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στρατηγός

stratēgós

G4755 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A leader, commander, or chief official, primarily in a military or administrative context. In Greek literature and inscriptions, στρατηγός most often refers to a senior military commander (general) with authority over an army or region. In some Hellenistic and Roman administrative systems (especially in the cities of Egypt and Asia Minor), it may also refer to a civic magistrate, often with both civil and military responsibilities. In the context of the Jerusalem temple, the term denotes the chief officer in charge of the temple police or guard force responsible for order and security.

Semantic Range

general (military commander), chief magistrate, administrator of a district or region, officer in charge of temple police or security, civic leader, commanding official

Root / Etymology

From στρατός ('army') and the root ἀγ-' to lead'; literally 'army-leader.' The verb ἄγω ('to lead') is grammatically the base for the agentive suffix -ηγός. Related to στρατηγία ('generalship, command').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, στρατηγός commonly refers to an army general, notably one of the elected military magistrates in Athens with both strategic and political duties. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the title designated local military or administrative officials; the role could vary from city to city, sometimes blending military and civic responsibilities. In the Septuagint, especially in 1-2 Maccabees and Chronicles, a στρατηγός is often a high-ranking military officer or leader of a district or region. In the New Testament (esp. Luke and Acts), στρατηγός is notably used for: (a) the chief officer of the temple guard (e.g., 'captain of the temple,' whom English tradition sometimes calls 'captain'), supervising security, discipline, and order; and (b) in cases outside Jerusalem, to local magistrates or military authorities overseeing civic order (e.g., Acts 16:20). In early Roman provincial administration, stratēgós could correspond roughly to a chief magistrate or military governor of a city or district. Standard English translations (e.g., 'captain,' 'magistrate') often overspecify or underrepresent the breadth of the role conveyed by στρατηγός, which could comprise both military and civic authority depending on context. While stratēgós could overlap with ἡγεμών ('governor'), it emphasizes command or leadership rather than legal authority per se.

Translation Consistency

primary "commander" 8 occurrences

'Commander' is a natural, broadly applicable English noun that captures the primary military sense (general/army leader) while also fitting civic magistrates, district administrators, and temple officers. It is more flexible than 'general' (rank-specific) and more fitting than 'captain' for senior or regional authority, ensuring consistent, natural renderings across the SIBI forms.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"army-commanders" (1x) "magistrates" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of στρατιά and ἄγω or ἡγέομαι; a general, i.e. (by implication or analogy) a (military) governor (prætor), the chief (præfect) of the (Levitical) temple-wardens:--captain, magistrate.

Root Family

στρατηγός (stratēgos) — army-leader, commander, chief official, military or civic leader

Root στρατηγ- to lead, to command, to act as a chief

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4755-01 στρατηγοὶ strategoi N NOM M PL magistrates commanding officials commanders 3
G4755-02 στρατηγοῖς strategois N DAT M PL magistrates to the commanding officials to the commanders 3
G4755-03 στρατηγὸς strategos N NOM M SG captain army-leader commander 3
G4755-04 στρατηγοὺς strategous N ACC M PL captains army-commanders army-commanders 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4755-02 Luke 22:4 στρατηγοῖς strategois N DAT M PL officers to the commanding officials to the commanders
G4755-04 Luke 22:52 στρατηγοὺς strategous N ACC M PL captains army-commanders army-commanders
G4755-03 Acts 4:1 στρατηγὸς strategos N NOM M SG captain army-leader commander
G4755-03 Acts 5:24 στρατηγὸς strategos N NOM M SG captain army-leader commander
G4755-03 Acts 5:26 στρατηγὸς strategos N NOM M SG captain army-leader commander
G4755-02 Acts 16:20 στρατηγοῖς strategois N DAT M PL magistrates to the commanding officials to the commanders
G4755-01 Acts 16:22 στρατηγοὶ strategoi N NOM M PL magistrates commanding officials commanders
G4755-01 Acts 16:35 στρατηγοὶ strategoi N NOM M PL magistrates commanding officials commanders
G4755-01 Acts 16:36 στρατηγοὶ strategoi N NOM M PL magistrates commanding officials magistrates
G4755-02 Acts 16:38 στρατηγοῖς strategois N DAT M PL magistrates to the commanding officials to the commanders
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