Strong's Greek: 3242 -- (Not Used)zzz

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 3242 is absent from the Greek New Testament, yet the conceptual field to which it belongs is woven through the biblical story. The word group is tied to the idea of patterning one’s life after a model that stands over against the fallen order of the world. In Scripture the ultimate model is the Lord Himself; secondary models include faithful servants whose lives display God’s character. Because 3242 never surfaces in the inspired text, its importance is best understood by tracing three lines of evidence: (1) occurrences in the Septuagint and other early Jewish‐Greek writings, (2) cognate terms that do appear in the New Testament, and (3) the trajectory of imitation theology in the history of the Church.

Old Testament and Intertestamental Background

Greek translators of the Hebrew Bible frequently render “to walk after,” “to follow,” or “to copy” with verbs from the same lexical family as 3242. Examples include:
• Exodus 23:24—Israel is commanded not to “follow” the patterns of the Canaanites.
• Proverbs 4:14—“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.”
• Second‐Temple wisdom texts (for example, Wisdom of Solomon 2:12) warn against imitating the lawless.

In each case the covenant people are steered toward conformity with God’s revealed standards rather than the surrounding culture. The presence of this semantic field in the Greek Old Testament laid the groundwork for New Testament writers to speak of discipleship in terms of imitation.

Cognate Usage in the New Testament

Although 3242 itself is missing from the New Testament, cognate forms are common and programmatic for Christian ethics:
• “Therefore I urge you to imitate me.” (1 Corinthians 4:16)
• “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
• “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1)
• “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12)

These verses establish a chain: believers imitate faithful leaders, who in turn imitate Christ, the express image of the Father. The emphasis is never on mimicry for its own sake but on moral transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit.

Christological Focus

The incarnation gives flesh to the Old Testament call to holy imitation. Jesus is portrayed as:
• The perfect reflection of the Father’s nature (Hebrews 1:3).
• The obedient Son whose food is to do the will of Him who sent Him (John 4:34).
• The suffering Servant who “left you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

By anchoring imitation in Christ’s person and work, the New Testament avoids moralism. Believers are not merely copying ethical rules; they are participating in the life of the risen Lord through the Spirit.

Historical Theology

Early Christian writers seized on the language of imitation. Ignatius urged the Magnesians to “imitate the Lord in meekness.” The Didachē instructs disciples to imitate Christ’s generosity. During the Reformation, the principle of sola Scriptura reinforced imitation’s biblical boundaries, guarding it from speculative mysticism. Puritans such as Thomas à Kempis (whose title “The Imitation of Christ” became a classic) stressed that true imitation springs from union with Christ, not from external conformity.

Pastoral and Missional Application

1. Discipleship: Mentoring relationships should echo Paul’s pattern—“Follow me as I follow Christ.”
2. Leadership: Elders are “examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). Their credibility rests less on rhetoric than on visible holiness.
3. Evangelism: A church that embodies the gospel provides an apologetic that words alone cannot supply (John 13:35).
4. Spiritual Formation: Practicing disciplines that place believers in the stream of divine grace fosters Christlike habits, turning imitation into second nature.
5. Cultural Engagement: Refusing to imitate the world (Romans 12:2) allows believers to offer an alternative vision grounded in sacrificial love.

Related Terms to Explore

• New Testament verbs for “follow” (ἀκολουθέω)
• Nouns for “example” (ὑπόδειγμα, τύπος)
• The metaphor of “walking” (περιπατέω) in Pauline ethics

Conclusion

While Strong’s Greek 3242 never appears in the New Testament, its semantic neighbors shape some of the Bible’s most compelling exhortations. Scripture presents imitation not as mere role-playing but as Spirit-empowered conformity to Christ, lived out in community and displayed before a watching world.

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts