← G4522 G4524 →

Σαδδουκαῖος

Saddoukaîos

G4523 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Member of the Sadducean movement or party; an adherent of the political-religious group known as the Sadducees active during the late Second Temple period in Judea. The term refers primarily to a socioreligious faction noted for specific positions on Temple practices, the authority of written Torah alone, denial of resurrection of the dead, and rejection of the traditions upheld by the Pharisees. In broader contexts, may indicate those aligned with or regarded as part of the Sadducean leadership, who were often associated with priestly or aristocratic families.

Semantic Range

member of the Sadducean party, aristocratic or priestly adherent of Sadducean ideology, member of group opposed to Pharisaic teachings

Root / Etymology

Greek Σαδδουκαῖος derives ultimately from the personal name Σαδώκ (Sadok, corresponding to Hebrew צדוק Ṣādôq), traditionally associated with the priestly line of Zadok. The precise formation of the term is uncertain, but it combines a Greek adjectival ending with the name Sadok, indicating a follower or member of a group identified with 'Zadok.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Σαδδουκαῖος is attested only in Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian literature, primarily in the writings of Josephus, the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 3:7; Acts 5:17), and Rabbinic discussions (transliterated as צדוקים in Hebrew). The group's origins are traced to the Hasmonean period, active until the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE). The term does not appear in the Septuagint for historical Zadokite priests; instead, by the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Σαδδουκαῖοι denotes a discrete religious-political faction. Their beliefs are contrasted with those of the Pharisees (Φαρισαῖοι), especially regarding interpretation of Torah, the afterlife, and the role of oral tradition. The English term 'Sadducee' is a later transliteration following traditional translation, but modern scholarship recognizes that the term marks a social group with complex political and religious dimensions. Σαδδουκαῖος does not refer generically to all priests or Judean elites, but rather to those specifically identified with the theological and social position of the Sadducean party.

Translation Consistency

primary "Sadducee" 8 occurrences

“Sadducee” is the common English noun matching the Greek Σαδδουκαῖος and clearly denotes a member of the Sadducean party (including priestly/aristocratic adherents). It is the natural, widely recognized term and can be consistently inflected (Sadducees, the Sadducee’s) across all occurrences.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"zadokite party members" (6x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from Σαδώκ; a Sadducæan (i.e. Tsadokian), or follower of a certain heretical Israelite:--Sadducee.

Root Family

Σαδωκ- (Saddoukaîos) — follower of Zadok, member of Zadokite party

Root Σαδωκ- follower of Zadok, member of Zadokite party

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4523-02 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees 8
G4523-01 Σαδδουκαῖοι saddoukaioi N NOM M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members 5
G4523-03 Σαδδουκαίους saddoukaious N ACC M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4523-02 Matthew 3:7 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-01 Matthew 16:1 Σαδδουκαῖοι saddoukaioi N NOM M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members
G4523-02 Matthew 16:6 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-02 Matthew 16:11 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-02 Matthew 16:12 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-01 Matthew 22:23 Σαδδουκαῖοι saddoukaioi N NOM M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members
G4523-03 Matthew 22:34 Σαδδουκαίους saddoukaious N ACC M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members
G4523-01 Mark 12:18 Σαδδουκαῖοι saddoukaioi N NOM M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members
G4523-02 Luke 20:27 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-01 Acts 4:1 Σαδδουκαῖοι saddoukaioi N NOM M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members
G4523-02 Acts 5:17 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-02 Acts 23:6 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-02 Acts 23:7 Σαδδουκαίων saddoukaion N GEN M PL Sadducees of Zadokite adherents of Sadducees
G4523-01 Acts 23:8 Σαδδουκαῖοι saddoukaioi N NOM M PL Sadducees Zadokite party members Zadokite party members
← G4522 Greek Lexicon G4524 →