Original Word: πολίτης
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: polités
Pronunciation: po-LEE-tace
Phonetic Spelling: (pol-ee'-tace)
KJV: citizen
NASB: citizens, citizen, fellow citizen
Word Origin: [from G4172 (πόλις - city)]

1. a citizen, a townsman

citizen.

From polis; a townsman -- citizen.

see GREEK polis

Word Origin
from polis
Definition
a citizen
NASB Translation
citizen (1), citizens (2), fellow citizen (1).

STRONGS NT 4177: πολίτης

πολίτης, πολιτου, ὁ (πόλις), from Homer down, a citizen; i. e.

a. the inhabitant of any city or conntry: πόλεως, Acts 21:39; τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης, Luke 15:15.

b. the associate of another in citizenship, i. e. a fellow-citizen, fellow-countryman, (Plato, Apology, p. 37 c.; others): with the genitive of a person, Luke 19:14; Hebrews 8:11 (where Rec. has τόν πλησίον) from Jeremiah 38:34 (), where it is used for רֵעַ , as in Proverbs 11:9, 12; Proverbs 24:43 ().

Overview

Strong’s Greek 4177, πολίτης (polítēs), denotes a “citizen,” one who belongs to a city, state, or realm and shares the rights, responsibilities, and identity that flow from that belonging. Although the term appears only four times in the Greek New Testament, it unlocks a rich biblical theology of earthly and heavenly citizenship that stretches from Genesis to Revelation.

New Testament Occurrences

• Luke 15:15 – The prodigal son “hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country.” The narrative contrasts the misery of being bound to a foreign citizen with the joy of being restored as a son in the father’s house.
• Luke 19:14 – In the parable of the minas, “his citizens hated him,” depicting hearts that reject rightful authority—an indictment of unbelief toward Christ’s lordship.
• Acts 21:39 – Paul claims the protective privileges of a Roman “citizen of no ordinary city.” His lawful status opens doors for gospel witness, showing how God can use temporal citizenship for eternal purposes.
• Hebrews 8:11 – Quoting Jeremiah’s new-covenant promise, the writer says that in the age to come “each one” will not need to teach “his fellow citizen” to know the LORD, for all will know Him. The verse anticipates a community where covenant membership is universal and internal, not merely civic.

Citizenship and the Kingdom of God

The Gospels and Acts set earthly citizenship against the ultimate allegiance owed to God’s kingdom. Luke 19:14 portrays rejection of a king; Luke immediately proceeds to Christ’s royal entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40), showing that refusal of divine rule arises from misplaced loyalties. Conversely, Jesus assures His disciples that their “names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20), revealing a citizenship that outshines every earthly registry.

Pauline theology expands the theme: “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Though πολίτης is not used here, the cognate πολίτευμα carries the same idea and underlines a transnational, eschatological identity purchased by Christ’s blood (Revelation 5:9-10).

Socio-Historical Background

In the Greco-Roman world, citizenship conferred legal security, property rights, political voice, and social prestige. Acts 21:39 illustrates its value; Paul’s claim spares him from scourging (Acts 22:25-29). Yet Roman citizenship was limited, costly, and often exploited. Scripture subtly contrasts this with the inclusivity of the gospel: slave or free, Jew or Greek, rich or poor—each believer receives full rights in the heavenly commonwealth (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:19).

Old Testament Antecedents

The covenant community of Israel was sometimes designated by terms akin to “citizen” (e.g., Leviticus 19:34). Foreigner integration and jubilee land laws foreshadowed a righteous polity under divine kingship. Jeremiah’s prophecy, cited in Hebrews 8:11, foresaw a climactic covenant in which every “citizen” would possess personal knowledge of the LORD, realizing the ideal that earthly theocracy only prefigured.

Doctrinal Implications

1. Regeneration grants new citizenship. Entrance into the kingdom requires birth “from above” (John 3:3).
2. Baptism signifies naturalization into the people of God (1 Corinthians 12:13).
3. The Church is an embassy on earth. Believers conduct themselves “in a manner worthy” of their heavenly homeland (Philippians 1:27), representing the King in foreign territory (2 Corinthians 5:20).
4. Final judgment includes a census. Those not found in the Lamb’s book of life are outsiders forever (Revelation 20:15).

Ministry Applications

• Evangelism: Luke 19:14 warns that many “citizens” reject the rightful King; missionary fervor seeks to reverse that rebellion.
• Discipleship: Teach believers to prioritize kingdom obligations above national or cultural identity, yet to steward earthly citizenship—voting, jury service, lawful protest—as avenues of neighbor-love and gospel witness.
• Pastoral care: Prodigals who feel estranged may remember that Christ restores them to full family status, not mere hired hands (Luke 15:22).
• Apologetics: Paul’s strategic use of Roman rights invites contemporary Christians to invoke legal freedoms for the advance of the gospel.

Eschatological Outlook

Hebrews 8:11 anticipates a consummated city where every resident perfectly knows the LORD. Revelation 21 depicts “the holy city, new Jerusalem,” descending from heaven, uniting the realms. Until that day, believers confess that they are “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13), walking by faith toward a better homeland whose builder and architect is God.

Pastoral Reflection

The sparse New Testament appearances of πολίτης belie a sweeping narrative: humanity’s tragic loss of edenic citizenship, the gracious offer of reinstatement through Christ, and the promise of an eternal polis where righteousness dwells. In light of this, the Church calls every hearer to enter the gates by faith, to live honorably among the nations, and to await the King who will soon declare, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

πολιται πολίται πολῖται πολίταις πολίτας πολιτην πολίτην πολιτης πολίτης πολιτων πολιτών πολιτῶν politai polîtai politen politēn políten polítēn polites politēs polítes polítēs politon politôn politōn politō̂nInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts