Σαμαρείτης (G4541) — Greek Lexicon

Σαμαρείτης

Samareítēs

G4541 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A person belonging to or originating from Samaria; primarily denotes an inhabitant of the region of Samaria. In most Koine Greek contexts, especially in the New Testament, the term often connotes both geographic origin (from Samaria) and, by the first century CE, association with the specific ethnoreligious community distinct from Judeans and Israelites from other regions. Depending on the context, the term may refer broadly to a resident of Samaria or, more specifically, to a member of the group identified as Samaritans, who maintained distinctive religious practices centered on Mount Gerizim.

Semantic Range

inhabitant of Samaria, person from the region of Samaria, member of the Samaritan ethnoreligious community

Root / Etymology

Formed from the place name Σαμάρεια (Samaria) with the agent suffix -ίτης, denoting origin or affiliation. Follows a common pattern for Greek ethnics and demonyms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ethnics ending in -ίτης denote origin or association with a place (cf. Γαλιλαῖος = Galilean). By the late Second Temple and Roman periods, Σαμαρείτης typically refers to a member of the community distinct from Judeans, recognized for its own religious customs and claims to Israelite heritage. In the New Testament (e.g., Luke 10:33; 17:16), this term provides contrast with Ἰουδαῖοι (Judeans), emphasizing ethnic and religious boundaries without importing later, exclusively religious definitions. English translations often render the term as 'Samaritan,' but this can obscure the nuanced ethnic, geographic, and religious significance associated with the word in its ancient context.

Translation Consistency

primary "Samaritan" 8 occurrences

Σαμαρεῖτης denotes a person from Samaria or a member of the Samaritan community. The natural, common English rendering in New Testament contexts is “Samaritan.” Using the singular base form allows consistent inflection for number and case (e.g., Samaritan, Samaritans) and avoids less common alternatives like “Samarian.”

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"samarian inhabitants" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Σαμάρεια; a Samarite, i.e. inhabitant of Samaria:--Samaritan.

Root Family

Σαμαρείτης (Samareitēs) — of Samaria, inhabitant, member (of Samaria)

Root Σαμαρει- of Samaria, inhabitant, member (of Samaria)

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4541-04`	Σαμαρειτῶν	samareiton	`N GEN M PL`	Samaritans	of Samaritans	of Samaritans	4
`G4541-03`	Σαμαρείτης	samareites	`N NOM M SG`	a Samaritan	Samarian	Samaritan	3
`G4541-02`	Σαμαρείταις	samareitais	`N DAT M PL`	Samaritans	to Samaritans	to Samaritans	1
`G4541-01`	Σαμαρεῖται	samareitai	`N NOM M PL`	Samaritans	Samarian inhabitants	Samarian inhabitants	1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4541-04`	Matthew 10:5	Σαμαρειτῶν	samareiton	`N GEN M PL`	of Samaritans	of Samaritans	of Samaritans
`G4541-04`	Luke 9:52	Σαμαρειτῶν	samareiton	`N GEN M PL`	of the Samaritans	of Samaritans	of Samaritans
`G4541-03`	Luke 10:33	Σαμαρείτης	samareites	`N NOM M SG`	Samaritan	Samarian	Samaritan
`G4541-03`	Luke 17:16	Σαμαρείτης	samareites	`N NOM M SG`	a Samaritan	Samarian	Samaritan
`G4541-02`	John 4:9	Σαμαρείταις	samareitais	`N DAT M PL`	Samaritans	to Samaritans	to Samaritans
`G4541-04`	John 4:39	Σαμαρειτῶν	samareiton	`N GEN M PL`	Samaritans	of Samaritans	of Samaritans
`G4541-01`	John 4:40	Σαμαρεῖται	samareitai	`N NOM M PL`	Samaritans	Samarian inhabitants	Samarian inhabitants
`G4541-03`	John 8:48	Σαμαρείτης	samareites	`N NOM M SG`	a Samaritan	Samarian	Samaritan
`G4541-04`	Acts 8:25	Σαμαρειτῶν	samareiton	`N GEN M PL`	Samaritans	of Samaritans	of Samaritans

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