σύντροφος
sýntrophos
G4939 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person raised together with another, especially one who shares upbringing, education, or tutelage with someone else; companion or peer in upbringing. The term primarily indicates someone who has been nurtured or brought up alongside another, often in the context of childhood or youth within a household or scholastic environment. By extension, it can denote a close associate formed by shared experiences from youth.
Semantic Range
a fellow-nursling, one brought up with another, childhood companion, peer in upbringing, comrade in education or nurture
Root / Etymology
From the preposition σύν ('with, together') and the noun τροφός ('nurse, one who feeds'), indicating the idea of 'one nurtured with' or 'raised together.' Derived via a compound formation emphasizing shared upbringing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, σύντροφος appears in literary and documentary sources to describe those raised or nurtured together, especially companions in fosterage, royal courts, or educational contexts. It did not necessarily imply shared parentage, but rather proximity in upbringing—whether as siblings, foster siblings, or co-pupils. In the New Testament (cf. Luke 23:12), the term characterizes the close bond between two men familiar from youth, likely on account of shared education or royal fosterage, which were common avenues for social and political relationships in the Greco-Roman world. English translations such as 'brought up with' or 'comrade' capture parts of its meaning, but may underplay the formative aspect of shared nurture or childhood companionship. The meaning is narrower than general words for friend (φίλος) or associate and emphasizes a formative shared experience. In the Septuagint and related literature, the word is rare but carries similar nuances. Not automatically a kin term, it is best understood against the ancient context where childhood co-education or fostering was a bond of lifelong significance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from σύν and τροφός (in a passive sense); a fellow-nursling, i.e. comrade:--brought up with.
Root Family
σύντροφος (sýntrophos) — nurtured together, brought up alongside, fellow-nursling, companion in upbringing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4939-01 |
σύντροφος | suntrophos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
foster-brother | one raised together | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4939-01 |
Acts 13:1 | σύντροφος | suntrophos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
foster-brother | one raised together |