration but legal or social marginalization.

Semantic Range

resident alien, sojourner, foreign resident, one who lives among but is not a native, outsider integrated into a community without citizenship; metaphorically, someone spiritually or socially displaced or not at home

Root / Etymology

Derived from παρά ('beside, alongside') and οἶκος ('house, home'), literally meaning 'one who lives beside the house,' i.e., someone residing alongside but not inherently belonging to the household or community. Cognate with Hebrew גֵּר (gēr) in the Septuagint, often rendering the concept of a sojourner residing among Israelites.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παροῖκος referred to individuals or families living in a community other than their native one, usually without rights of citizenship. In the Septuagint, παροῖκος frequently translates Hebrew terms for the resident alien ('gēr'), a legally defined status distinct from both native-born Israelites and transient foreigners, often associated with rules protections and social obligations. In New Testament usage, παροῖκος appears both in literal sense (Eph. 2:19) and metaphorically for the condition of believers whose primary allegiance is elsewhere (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11, where a related term παρεπίδημος is also used). English renderings such as 'foreigner,' 'stranger,' or 'sojourner' do not always fully capture the technical or social nuance of someone living semi-permanently within but not fully belonging to a host society. The term does not denote a visitor or short-term guest but rather someone settled without full rights or origination from the community.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from παρά and οἶκος; having a home near, i.e. (as noun) a by-dweller (alien resident):--foreigner, sojourn, stranger.

Root Family

παροικ- (paroikía) — to reside beside, to dwell as a foreigner, to sojourn

Root παροικ- to dwell beside, to reside as a foreigner
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3940 παροικία in foreign residence

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3941-01 πάροικοι paroikoi ADJ.S NOM M PL foreigners resident aliens resident aliens 1
G3941-02 πάροικον paroikon ADJ.P NOM N SG aliens resident alien resident alien 1
G3941-03 πάροικος paroikos ADJ.P NOM M SG stranger resident alien resident alien 1
G3941-04 παροίκους paroikous ADJ.S ACC M PL aliens resident aliens resident aliens 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3941-02 Acts 7:6 πάροικον paroikon ADJ.P NOM N SG aliens resident alien resident alien
G3941-03 Acts 7:29 πάροικος paroikos ADJ.P NOM M SG stranger resident alien resident alien
G3941-01 Ephesians 2:19 πάροικοι paroikoi ADJ.S NOM M PL foreigners resident aliens resident aliens
G3941-04 1 Peter 2:11 παροίκους paroikous ADJ.S ACC M PL aliens resident aliens resident aliens
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