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φυλή

phylḗ

G5443 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A distinct group descended from a common ancestor; in particular, a tribe, clan, or lineage within a larger people group. In Greek and Hellenistic contexts, chiefly refers to divisions within a people (such as the tribes of the Israelites or other ethnic groupings), and may designate a sub-ethnic, political, or genealogical unit. Semantic range includes: tribe, clan, lineage, division, or category of people, sometimes used more generally for a class or type.

Semantic Range

tribe, clan, lineage, division, category, offshoot, kin group, people group, (sometimes) class or type

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root φῦ- (phu-), related to φύω (phýō, 'to produce, bring forth, beget'), indicating something that has sprung from a source or stock. Cognate with φύλλον (phýllon, 'leaf') in the sense of something that emerges or branches off. Root conveys the idea of organic growth or descent. Not a loanword.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φυλή originally denoted a tribe or clan, especially in the context of Greek city-states, where it was used for the political and social divisions of citizens (e.g., the ten tribes of Athens after the Cleisthenic reforms). In the Septuagint, φυλή frequently translates Hebrew מַטֶּה (matteh) or שֵׁבֶט (shevet), meaning a tribal grouping among the Israelites. In the New Testament, φυλή refers primarily to one of the twelve tribes of Israel, but can also be extended metaphorically to non-Israelite groupings (e.g., every tribe and people, Revelation). English translations often render φυλή as 'tribe,' but the term's conceptual emphasis is on lineage and descent, not necessarily modern ethnic categories. Distinguish from γένος (genos, lineage or race in a broader sense), δῆμος (dēmos, people/public), and ἔθνος (ethnos, nation or group by shared customs/language), which carry distinct nuances in Greek. The word does not imply religious affiliation and does not refer to general citizenship or nationality. Its usage remains relatively consistent in Hellenistic Greek, focusing on inherited or genealogical divisions within a broader population.

Translation Consistency

primary "tribe" 29 occurrences

φυλή most commonly denotes a tribal or kinship division (tribe, clan, lineage) within a people group—especially in Israelite contexts. "Tribe" is the natural, simple English equivalent that fits the primary semantic range (tribe, clan, lineage, division) and can be inflected as needed for number/possessive uses. It also covers the frequent Biblical usage better than broader terms like "group" or the prepositional reading seen in some occurrences.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"tribal lineages" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φύω (compare φύλλον); an offshoot, i.e. race or clan:--kindred, tribe.

Root Family

φυλ- (Pamphylía) — tribe, people group, clan

Root φυλ- to grow, to produce, to originate
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3828 Παμφυλία Pamphylia
G5441 φύλαξ guards
G5442 φυλάσσω I guarded
G5444 φύλλον leaves

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5443-05 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe 20
G5443-04 φυλὴν phulen N ACC F SG tribe a tribe tribe 3
G5443-06 φυλῶν phulon N GEN F PL tribes of tribes of tribes 3
G5443-01 φυλαὶ phulai N NOM F PL tribes tribal lineages tribal lineages 2
G5443-03 φυλὰς phulas N ACC F PL tribes tribal lineages tribes 2
G5443-02 φυλαῖς phulais N DAT F PL tribes to the clans tribes 1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5443-03 Matthew 19:28 φυλὰς phulas N ACC F PL tribes tribal lineages tribes
G5443-01 Matthew 24:30 φυλαὶ phulai N NOM F PL tribes tribal lineages tribal lineages
G5443-05 Luke 2:36 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG the tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-03 Luke 22:30 φυλὰς phulas N ACC F PL tribes tribal lineages tribes
G5443-05 Acts 13:21 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG the tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Romans 11:1 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG of the tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Philippians 3:5 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Hebrews 7:13 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-04 Hebrews 7:14 φυλὴν phulen N ACC F SG tribe a tribe tribe
G5443-02 James 1:1 φυλαῖς phulais N DAT F PL tribes to the clans tribes
G5443-01 Revelation 1:7 φυλαὶ phulai N NOM F PL tribes tribal lineages tribal lineages
G5443-05 Revelation 5:5 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 5:9 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:4 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:5 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:5 φυλῆς phules-2 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:5 φυλῆς phules-3 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:6 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:6 φυλῆς phules-2 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:6 φυλῆς phules-3 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:7 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:7 φυλῆς phules-2 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:7 φυλῆς phules-3 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:8 φυλῆς phules N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:8 φυλῆς phules-2 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-05 Revelation 7:8 φυλῆς phules-3 N GEN F SG tribe of a tribe of a tribe
G5443-06 Revelation 7:9 φυλῶν phulon N GEN F PL tribes of tribes of tribes
G5443-06 Revelation 11:9 φυλῶν phulon N GEN F PL tribes of tribes of tribes
G5443-04 Revelation 13:7 φυλὴν phulen N ACC F SG tribe a tribe tribe
G5443-04 Revelation 14:6 φυλὴν phulen N ACC F SG tribe a tribe tribe
G5443-06 Revelation 21:12 φυλῶν phulon N GEN F PL tribes of tribes of tribes
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