πατρῷος
patrōios
G3971 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Belonging to, inherited from, or pertaining to one's father or ancestors; ancestral or hereditary. Used to describe possessions, customs, traditions, or rights passed down through the paternal lineage or ancestry. May also denote what is characteristic of one's familial forebears, especially in contrast with what is acquired or adopted from outside sources.
Semantic Range
ancestral, hereditary, ancestral custom, belonging to one's forefathers, inherited from ancestors, of paternal lineage
Root / Etymology
Adjective formation from πατήρ ('father'), with the adjectival suffix -ῷος, denoting relation or belonging to. The adjective therefore conveys 'of the father', 'of the forefathers', or 'ancestral'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
πατρῷος is attested in classical Greek (e.g. Herodotus, Plato) primarily to reference inherited property, traditions, customs, or religious practices passed from fathers or ancestors. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it retains this sense of ancestral or hereditary origin—usually relating to heritage, customs, lands, or rights. Its application in NT and Second Temple texts generally points to what is foundationally inherited from prior generations rather than merely possessed by any individual. In English translations, 'of (the) fathers,' 'ancestral,' or 'hereditary' are used, but 'paternal' (suggesting immediate father) is less precise than 'ancestral.' Use reflects broader Greek distinctions between πατρῷος (of the paternal line/ancestors generally) and terms like μητρῷος (maternal), or ἐπιχώριος (native, local), which focus on other relational or geographic categories.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πατήρ; paternal, i.e. hereditary:--of fathers.
Root Family
πατρῷος (patrōios) — father, ancestor, paternal, ancestral, hereditary
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3971-03 |
πατρῴου | patroou | ADJ.A GEN M SG |
ancestral | of ancestral lineage | 1 |
G3971-01 |
πατρῴῳ | patroo | ADJ.A DAT M SG |
of the fathers | to the ancestral | 1 |
G3971-02 |
πατρῴοις | patroois | ADJ.R DAT N PL |
of our fathers | to ancestral things | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3971-03 |
Acts 22:3 | πατρῴου | patroou | ADJ.A GEN M SG |
ancestral | of ancestral lineage |
G3971-01 |
Acts 24:14 | πατρῴῳ | patroo | ADJ.A DAT M SG |
of the fathers | to the ancestral |
G3971-02 |
Acts 28:17 | πατρῴοις | patroois | ADJ.R DAT N PL |
of our fathers | to ancestral things |