πατρικός
patrikós
G3967 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Pertaining to or belonging to a father or the fathers; ancestral, inherited from one's forefathers. Used of something transmitted or associated with one's paternal lineage, especially property, traditions, rights, or offices. Can refer more broadly to anything coming from, characteristic of, or connected to one's forebears in the male line.
Semantic Range
paternal, of one's father or fathers, ancestral, hereditary, belonging to one's ancestry, traditional, inherited from forebears
Root / Etymology
From the Greek πατήρ ('father') with the adjectival suffix -ικός, indicating 'pertaining to.' Literally, 'pertaining to a father,' with extension to 'pertaining to one's forefathers/ancestors.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
πατρικός is a relatively rare adjective, attested in post-classical Greek to describe property, customs, or offices inherited or derived from male ancestors. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it is used to describe things belonging to, or received from, one's forebears—especially in contrast to newly acquired or 'foreign' things. This word does not strictly refer to immediate descent (one's father), but instead often points to generational or familial inheritance. The English translation 'paternal' may obscure the sense of 'ancestral' or 'inherited from the fathers' present in many ancient contexts. In the LXX, 'πατρικά' may refer to family estates or ancestral property (cf. Num 36:7), as well as to ways or customs received from previous generations. The term is more common in later Greek for describing 'patrician' or noble descent, but in biblical and early Hellenistic usage, it maintains a focus on paternal lineage or inheritance. Distinct from μητρικός ('maternal') and other terms denoting maternal descent or inheritance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πατήρ; paternal, i.e. ancestral:--of fathers.
Root Family
πατρικός (patrikos) — of a father, paternal, ancestral, hereditary
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3967-01 |
πατρικῶν | patrikon | ADJ.S GEN F PL |
ancestral | of ancestral (feminine plural) | of ancestral | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3967-01 |
Galatians 1:14 | πατρικῶν | patrikon | ADJ.S GEN F PL |
ancestral | of ancestral (feminine plural) | of ancestral |