עָתִיק
𐤏𐤕𐤉𐤒
ʻâthîyq
H6266 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primarily means 'ancient,' 'antiquated,' or 'venerable,' often carrying the connotation of something that possesses dignity or honor due to its antiquity or endurance. In specific contexts, it can signify someone or something old or aged, or refer to a quality of majesty or gravitas attributed to age or longevity. The term can also, less commonly, denote 'enduring' or 'lasting' when referring to time-honored persons or things.
Semantic Range
ancient, venerable, aged, long-established, dignified due to antiquity, time-honored, enduring, splendid (by virtue of age)
Root / Etymology
From the root עתק (ʻ-t-q), which primarily means 'to move ahead,' 'to advance,' or 'to be long/lasting.' The form עָתִיק is an adjectival derivative, signifying that which has been long established, advanced in years, or ancient by virtue of longstanding existence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עָתִיק occurs rarely in biblical Hebrew. In its primary biblical attestation (e.g., Daniel 7:9, 13, 22 as עַתִּיק יוֹמִין), the phrase 'Ancient of Days' designates one with great antiquity, denoting both honor and eternality. While often rendered as 'ancient,' some English translations (especially in liturgical or doctrinal contexts) have translated it as 'the Ancient One' or even 'the Ancient of Days.' In these passages, the word combines both the chronological sense of age and the connotation of venerable dignity. The root עתק elsewhere yields verbs meaning 'to move forward' (metaphorically, to endure or last). The nuance of durability is a secondary, contextual meaning, not inherent in every use of עָתִיק. It should be distinguished from other Hebrew terms for 'old' (e.g., זָקֵן 'old, elder' referring to age or status; יָשָׁן 'old, worn' often referring to objects). עָתִיק emphasizes dignity or honor due to long duration rather than mere advanced age or obsolescence. Its limited appearances in the Hebrew Bible restrict its semantic range to contexts of reverence and longstanding existence. In post-biblical (rabbinic) Hebrew and Jewish Aramaic, the root expands in usage, but biblical occurrences remain rare and concentrated in exalted contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָתַק; properly, antique, i.e. venerable or splendid; durable.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עתק (ʿ-t-q) — advance, move forward, endure, be long-lasting
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6267 | עַתִּיק | ancient ones of |
| H6268 | עַתִּיק | venerable |
| H6275 | עָתַק | she moved away |
| H6276 | עָתֵק | long-established |
| H6277 | עָתָק | insolent |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6266-01 |
עָתִֽיק | atiq | HAamsa |
ancient | venerable ancient one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6266-01 |
Isaiah 23:18 | עָתִֽיק | atiq | HAamsa |
ancient | venerable ancient one |