στρατεύομαι
strateúomai
G4754 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To serve as a soldier, to be engaged in military service or campaign; more broadly, to participate in warfare, whether literal or metaphorical. In extended or figurative contexts, to struggle, contend, or engage in sustained effort against opposition, including non-physical or moral challenges.
Semantic Range
to serve in an army, to be on military campaign, to wage war, to undertake a military expedition, to engage in conflict (literal); to contend, to struggle, to wage a struggle (figurative); to pursue a disciplined struggle against internal or external opposition
Root / Etymology
From the noun στρατιά ('army') or the verb στρατεύω ('to wage war'), with the middle/passive verb ending -ομαι, conveying the sense of active participation in military endeavors. Derived from the stem στρατ- ('army, expedition').
Historical & Contextual Notes
στρατεύομαι appears in both literal and metaphorical senses throughout Hellenistic and Koine Greek literature. In classical usage, the verb refers to active participation in military campaigns, enlisted service, or fulfilling civic military obligations. In the Septuagint and contemporary non-biblical texts, it generally indicates literal soldiering or war service. In New Testament contexts (e.g., 2 Corinthians 10:3; 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:4), it is often employed metaphorically to describe ethical or spiritual struggle, moral conflict, or the pursuit of a disciplined way of life, drawing on the idea of persistent, strategic opposition to challenges (especially internal or spiritual). The term does not inherently suggest religious leadership ('apostolate') but rather characterizes the sustained, combatlike effort associated with any significant struggle. Some English versions translate figurative uses as 'fight' or 'wage war,' but this may obscure the military connotations of the Greek. The word is distinct from related terms such as πολεμέω ('to make war') or μάχομαι ('to fight, quarrel'), emphasizing ongoing campaign or service rather than isolated conflict or altercation. Usage of στρατεύομαι highlights disciplined, organized, and goal-oriented striving, reflecting the social and cultural importance of military service in the Greco-Roman world.
Translation Consistency
“Fight” naturally covers both the primary military sense (to engage in battle or wage war) and the common figurative senses (to struggle or contend). It is plain, idiomatic English and will render consistently across literal and metaphorical uses better than narrower options like “serve” or “campaign.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
middle voice from the base of στρατιά; to serve in a military campaign; figuratively, to execute the apostolate (with its arduous duties and functions), to contend with carnal inclinations:--soldier, (go to) war(-fare).
Root Family
στρατεύομαι (strateuomai) — to serve as a soldier, to wage war, to engage in military activity
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4754-01 |
στρατεύῃ | strateue | V PRS MID SUBJ 2P SG |
you may fight | you may engage in warfare | you may wage war | 1 |
G4754-07 |
στρατεύονται | strateuontai | V PRS MID IND 3P PL |
wage war | they are serving as soldiers | war | 1 |
G4754-03 |
στρατευόμενοι | strateuomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
soldiers | those serving as soldiers | those serving as soldiers | 1 |
G4754-02 |
στρατεύεται | strateuetai | V PRS MID IND 3P SG |
serves as a soldier | is waging war | serves as a soldier | 1 |
G4754-05 |
στρατευόμενος | strateuomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
serving as a soldier | serving as a soldier | serving as a soldier | 1 |
G4754-04 |
στρατευομένων | strateuomenon | V PRS MID PTCP GEN F PL |
wage war | of those engaging in warfare | those who wage war | 1 |
G4754-06 |
στρατευόμεθα | strateuometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
we war | we are waging war | we are waging war | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4754-03 |
Luke 3:14 | στρατευόμενοι | strateuomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
soldiers | those serving as soldiers | those serving as soldiers |
G4754-02 |
1 Corinthians 9:7 | στρατεύεται | strateuetai | V PRS MID IND 3P SG |
serves as a soldier | is waging war | serves as a soldier |
G4754-06 |
2 Corinthians 10:3 | στρατευόμεθα | strateuometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
we war | we are waging war | we are waging war |
G4754-01 |
1 Timothy 1:18 | στρατεύῃ | strateue | V PRS MID SUBJ 2P SG |
you may fight | you may engage in warfare | you may wage war |
G4754-05 |
2 Timothy 2:4 | στρατευόμενος | strateuomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
serving as a soldier | serving as a soldier | serving as a soldier |
G4754-04 |
James 4:1 | στρατευομένων | strateuomenon | V PRS MID PTCP GEN F PL |
wage war | of those engaging in warfare | those who wage war |
G4754-07 |
1 Peter 2:11 | στρατεύονται | strateuontai | V PRS MID IND 3P PL |
wage war | they are serving as soldiers | war |