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ἀρχή

archḗ

G746 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ἀρχ- to begin, to rule, to be first, to exercise authority

Definition

Primary lexical meaning: origin, beginning, or starting point of something. Semantic range includes: (1) point in time at which something begins ('beginning'), (2) foundational cause or source, (3) position of leadership, rule, or authority ('rulership, dominion'), (4) person or entity holding first place (leader, ruler, authority), (5) office or sphere of authority, (6) occasionally, a principle or elemental force (in philosophical contexts). The word ranges from abstract sense of origination to concrete senses of rule and authority, depending on context.

Semantic Range

beginning, origin, starting point, first principle, ruler, magistracy, rule, authority, domain, power, principality, sphere of influence

Root / Etymology

From the root ἀρχ- (arch-), related to the verb ἄρχομαι ('to begin') and the verb ἄρχω ('to rule, to be first'); the noun ἀρχή is thus built from this stem and maintains both temporal and authoritative nuances.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἀρχή regularly signified both 'beginning' (the starting point in time or sequence, e.g., Herodotus, Plato) and 'rule, authority' (such as a magistracy or office). In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew רֵאשִׁית (rēʾšît, 'beginning' or 'first fruit') and רֹאשׁ (rosh, 'head, chief'). In the New Testament, 'beginning' refers to the start of an event or time ('in the beginning'), but ἀρχή also designates supernatural powers or 'principalities' (e.g., Ephesians 6:12) in the sense of spiritual rulers or domains of authority—demonstrating a shift toward abstract ‘forces’ or ‘spheres of rule’ in later Hellenistic and Jewish thought. The English term 'principality' translates some of these nuances but may obscure the broader sense of 'origin.' The meaning depends heavily on context—chronological, spatial, hierarchical, or metaphysical; both temporal ('beginning') and official/functional ('authority, ruler'). Notably, ἀρχή contrasts with τέλος ('end') and is distinguished from νόμος ('law') and δύναμις ('power'), being more about foundational primacy or rule than legality or sheer force. In philosophical and cosmological writings (e.g., Aristotle, Stoicism), denotes a 'first principle' or 'elemental reality.' The breadth of ἀρχή in Koine Greek thus encompasses and overlaps the categories of beginning, authority, and first cause.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄρχομαι; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):--beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.

Root Family

ἀρχή (archē) — beginning, origin, rule, authority, first place

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G746-06 ἀρχῆς arches N GEN F SG beginning of beginning 26
G746-04 ἀρχὴ arche N NOM F SG beginning origin 12
G746-05 ἀρχὴν archen N ACC F SG beginning origin 7
G746-02 ἀρχαῖς archais N DAT F PL corners to the ruling authorities 4
G746-03 ἀρχὰς archas N ACC F PL rulers ruling authorities 4
G746-01 ἀρχαὶ archai N NOM F PL principalities ruling authorities 2

Occurrences in Scripture

55 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G746-06 Matthew 19:4 ἀρχῆς arches N GEN F SG of beginning
G746-06 Matthew 19:8 ἀρχῆς arches N GEN F SG of beginning
G746-04 Matthew 24:8 ἀρχὴ arche N NOM F SG origin
G746-06 Matthew 24:21 ἀρχῆς arches N GEN F SG of beginning
G746-04 Mark 1:1 ἀρχὴ arche N NOM F SG The beginning origin
G746-06 Mark 10:6 ἀρχῆς arches N GEN F SG beginning of beginning
G746-04 Mark 13:8 ἀρχὴ arche N NOM F SG beginning origin
G746-06 Mark 13:19 ἀρχῆς arches N GEN F SG beginning of beginning
G746-06 Luke 1:2 ἀρχῆς arches N GEN F SG beginning of beginning
G746-03 Luke 12:11 ἀρχὰς archas N ACC F PL rulers ruling authorities
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