φιλόσοφος (G5386) — Greek Lexicon

φιλόσοφος

philósophos

G5386 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One devoted to the pursuit, study, or practice of wisdom; a philosopher. The term refers to a person who seeks knowledge or understanding of fundamental questions regarding existence, nature, ethics, or reason, particularly as a formal occupation or public identity in Greek and Hellenistic society. In contextual use, can also denote teachers or exponents of a particular philosophical school or worldview, sometimes with a nuance of being part of an intellectual elite.

Semantic Range

philosopher, one devoted to wisdom, guide/moral teacher advocating a system of thought, practitioner or teacher of philosophy, member of a philosophical school

Root / Etymology

Derived from φίλος (loving, fond of) and σοφός (wise, skilled), thus denoting a 'lover of wisdom'. The composite form is a direct term for 'philosopher' in Greek intellectual tradition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, φιλόσοφος described individuals dedicated to the rational investigation of ethics, metaphysics, natural world, or epistemology—often as members of established philosophical schools. The title became an established term for practitioners of philosophy, such as the followers of Plato, Aristotle, or the Stoics. In the context of the New Testament (notably Acts 17:18), φιλόσοφοι refers specifically to Athenian Epicurean and Stoic thinkers. The word is rare in the Septuagint. Later translation traditions ascribe the general meaning 'philosopher' to the term, but in first-century usage it could also imply a cultural figure representative of Greek or Hellenistic education and worldview, distinct from other categories such as 'scribe' (γραμματεύς) or 'sage' (σοφός). The English 'philosopher' captures the main sense, but may lose the social and intellectual connotations attached in ancient settings, where the φιλόσοφος not only taught but often participated in public debate and was sometimes regarded as a professional teacher of wisdom.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φίλος and σοφός; fond of wise things, i.e. a "philosopher":--philosopher.

Root Family

φιλόσοφος (philosophos) — lover of wisdom, seeker of wisdom, pursuer of knowledge

Root φιλοσοφ- to love wisdom, to seek wisdom, to pursue knowledge

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5386-01`	φιλοσόφων	philosophon	`N GEN M PL`	philosophers	of philosophers	philosophers	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5386-01`	Acts 17:18	φιλοσόφων	philosophon	`N GEN M PL`	philosophers	of philosophers	philosophers

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