Σώπατρος
Sṓpatros
G4986 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name; meaning 'of a safe father' or 'saviour-father.' Σώπατρος is a male personal name that was borne by an individual in the early Christian movement (specifically in Acts 20:4), most likely indicating someone whose father was regarded as a savior, protector, or helper. The semantic range centers entirely on use as a personal name and does not extend to common noun or verb meanings in Greek literature.
Semantic Range
male personal name, 'Sopater,' of or pertaining to a saving or protective father, only used as a proper name
Root / Etymology
Formed from σῴζω ('to save, rescue, deliver') and πατήρ ('father'), likely meaning 'saved by the father' or 'one whose father saves.' The name is paralleled by Σωσίπατρος, formed from the same roots but with a variant prefix. The name itself is attested outside biblical literature as well, though infrequently.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Σώπατρος appears once in the New Testament (Acts 20:4), where he is listed among companions of Paul, described as 'Sopater of Berea.' The name is Hellenistic Greek, and also occurs in various Greek inscriptions, sometimes spelled Σωπάτρου as the genitive. The standard English translation simply transliterates the name, 'Sopater.' There is overlap with the name Σωσίπατρος (Sosipater), which may be the same individual in some traditions, but the names are distinguished in the New Testament. The use of thematic names combining 'to save' and 'father' reflects a broader pattern in Greek naming conventions, often invoking protection or parenthood. In biblical usage, there is no substantive difference in meaning compared to other Greek personal names constructed from similar roots, and the name does not convey doctrinal or theological nuance beyond its etymology as a theophoric or virtue-bearing name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the base of σώζω and πατήρ; of a safe father; Sopatrus, a Christian:--Sopater. Compare Σωσίπατρος.
Root Family
Σώπατρος (Sōpatros) — to save, father, paternal
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4986-01 |
Σώπατρος | sopatros | N NOM M SG |
Sopater | Savior-Father | Sopatros | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4986-01 |
Acts 20:4 | Σώπατρος | sopatros | N NOM M SG |
Sopater | Savior-Father | Sopatros |