συνηλικιώτης
synēlikiṓtēs
G4915 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person of the same age group; one who shares the same stage of life or is contemporaneous in age with another. The primary sense is 'peer by age,' often conveying the idea of a companion or associate who is of similar chronological age or experienced the same age-related developments.
Semantic Range
peer (by age), contemporary, someone of the same age group, companion of equal years, generational cohort
Root / Etymology
From σύν ('with, together') and a derivative of ἡλικία ('age, stage of life'), i.e., 'one with the same age.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term συνηλικιώτης appears rarely in extant Greek literature and is especially sparse outside Christian and Hellenistic Jewish texts. In New Testament usage (e.g., Ephesians 3:6), it refers to a contemporary or peer in terms of age, potentially extending to those sharing a generational identity or societal cohort. The nuance is not precisely 'equal' in value or status, but specifically 'equal in age.' In classical Greek, similar expressions for peer age include συνομήλικος and ὁμήλικος, but συνηλικιώτης forms an explicit compound. LXX occurrences are not attested. English translations often render this as 'contemporary,' 'peer,' or 'equal in age,' but sometimes lack the nuance of commonality in life stage. The word does not intrinsically imply social or professional equality.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from σύν and a derivative of ἡλικία; a co-aged person, i.e. alike in years:--equal.
Root Family
ἡλικ- (hēlikía) — age, maturity, stature, fullness of growth
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2244 | ἡλικία | in maturity |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4915-01 |
συνηλικιώτας | sunelikiotas | N ACC M PL |
contemporaries | age-peers | age-peers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4915-01 |
Galatians 1:14 | συνηλικιώτας | sunelikiotas | N ACC M PL |
contemporaries | age-peers | age-peers |