συμμιμητής (G4831) — Greek Lexicon

συμμιμητής

symmimētḗs

G4831 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who imitates together with others; a fellow imitator. In New Testament usage, denoting a person who joins others in adopting a model or example to follow, often with a sense of shared discipleship or communal imitation of a particular way of life or behavior. The sense includes participating with others in emulation of a teacher or exemplar.

Semantic Range

fellow imitator, co-imitator, one who imitates together with others, partner in imitation, participant in communal emulation

Root / Etymology

συν- (with, together) + μιμητής (imitator), from μιμέομαι (to imitate, to emulate). Formed as a compound; the term is rare and primarily found in Christian literature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word συμμιμητής is extremely rare in extant Greek literature, and its usage is first securely attested in early Christian writings (notably Paul’s letters, e.g., Philippians 3:17), where it refers to the act of jointly imitating an apostolic example within a believing community. The term arises from the more commonly used μιμητής (imitator), which appears in both Hellenistic philosophical and Jewish contexts, often describing discipleship or emulation of a philosophical or ethical model. However, συμμιμητής carries a distinct sense of imitation together with others, emphasizing group participation over individual emulation. Unlike μιμητής, which could apply more broadly, συμμιμητής is typically used in a communal or corporate sense, highlighting shared behavior and solidarity. Later translation traditions (including English Bibles) often render it as 'fellow imitator' or 'follower together,' but these do not always capture the intrinsically communal aspect present in the Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a presumed compound of σύν and μιμέομαι; a co-imitator, i.e. fellow votary:--follower together.

Root Family

μιμ- (miméomai) — to imitate, to emulate, to model oneself after

Root μιμ- to imitate, to emulate, to join in imitating

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G3401	μιμέομαι	to model oneself after
G3402	μιμητής	imitators

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4831-01`	συνμιμηταί	sunmimetai	`N NOM M PL`	imitators together	fellow imitators	fellow imitators	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4831-01`	Philippians 3:17	συνμιμηταί	sunmimetai	`N NOM M PL`	imitators together	fellow imitators	fellow imitators

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