ἡλικία
hēlikía
G2244 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Refers primarily to age, especially as a period or stage of life involving full growth, maturity, or adulthood. Used also to denote physical stature or bodily size in appropriate contexts, indicating the state of being physically or developmentally mature. Extended uses may refer generically to the span or stage of life, sometimes even metaphorically to capability or ripeness for a task.
Semantic Range
age, stage of life, maturity, adulthood, stature, physical size, measure of development, metaphorical maturity or completeness
Root / Etymology
From ἡλίκος (of what age or size, how great), itself built from the demonstrative stem ἑ/ὁ + Likely the diminutive/adjectival -ικος. Thus, the term is formed to indicate age or magnitude. Some suggest possible influence from the adjective μέγας (great), but this is not etymologically decisive.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἡλικία most frequently denotes 'age' or 'time of life', especially in legal or descriptive contexts, referring to the years a person has attained. Secondarily, it can refer to a person’s physical stature, usually in contrast to children or the immature (cf. Plato, Aristotle for both senses). In the Septuagint, it often refers to 'age' or 'stature', close to Hebrew מִדָּה (midda, measure) or קוֹמָה (qomah, height). In the New Testament (e.g., Luke 2:52; 19:3; John 9:21, 23; Eph 4:13), it appears in both senses: physical stature (Luke 19:3), age in years or time of life (John 9:21), and metaphorically in Pauline usage to indicate maturity or completeness (Eph 4:13, 'measure of the stature of the fullness of the Anointed One'). Standard English translations often render as 'age' or 'stature' depending on context but sometimes flatten the semantic distinction. The word does not narrowly mean only chronological age and may carry implications of maturity, fitness, or fullness in different discourses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as ἡλίκος; maturity (in years or size):--age, stature.
Root Family
ἡλικία (hēlikia) — age, maturity, stature, fullness of growth
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2244-02 |
ἡλικίαν | elikian | N ACC F SG |
age | maturity | 4 |
G2244-01 |
ἡλικίᾳ | elikia | N DAT F SG |
stature | in maturity | 2 |
G2244-03 |
ἡλικίας | elikias | N GEN F SG |
of stature | of maturity | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2244-02 |
Matthew 6:27 | ἡλικίαν | elikian | N ACC F SG |
maturity | |
G2244-01 |
Luke 2:52 | ἡλικίᾳ | elikia | N DAT F SG |
stature | in maturity |
G2244-02 |
Luke 12:25 | ἡλικίαν | elikian | N ACC F SG |
span of life | maturity |
G2244-01 |
Luke 19:3 | ἡλικίᾳ | elikia | N DAT F SG |
stature | in maturity |
G2244-02 |
John 9:21 | ἡλικίαν | elikian | N ACC F SG |
age | maturity |
G2244-02 |
John 9:23 | ἡλικίαν | elikian | N ACC F SG |
age | maturity |
G2244-03 |
Ephesians 4:13 | ἡλικίας | elikias | N GEN F SG |
of stature | of maturity |
G2244-03 |
Hebrews 11:11 | ἡλικίας | elikias | N GEN F SG |
of maturity |