πλήκτης (G4131) — Greek Lexicon

πλήκτης

plḗktēs

G4131 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who strikes or hits; a person given to physical aggression, particularly someone prone to striking others in disputes or quarrels. The term most often refers to someone whose behavior is violent or combative in a physical sense, rather than someone who is merely verbally argumentative. In moral and social contexts, especially among requirements for leadership or office-bearers, it denotes a person whose tendency to violence is a disqualifying character flaw.

Semantic Range

striker, one who hits others, violent person, physically aggressive individual, pugnacious, one given to quarrelsome behavior involving blows

Root / Etymology

Derived from the verb πλήσσω, 'to strike' or 'to hit.' The suffix -της forms agent nouns, so πλήκτης means 'striker' or 'one who strikes.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πλήκτης appears in connection with someone who strikes blows, often implying a violent or belligerent person. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including in the New Testament and related Jewish and early Christian literature, the term occurs rarely and is found chiefly in catalogues of moral qualifications (e.g., 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7) for community leaders (such as overseers, elders), indicating someone who is not given to violence. Standard English translations often render the term as 'violent,' 'striker,' or 'pugnacious.' However, 'striker' can obscure the sense of habitual combativeness or readiness to use fists in disputes, which is the main nuance. The word is considerably more physical than terms for verbal hostility or general quarrelsomeness. Unlike synonyms such as μάχιμος ('quarrelsome, warlike'), πλήκτης specifically implies the use of one's hands in aggression. The word is rare outside of moral catalogues, and its usage in the New Testament strongly parallels Greco-Roman ideals of self-control and public order, where violence was seen as morally and socially unacceptable for community leaders.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πλήσσω; a smiter, i.e. pugnacious (quarrelsome):--striker.

Root Family

πλήκ- (plḗktēs) — to strike, to hit, to beat

Root πλήκ- to strike, to hit, to beat

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4131-01`	πλήκτην	plekten	`N ACC M SG`	striker	a striker	a striker	2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4131-01`	1 Timothy 3:3	πλήκτην	plekten	`N ACC M SG`	striker	a striker	a striker
`G4131-01`	Titus 1:7	πλήκτην	plekten	`N ACC M SG`	striker	a striker	striker

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