Lexical Summary strateuma: Army, troops, soldiers Original Word: στρατεῦμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance army, soldier, man of war. From strateuomai; an armament, i.e. (by implication) a body of troops (more or less extensive or systematic) -- army, soldier, man of war. see GREEK strateuomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom strateuó Definition an expedition, an army, a company of soldiers NASB Translation armies (4), army (1), soldiers (1), troops (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4753: στράτευμαστράτευμα, στρατεύματος, τό (στρατεύω), from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; a. an army: Matthew 22:7; Revelation 9:16; Revelation 19:14 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 59, 4 a.), 19. b. a band of soldiers (R. V. soldiers): Acts 23:10, 27. c. body-guard, guardsmen: plural Luke 23:11 (R. V. soldiers). Strong’s Greek 4753 depicts an organized body of fighting men. Scripture employs this term literally for earthly troops and figuratively for cosmic hosts, weaving it into narratives of judgment, protection, mockery, and final victory. Each appearance underscores God’s sovereign use of military power—human or angelic—to accomplish His redemptive purposes. Old Testament Background The Septuagint often renders Hebrew צְבָא (tsaba, “host/army”) with cognate forms, framing the Lord as “LORD of hosts” and His people as “the armies of the living God.” The New Testament inherits this backdrop, so στρατεῦμα instantly carries the weight of Israel’s battles, angelic warfare, and covenant faithfulness. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 22:7 – In the parable of the wedding banquet, “The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.” The imagery prefigures divine retribution for rejecting the Son, historically mirrored in the destruction of Jerusalem. 2. Luke 23:11 – “And Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him.” A small contingent serves as an instrument of scorn against Christ, highlighting the voluntary humiliation He endured for sinners. 3. Acts 23:10 – When a violent dispute threatens Paul, “he ordered the soldiers to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks.” Acts 23:27 – The commander recounts, “when I came with the troops and rescued him.” Roman forces, though pagan, preserve the apostle’s life so he may testify in Rome, demonstrating God’s providence through secular authority. 4. Revelation 9:16 – “The number of mounted troops was two hundred million.” A staggering host executes trumpet judgments, revealing the vastness of divine wrath and the impotence of human resistance. 5. Revelation 19:14 – “The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, followed Him on white horses.” Revelation 19:19 – Earthly kings “with their armies” assemble “against the One seated on the horse and against His army.” The same word describes both camps, stressing the climactic contrast between rebellious humanity and Christ’s victorious host. Key Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty: God marshals armies for judgment (Matthew 22:7; Revelation 9:16), protection (Acts 23), and triumph (Revelation 19). No commander acts independently of His decree. Historical Context First-century readers lived under Rome’s military shadow; στρατεῦμα evoked the disciplined legions guarding pax Romana. Jesus’ parabolic warning of a king’s troops therefore sounded ominously concrete. Likewise, Luke’s record of Roman intervention in Acts 23 mirrored everyday reality. John’s visions in Revelation magnified such images beyond imperial power to cosmic scale, reassuring persecuted saints that Rome’s might was provisional and derivative. Implications for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Confidence in Providence: Believers may trust that civil authorities, however ungodly, remain ultimately at the Lord’s disposal for the advance of the gospel. Summary Strong’s 4753 threads through the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation as a living metaphor of God’s rulership. From parabolic judgment to Calvary’s mockery, from apostolic rescue to eschatological conquest, every στρατεῦμα—earthly or heavenly—moves under the King of kings, assuring the church that history’s battles culminate in His eternal reign. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 22:7 N-ANPGRK: πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεσεν NAS: and he sent his armies and destroyed KJV: his armies, and destroyed INT: having sent the armies of him he destroyed Luke 23:11 N-DNP Acts 23:10 N-ANS Acts 23:27 N-DNS Revelation 9:16 N-GNP Revelation 19:14 N-NNP Revelation 19:19 N-ANP Revelation 19:19 N-GNS Strong's Greek 4753 |
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