Λαοδικεύς
Laodikeús
G2994 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An inhabitant or native of Laodicea; refers to a person from the city of Laodicea. In New Testament usage, the term specifically denotes individuals associated with the city in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor. Primarily geographic in meaning, identifying a person's origin, residence, or affiliation with Laodicea. Seldom used outside of contexts where the location of Laodicea is relevant.
Semantic Range
person from Laodicea, inhabitant of Laodicea, Laodicean, resident of Laodicea
Root / Etymology
Formed from the place name Λαοδίκεια (Laodikeia), which itself is composed from the elements λαός ('people') and δίκη ('justice' or 'judgment'), with the suffix -εύς indicating an inhabitant or native of a place.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Λαοδικεύς is an ethnicon (i.e., a term for an inhabitant of a specific locale) referring to people from Laodicea, a prominent city in Phrygia during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. In the New Testament, usage occurs primarily in the epistolary material (e.g., Colossians, Revelation), often addressing or referencing members of the assembly in Laodicea in the context of broader correspondence to communities of the Lycus Valley (Laodicea, Colossae, Hierapolis). The term carries no particular religious, ethnic, or social connotations beyond indicating origin or citizenship in Laodicea. Later Christian tradition retained 'Laodicean' as a designation for members of the church there, but in the first-century context it retains its geographic focus only. English translations usually render this word as 'Laodicean' or 'person from Laodicea,' which accurately reflects the word's sense. Compare other ethnics formed with -εύς (e.g., Ἀλεξανδρεύς 'Alexandrian'). The city's name, Laodicea, reflects a widespread Hellenistic naming practice honoring queens or notable women (often named Laodice) in the Seleucid dynasty.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Λαοδίκεια; a Laodicean, i.e. inhabitant of Laodicia:--Laodicean.
Root Family
Λαοδικεύς (Laodikeus) — inhabitant, native, citizen of Laodicea
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2994-01 |
Λαοδικαίων | laodikaion | N GEN M PL |
of Laodiceans | of Laodiceans | Laodiceans | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2994-01 |
Colossians 4:16 | Λαοδικαίων | laodikaion | N GEN M PL |
of Laodiceans | of Laodiceans | Laodiceans |