πλήκτης (plēktēs)
plēktēs
bully
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun plēktēs describes a violent individual, specifically one who strikes or beats others. Derived from a root meaning "to strike," it paints a picture of someone prone to physical aggression rather than mere verbal argument. In the pastoral epistles, this term appears in lists of disqualifications for church leaders, characterizing a person who is ready to throw punches and settle disputes through force.
This word carries a heavy ethical weight in its biblical context. When Paul instructs that an overseer must not be a plēktēs (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7), he is ruling out those with a history of brawling or bruising others. The term suggests a temperament that is quarrelsome and physically dangerous, making such a person unfit for the peaceful leadership required in the early Christian communities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word plēktēs describes a person who uses physical force to dominate others. It is not simply about being loud or argumentative, but about a tendency toward violence. In the early church, leaders were required to be free from this trait because their role was to serve and guide, not to intimidate.
For your daily life, this reminds us that true strength is found in gentleness. When conflicts arise, we are called to resolve them with peace rather than force. This applies to how we treat family, neighbors, and even strangers. Choosing patience over aggression reflects the character of Christ.
God desires leaders who bring healing, not harm. By avoiding violent behavior, we create spaces where others feel safe and respected. This is a practical way to show love in a world that often values power over peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a striker,1×
- a striker1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πλήκτην,1×
- πλήκτην1×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 3:3
not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
This verse lists plēktēs as a disqualification for overseers, showing that physical aggression is incompatible with the peaceful nature of church leadership.
-
Titus 1:7
For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
Here the term reinforces the requirement for blamelessness in God's stewards, emphasizing that a history of violence disqualifies one from spiritual authority.