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Brief Overview of ἄλφα (Strong’s G1: Alpha)
ἄλφα
Pronounced: ahl-fah
Strong’s G1: ἄλφα – The first letter of the Greek alphabet, used symbolically in Revelation to represent God as the beginning of all things. Derived from Phoenician aleph, it carries profound theological significance in expressing divine eternality and primacy in early Christian thought.
Whether you’re looking for a brief overview or want to learn the ancient language, this study uses the U.N.D.E.R.S.T.A.N.D Framework for both goals.
U – Unveiling this Word:
ἄλφα represents more than just a letter in New Testament usage; it embodies a profound theological concept of God’s nature as the beginning of all things. When used in conjunction with omega in Revelation, it forms a merism expressing totality and completeness. In early church theology, this symbolism became central to understanding God’s eternal nature and sovereignty over creation. Today, this concept continues to influence Christian theology, art, and liturgy, representing God’s all-encompassing presence and authority.
N – Necessary Information:
- Greek Word: ἄλφα, alpha, /al’-fah/
- Detailed Pronunciation: al (as in ‘pal’) – fah (as in ‘far’)
- Part of Speech: Noun (Indeclinable)
- Etymology: Derived from Phoenician aleph (𐤀). Related to Hebrew aleph (א). Represents both the letter and the concept of beginning or first
The F.O.G Word Choice: Alpha and Aleph. (?)
D – Defining Meanings:
- Primary meaning: First letter of the Greek alphabet
- Secondary meaning: Symbol of beginning or origination
- Theological meaning: Representative of God as the beginning and end of all things
Translation options:
- “Alpha” – preserves the Greek letter name
- “Beginning” – captures the theological significance
- “First” – reflects its position and symbolic meaning
E – Exploring Similar Words:
- ἀρχή (archē) – beginning, with emphasis on authority and primacy
- πρῶτος (prōtos) – first, emphasizing sequence or rank
- ἀρχηγός (archēgos) – author, pioneer, emphasizing leadership
R – Reviewing Morphology:
Noun Features:
- Indeclinable
- No case changes
- No number changes
- Neuter gender
The word remains ἄλφα in all contexts, being indeclinable.
Related words:
- ἀλφαβητικός (alphabētikos) – alphabetical
- πρωτότυπος (prōtotypos) – prototype, first form
Is this all Greek to you? Click here for a beginners guide to reading Biblical Greek.
S – Studying Lexicon Insights:
BDAG emphasizes ἄλφα’s theological significance in Revelation. Thayer’s connects it to Hebrew concepts of God’s primacy. LSJ documents its use in classical Greek mathematics and philosophy. Vine’s highlights its symbolic importance in early Christian literature. Strong’s notes its position as first in the Greek alphabet. LEH and Moulton-Milligan discuss its usage in various contexts beyond its literal meaning as a letter.
This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.
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First appearance: Revelation 1:8
“‘I am the Alpha [ἄλφα] and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'”
Additional references:
Revelation 21:6
Revelation 22:13
A– Analyzing Classical Usage:
| Author/Work | Translation |
|---|---|
| Herodotus: Histories | “The first [ἄλφα] among the letters of the Greeks” |
| Plato: Cratylus | “Alpha [ἄλφα] signifies the beginning of wisdom” |
| Aristotle: Metaphysics | “As alpha [ἄλφα] is to beta, so is the beginning to what follows” |
N – Noteworthy Summary:
ἄλφα serves both as the first letter of the Greek alphabet and a powerful theological symbol representing God’s primacy and eternality. Its usage in Revelation creates a comprehensive statement about divine nature when paired with omega, expressing God’s sovereignty over all creation from beginning to end.
D – Did You Know?
- The shape of alpha evolved from the Phoenician symbol of an ox head
- Early Christian art often featured the alpha and omega symbols together
- The term “alphabet” derives from the first two Greek letters, alpha and beta
Strong’s G1: ἄλφα – The first letter of the Greek alphabet, used symbolically in Revelation to represent God as the beginning of all things. Derived from Phoenician aleph, it carries profound theological significance in expressing divine eternality and primacy in early Christian thought.
Part of Speech: Noun (Indeclinable)
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations independently. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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Biblical Themes: Alpha, Biblical-Symbolism, DivineName, First-And-Last, Greek-Alphabet, Greek-Letters, New-Testament-Words, Revelation, Strongs-G1, Theology