282. amétór
Lexical Summary
amétór: Without mother, motherless

Original Word: ἀμήτωρ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: amétór
Pronunciation: ah-MAY-tor
Phonetic Spelling: (am-ay'-tore)
KJV: without mother
NASB: without mother
Word Origin: [from G1 (α - Alpha) (as a negative particle) and G3384 (μήτηρ - mother)]

1. motherless, i.e. of unknown maternity

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
without mother.

From a (as a negative particle) and meter; motherless, i.e. Of unknown maternity -- without mother.

see GREEK a

see GREEK meter

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and métér
Definition
without a mother
NASB Translation
without mother (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 282: ἀμήτωρ

ἀμήτωρ, (ορος, , (μήτηρ), without a mother, motherless; in Greek writings:

1. born without a mother, e. g. Minerva, Euripides, Phoen. 666f, others; God himself, inasmuch as he is without origin, Lactantius, instt. 4, 13, 2.

2. bereft of a mother, Herodotus 4, 154, elsewhere.

3. born of a base or unknown mother, Euripides, Ion 109 cf. 837.

4. unmotherly, unworthy of the name of mother: μήτηρ ἀμήτωρ, Sophocles El. 1154. Cf. Bleek on Heb. vol. ii., 2, p. 305ff

5. in a significance unused by the Greeks, 'whose mother is not recorded in the genealogy': of Melchizedek, Hebrews 7:3; (of Sarah by Philo in de temul. § 14, and rer. div. haer. § 12; (cf. Bleek as above)); cf. the classic ἀνολυμπιάς.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 282 appears once, in Hebrews 7:3, describing Melchizedek as “without father, without mother, without genealogy,” thereby underscoring his unique priesthood that prefigures Christ’s eternal priesthood.

Canonical Context: Hebrews 7:3

“Without father, without mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.” (Hebrews 7:3)

Here the phrase “without mother” stands beside “without father” and “without genealogy” to stress that Melchizedek’s priestly authority is not rooted in ancestral descent. The author of Hebrews uses this fact to establish a typological parallel: just as Melchizedek’s priesthood is detached from lineage, so the Son’s priesthood is grounded in His eternal nature rather than in earthly pedigree.

Old Testament Background

Genesis 14:18–20 introduces Melchizedek abruptly—king of Salem and priest of God Most High—without reference to parentage or tribal affiliation. In the Old Testament, priestly legitimacy typically depends on lineage (Exodus 28:1; Ezra 2:61–62). By omitting any maternal or paternal line for Melchizedek, Scripture leaves a purposeful gap that the writer of Hebrews later exploits to highlight a priesthood superior to Aaron’s. Psalm 110:4 anchors the expectation: “The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.’”

Christological Significance

1. Eternality: The absence of maternal origin underscores an existence not confined by normal human succession, foreshadowing the eternal Son who has “neither beginning of days nor end of life.”
2. Independence from Levitical descent: Jesus, from the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14), fulfills Psalm 110:4 apart from Levitical ancestry. The descriptor “without mother” in Melchizedek’s portrayal anticipates this break from genealogical necessity.
3. Superiority of Christ’s priesthood: Hebrews 7 contrasts impermanent Levitical priests—“prevented by death from continuing in office” (Hebrews 7:23)—with the Son, who “lives forever” (Hebrews 7:24). The motherless depiction contributes to this argument by emphasizing a qualitatively different order.

Theological Implications

• Sufficiency of Christ’s mediation: Because His priesthood is rooted in eternal sonship rather than lineage, believers have permanent access to God (Hebrews 7:25).
• Continuity of Scripture: Genesis, Psalms, and Hebrews weave a coherent narrative in which an enigmatic historical figure embodies timeless truths that culminate in Christ.
• Genealogies and grace: Whereas human genealogies often convey privilege or limitation, the gospel elevates spiritual birth over physical descent (John 1:12–13; Galatians 3:29).

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Assurance of salvation: The unchanging nature of Christ’s priesthood assures the believer of perpetual intercession.
2. Unity in the body: Since priestly standing is not inherited but bestowed in Christ, distinctions of birth, ethnicity, or social status fall away (Ephesians 2:14–18).
3. Call to priestly service: Every believer is now part of “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), reflecting Christ’s order rather than Levitical genealogy.

Historical Interpretation

Early Christian writers such as Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus, and John Chrysostom recognized Hebrews 7:3 as typological rather than literal, guarding orthodoxy from speculative myths about Melchizedek’s origin. The Reformers emphasized the sufficiency of Christ’s priesthood against medieval sacerdotalism, citing Hebrews 7 to affirm justification by faith.

Related Cross-References

Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6–10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:11–28; John 1:12–13; Galatians 3:29; 1 Peter 2:5–9; Revelation 1:5–6.

Summary

The singular New Testament use of Strong’s Greek 282 (“without mother”) functions as a deliberate literary device that magnifies the uniqueness and permanence of Christ’s priesthood. By highlighting Melchizedek’s lack of maternal lineage, Scripture proclaims a priesthood grounded not in human descent but in divine appointment—an enduring assurance for all who draw near to God through the Son.

Forms and Transliterations
αμητωρ αμήτωρ ἀμήτωρ ametor amētōr amḗtor amḗtōr
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Englishman's Concordance
Hebrews 7:3 Adj-NMS
GRK: ἀπάτωρ ἀμήτωρ ἀγενεαλόγητος μήτε
NAS: Without father, without mother, without genealogy,
KJV: Without father, without mother, without descent,
INT: without father without mother without genealogy neither

Strong's Greek 282
1 Occurrence


ἀμήτωρ — 1 Occ.

281
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