Strong’s G3966: Compound of πατριά (family) and ἄρχω (to rule); literally “head of a family.” Refers to the founding fathers of Israel, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In biblical usage, designates revered ancestors who received God’s covenant promises and led God’s people.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πατριάρχης represents foundational spiritual leadership in biblical history. The term specifically identifies the great fathers of faith who received and transmitted God’s covenant promises. In the New Testament, it connects the old and new covenants, showing how God’s promises find fulfillment in Christ. The early church saw patriarchs as examples of faith and divine faithfulness. Today, they remind us of God’s enduring covenant faithfulness across generations.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πατριάρχης, patriarchēs, [pa-tree-AR-kays]
• Detailed pronunciation: pah-tree-AR-kays (emphasis on AR)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• πατριά (family, lineage)
• ἄρχω (to rule, begin)
• -ης (masculine agent suffix)

D – Defining Meanings

• Father and ruler of a family/tribe
• Founding father of Israel
• Recipient of divine covenant

For compound words:

• πατριά contributes the sense of family/lineage
• ἄρχω adds the concept of leadership/rule
• Combined meaning: family ruler/leader

Translation Options:

• Patriarch – Standard translation preserving technical meaning
• Founding Father – Emphasizing historical significance
• Tribal Chief – Emphasizing leadership role

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀρχηγός [archēgos, ar-kay-GOS] – founder, leader
• προπάτωρ [propatōr, pro-PA-tor] – forefather
• γενάρχης [genarchēs, gen-AR-kays] – founder of a family

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• First Declension
• Masculine Gender
• Nominative Singular: πατριάρχης
• Genitive: πατριάρχου
• Dative: πατριάρχῃ
• Accusative: πατριάρχην
• Cross-references: πατριαρχικός (patriarchal)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use for Israel’s founding fathers. Thayer’s notes its connection to covenant promises. LSJ traces its development in Jewish literature. Vine’s highlights its spiritual significance. Moulton and Milligan show its technical usage in Jewish documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch [πατριάρχης] David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.” (Acts 2:29)

Additional References:
Acts 7:8-9, Hebrews 7:4

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πατριάρχης points to God’s faithfulness in establishing and maintaining His covenant promises. Through these fathers of faith, God prepared the way for Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of all covenant promises. Their stories encourage us to trust God’s faithfulness and live by faith.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term influenced church leadership titles in early Christianity
2. Used in the Septuagint for pre-Mosaic leaders
3. Became important in Jewish-Christian dialogues about covenant continuity

Strong’s G3966: Compound of πατριά (family) and ἄρχω (to rule); literally “head of a family.” Refers to the founding fathers of Israel, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In biblical usage, designates revered ancestors who received God’s covenant promises and led God’s people.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: #Patriarchs #BiblicalHistory #Covenant #AbrahamicFaith #Leadership #JewishHistory #Ancestors #FathersOfFaith #OldTestament #Genealogy #Promise​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​