πολῑτεύω G4176
to live as a citizen, to conduct oneself; to live one's civic or public life in a certain manner
A verb meaning to live as a citizen, conduct oneself, or live according to certain standards. It carries overtones of civic duty and public behavior. Paul uses it for his own conduct: 'I have lived before God in all good conscience' (Acts 23:1)—his entire civic and religious life has been lived faithfully. He exhorts the Philippians to 'live as citizens worthy of the gospel' (Phil 1:27)—their public conduct should match their heavenly citizenship. The verb connects daily behavior with community identity—how you live reflects whose citizen you are.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To conduct one's life as a citizen, to live according to certain standards within a community. Paul's two uses bookend his ministry—defending his lifelong faithful conduct before the Sanhedrin, and calling the Philippians to gospel-worthy living. In Acts, it's past tense: his entire life has been lived with good conscience. In Philippians, it's present imperative: conduct yourselves as citizens worthy of Christ's gospel. The civic language ('live as citizens,' 'citizenship,' French 'vivre en citoyen') frames Christian life as belonging to a new polis with new standards. 2×
AR["تَصَرَّفوا", "تَصَرَّفْتُ"]·ben["জীবনযাপন-কর", "জীবনযাপন-করিয়াছি"]·DE["wandeln", "πεπολίτευμαι"]·EN["conduct-yourselves", "have-lived-as-a-citizen"]·FR["vivre-en-citoyen", "πολιτεύεσθε"]·heb["הִתְנַהֲגוּ,", "הִתְנַהַגְתִּי"]·HI["चलो,", "जीवनबिताया"]·ID["hiduplah sebagai warga negara", "sudah-hidup"]·IT["comportarsi", "politeuesthe"]·jav["gesangipun", "sampun-gesang"]·KO["살아왔다", "행하라,"]·PT["vivei"]·RU["живите", "жил"]·ES["he-vivido-como-ciudadano", "vivid-como-ciudadanos"]·SW["ishini", "nimeishi"]·TR["yasamaya-devam-edin", "yaşadım"]·urd["چلتا-رہا-ہوں", "چلو"]
Related Senses
H3212 1. go, depart, travel (884×)H1980 1. to go, travel (Qal) (283×)G4198 1. go, proceed (physical movement) (139×)H1980 2. to walk in conduct (Qal) (132×)G0565 1. go away, depart physically (112×)H3212 2. walk in, follow a way (79×)G5217 1. go, proceed (78×)H1980 3. to walk about, traverse (Hitpael) (63×)H5162 1. comfort, console (Piel) (51×)G4043 1. conduct oneself, live (48×)G4043 2. walk physically (47×)H5162 2. relent, repent, change mind (Nifal) (35×)G3340 1. repent, change one's mind (34×)H1980 4. to walk habitually (Piel) (30×)H4546 1. highway, raised road (25×)H5637 1. be stubborn, rebellious (17×)G0391 1. conduct, way of life, behavior (13×)H3212 4. lead, bring, cause to go (13×)G1485 1. custom, habit, established practice (12×)H5162 3. be comforted, receive comfort (Nifal) (10×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πολῑτεύω, future -σωRefs 5th c.BC+:—to be a citizen or freeman, live in a free state, Refs 5th c.BC+; π. παρά τισι Refs 5th c.BC+; πεπολιτευκὼρ πὰρ ἁμέ, ={μετοικῶν}, Refs 3rd c.BC+; κατὰ νόμους π., opposed to monarchy, Refs 2nd c.BC+middle, see below __2 have a certain form of government, administer the state, κατ᾽ ὀλιγαρχίαν π. Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, of the state, to be governed, τὰς εὖ…