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συστρατιώτης

systratiṓtēs

G4961 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A fellow soldier; one who serves alongside another in a military or metaphorical campaign. In the New Testament context, denotes an associate who is engaged together in arduous service, whether in actual military operations or, figuratively, in the shared labor, hardships, or struggles associated with a cause or mission.

Semantic Range

fellow soldier (literal), associate in common struggle, companion in mission or hardship, co-laborer in a difficult or contested endeavor

Root / Etymology

From σύν (with, together with) and στρατιώτης (soldier), thus literally 'co-soldier' or 'fellow soldier.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term συστρατιώτης is constructed analogously to other Greek compounds indicating companionship or partnership in an endeavor (compare συνεργός, 'coworker'). It appears in Hellenistic Greek to refer to literal comrades on campaign or battlefield, but in the New Testament (Philippians 2:25; Philemon 1:2) it is used metaphorically for those who participate together in apostolic work or struggle. The sense of cooperative labor or shared struggle is central to the term. Early Christian usage applies military metaphors (see also στρατιά and στρατιώτης) to highlight solidarity and perseverance in a collective mission. Standard English translations often render it as 'fellow soldier,' but the figurative extension to any companion in collective effort (not just military) is important to retain. It emphasizes alliance and mutual support in a demanding context, not generic companionship. The word is rare in the Septuagint, and classical usage usually maintains the strictly military sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and στρατιώτης; a co-campaigner, i.e. (figuratively) an associate in Christian toil:--fellowsoldier.

Root Family

συστρατιώτης (systratiōtēs) — fellow soldier, co-campaigner, companion in shared struggle

Root στρατιωτ- to serve as a soldier, to march; to campaign together

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4961-01 συνστρατιώτῃ sunstratiote N DAT M SG fellow soldier to a fellow soldier fellow soldier 1
G4961-02 συνστρατιώτην sunstratioten N ACC M SG fellow soldier fellow soldier fellow soldier 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4961-02 Philippians 2:25 συνστρατιώτην sunstratioten N ACC M SG fellow soldier fellow soldier fellow soldier
G4961-01 Philemon 1:2 συνστρατιώτῃ sunstratiote N DAT M SG fellow soldier to a fellow soldier fellow soldier
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