Ἀρεοπαγίτης
Areopagítēs
G698 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A member of the Areopagus, the council or judicial body in Athens traditionally meeting on the hill known as the Areios Pagos ('Hill of Ares'); refers specifically to an individual belonging to this governing or judicial assembly. In broader Greek usage, designates a citizen who sits as part of the Areopagus court, not simply a resident near the location.
Semantic Range
member of the Areopagus council, Areopagite (councilor or judge of the Areopagus);
Root / Etymology
From Ἄρειος Πάγος (Areios Pagos, 'Hill of Ares'), with the adjectival suffix -ίτης denoting membership or association with a place or group; literally 'person of the Areios Pagos.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term Ἀρεοπαγίτης is a civic designation used exclusively for those who were members of the Areopagus council, Athens' prestigious governing and judicial body, active from classical to Hellenistic times and persisting as a respected court into the Roman period. In the first century CE, the Areopagus was associated primarily with judicial review and moral oversight. The use of Ἀρεοπαγίτης in Acts 17:34 (designating Dionysius) identifies him as a person of high status and influence in Athenian society. English translations often render the term as 'Areopagite,' which is a direct transliteration but may obscure the civic-legal nuance. The Areopagus was distinct from other Greek civic bodies; its members were typically drawn from the city's elite.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Ἄρειος Πάγος; an Areopagite or member of the court held on Mars' Hill:--Areopagite.
Root Family
Ἀρεοπαγίτης (Areopagitēs) — Areopagus, council, member, judge
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G698-01 |
Ἀρεοπαγίτης | areopagites | N NOM M SG |
Areopagite | Areopagus council member | Areopagite | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G698-01 |
Acts 17:34 | Ἀρεοπαγίτης | areopagites | N NOM M SG |
Areopagite | Areopagus council member | Areopagite |