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πατριάρχης

patriárchēs

G3966 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A founding ancestor or chief forebear of a family line, especially one from whom a clan, tribe, or nation traces descent; in the context of ancient societies, denotes a male figure recognized as the head or originator of a familial, tribal, or national group. In Hellenistic and later Jewish contexts, specifically refers to revered early ancestors of the Israelite people (such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Jacob). May also denote later prominent ancestral figures in specific genealogies or histories.

Semantic Range

ancestral chieftain, forefather, principal ancestor, clan leader, founding ancestor, head of a tribe

Root / Etymology

From πατριά (pátria, 'family, clan, lineage') and the verb ἄρχω (árchō, 'to lead, to rule'), forming a compound meaning 'family leader' or 'clan chief.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested first in Hellenistic Jewish literature with significant use in the Septuagint and later in the New Testament. The term πατριάρχης does not appear in classical Greek literature with this specific Israelite-referent sense, but its component parts reflect broader Greek concepts of clan-based leadership. In the LXX and Second Temple literature, it becomes a technical term for the ancestral figures of Israel—primarily Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and sometimes includes the twelve sons of Jacob. In Acts 2:29 and 7:8-9, the New Testament uses refer specifically to these Israelite forebears. Traditional English 'patriarch' reflects the semantic range but can emphasize formal ecclesiastical office in later church history, which is not present in the Hellenistic-Jewish or New Testament usage. The term marks distinction from other ancestral or tribal leaders, such as βασιλεύς (king) or ἀρχηγός (founder, leader), focusing on hereditary origin rather than political authority. In wider ancient Mediterranean societies, similar roles existed, but the Greek term πατριάρχης developed a specific Jewish/Israelite association in Koine contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πατριά and ἄρχω; a progenitor ("patriarch"):--patriarch.

Root Family

πατριάρχης (patriarchēs) — family, clan, rule, lead

Root πατρι-ἀρχ- family, clan, rule, lead

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3966-02 πατριάρχας patriarchas N ACC M PL patriarchs founding clan chiefs patriarchs 1
G3966-01 πατριάρχαι patriarchai N NOM M PL patriarchs founding clan chiefs founding clan chiefs 1
G3966-04 πατριάρχου patriarchou N GEN M SG patriarch of a clan-chief patriarch 1
G3966-03 πατριάρχης patriarches N NOM M SG patriarch founding clan leader founding clan leader 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3966-04 Acts 2:29 πατριάρχου patriarchou N GEN M SG patriarch of a clan-chief patriarch
G3966-02 Acts 7:8 πατριάρχας patriarchas N ACC M PL patriarchs founding clan chiefs patriarchs
G3966-01 Acts 7:9 πατριάρχαι patriarchai N NOM M PL patriarchs founding clan chiefs founding clan chiefs
G3966-03 Hebrews 7:4 πατριάρχης patriarches N NOM M SG patriarch founding clan leader founding clan leader
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