συστατικός
systatikós
G4956 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having the property or function of introducing or commending; of or pertaining to recommendation or testimonial in nature. In usage, primarily describing something (such as a letter or document) that serves to introduce or establish the credibility of a person, typically by means of recommendation.
Semantic Range
introducing, commendatory, testimonial, recommendatory, serving to attest or recommend (especially in reference to documents or letters)
Root / Etymology
From the root συνιστάω (to bring together, to commend), itself from σύν (with, together) + ἵστημι (to set, to place). συστατικός is the adjectival form, bearing the sense of 'pertaining to commending/introduction.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
συστατικός is a rare adjective in Koine Greek, occurring in documentary and epistolary contexts. Most extant examples appear in the context of συστατικαὶ ἐπιστολαί ('letters of commendation' or 'letters of introduction'), an established practice in the Hellenistic and Roman world where individuals introduced third parties to others via written testimony regarding their character or reliability. In the New Testament (e.g., 2 Corinthians 3:1), συστατικός is used with ἐπιστολή, referring to such letters. English translations often render ἐπιστολαὶ συστατικαί as 'letters of recommendation' or 'letters of commendation,' but the term涵s both the idea of establishing credibility (introduction) and commending (endorsement). The usage does not imply the more formal or institutionalized 'recommendation' procedures of later periods, but rather a personal or communal introduction and attestation. συστατικός is closely related in function to the noun σύστασις ('commendation, recommendation') and verb συνιστάω ('to present, to commend, to introduce'). Its usage in the Septuagint is exceedingly rare or absent; in classical Greek, it has similar connotations, though the practice of letters of introduction becomes especially prominent in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of συνιστάω; introductory, i.e. recommendatory:--of commendation.
Root Family
συστατικός (systatikos) — introducing, commending, recommending, attesting
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4956-01 |
συστατικῶν | sustatikon | ADJ.A GEN F PL |
of commendation | of commendatory | of commendatory | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4956-01 |
2 Corinthians 3:1 | συστατικῶν | sustatikon | ADJ.A GEN F PL |
of commendation | of commendatory | of commendatory |