4804. suzététés

Lexicon

suzététés: Debater, Disputer

Original Word: συζητητής
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: suzététés
Pronunciation: soo-zay-tay-TACE
Phonetic Spelling: (sood-zay-tay-tace')
Definition: Debater, Disputer
Meaning: a disputer, as the Greek sophists.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

disputer.

From suzeteo; a disputant, i.e. Sophist -- disputer.

see GREEK suzeteo

HELPS Word-studies

4804 syzētētḗs (from 4862 /sýn, "identified with, together" and 2212 /zētéō, "seek") – properly, "a joint-seeker," referring to a debater who delves into philosophical and religious matters, i.e. fiercely dialogues with others.

4804 /syzētētḗs ("ostentatious debater") is only used in 1 Cor 1:20 of someone who "sounds off" to look important ("impressive") – especially on moot subjects and without objective basis.

[In biblical times, the Jews had "rabbinical houses" (academic centers) devoted to "religious disputation."]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from suzéteó
Definition
a disputer
NASB Translation
debater (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4804: συζητητής

συζητητής (L T Tr WH συνζητητης (cf. σύν, II. at the end)), συζητητου, ὁ (συζητέω), a disputer, i. e. a learned disputant, sophist: 1 Corinthians 1:20. (Ignatius ad Eph. 18 [ET] (quotation).)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb συζητέω (syzēteō), meaning "to discuss" or "to dispute."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for συζητητής, the concept of a "disputer" or "debater" can be related to Hebrew terms that describe wise men or counselors, such as חָכָם (chakam, Strong's H2450) for "wise man" or יוֹעֵץ (yo'etz, Strong's H3289) for "counselor." These terms similarly engage with themes of wisdom and understanding, albeit from a different cultural and linguistic perspective.

Usage: The term συζητητής appears in the New Testament in contexts where intellectual or philosophical debate is highlighted, particularly in relation to the wisdom of the world versus the wisdom of God.

Context: The Greek term συζητητής is found in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 1:20, where the Apostle Paul addresses the futility of worldly wisdom in understanding the divine plan of salvation. In this passage, Paul challenges the value of human wisdom and intellectual debate in comprehending the mysteries of God, contrasting it with the wisdom revealed through the message of the cross. The verse reads: "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20, BSB).

In this context, συζητητής refers to those who engage in philosophical or rhetorical debate, often seen as representatives of human wisdom and intellectualism. Paul’s rhetorical questions emphasize the limitations of human reasoning when it comes to divine truths, suggesting that such disputers are ultimately unable to grasp the profound wisdom of God, which is revealed through faith rather than intellectual prowess.

The use of συζητητής in this passage serves to underscore the theme of the superiority of divine wisdom over human understanding, a recurring motif in Pauline theology. It reflects the early Christian critique of Greco-Roman philosophical traditions, which were prevalent in Corinth and other parts of the ancient world.

Forms and Transliterations

συζητητής συζητητὴς συνζητητης συνζητητὴς suzetetes suzētētēs syzetetes syzetetḕs syzētētēs syzētētḕs

Englishman's Concordance

1 Corinthians 1:20 N-NMS
GRK: γραμματεύς ποῦ συζητητὴς τοῦ αἰῶνος
NAS: Where is the debater of this
KJV: where [is] the disputer of this
INT: scribe where [the] debater the age

Strong's Greek 4804
1 Occurrence

συζητητὴς — 1 Occ.