συνηλικιώτης (sunēlikiōtēs)
sunēlikiōtēs
contemporary
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun sunēlikiōtēs refers to a person of the same age, essentially meaning a contemporary or an equal in years. It combines a prefix indicating "together" with a root related to age, creating a term that highlights shared life stages rather than just chronological coincidence.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Galatians 1:14. Paul uses it to describe his relationship with his fellow Jews in Jerusalem before his conversion. By calling them sunēlikiōtai, he emphasizes a deep, natural bond formed through growing up in the same community and era, underscoring how intensely he pursued his former religious zeal alongside those who shared his background.
Its rarity makes this single occurrence significant. It captures a specific social connection based on generational proximity. Translators typically render it as "contemporaries" or "fellow Jews of the same age," preserving the sense of peer status and shared historical context that Paul intended to convey.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word sunēlikiōtēs describes someone who is a contemporary or peer in age. It points to the natural bonds formed when people grow up together, sharing the same community and era. This connection often shapes our earliest values and deepest convictions without us even realizing it.
In Galatians 1:14, Paul uses this term to describe his fellow Jews of the same generation. He acknowledges how deeply he was shaped by his peers before his life changed. This reminds us that our past influences are real and powerful, yet they do not have to define our future.
Understanding this word helps us see how grace can transform even our strongest attachments. It invites us to reflect on the people who have shaped us and to trust that God can use those very relationships for His good purposes in our lives today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- contemporaries1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνηλικιώτας1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 1:14
I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Paul uses this rare term to highlight the intense peer pressure and shared zeal of his generation that he once followed so closely.