πατροπαράδοτος
patroparádotos
G3970 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Passed on from fathers or ancestors; inherited or transmitted by ancestral tradition. The term primarily describes customs, teachings, practices, or beliefs that are handed down from previous generations, especially by familial or ancestral line. In extended contexts, may refer to traditions received as authoritative because of ancestral origin.
Semantic Range
handed down from ancestors, inherited by tradition, ancestral custom, received from fathers, traditional
Root / Etymology
From πατήρ (father, ancestor) and παραδίδωμι (to hand over, deliver, transmit). The compound literally means 'handed down from the fathers/ancestors.' Derived from the preposition παρά (from, beside) and δίδωμι (to give, transmit), with the suffix -τος indicating a passive verbal adjective ('having been handed down').
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested mainly in Hellenistic and early Christian literature, πατροπαράδοτος is a rare adjective characterizing traditions, customs, or ways of life regarded as inherited from past generations. In classical Greek, ancestral customs were typically discussed with terms like πατρώιος (paternal, ancestral) or πάτριος (of one's fathers) and παράδοσις (tradition, handing down). In the Second Temple and New Testament context, πατροπαράδοτος highlights the authority attributed to inherited tradition, sometimes contrasting with novel teaching or reform. English translations often render it 'received by tradition from ancestors' or 'ancestral' but may collapse the family/historical nuance. The term can describe both religious-ritual practices and broader social or ethical customs, depending on context. It appears in Hellenistic Jewish writings to emphasize the continuity and legitimacy of tradition, and in early Christian texts (e.g., 1 Peter 1:18) often to distinguish traditions of the ancestors from the message of the gospel.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πατήρ and a derivative of παραδίδωμι (in the sense of handing over or down); traditionary:--received by tradition from fathers.
Root Family
πατροπαράδοτος (patroparadotos) — father, ancestor, hand over, transmit, handed down
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3970-01 |
πατροπαραδότου | patroparadotou | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
handed down from fathers | of ancestral transmission | handed down from ancestors | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3970-01 |
1 Peter 1:18 | πατροπαραδότου | patroparadotou | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
handed down from fathers | of ancestral transmission | handed down from ancestors |