Lexical Summary patris: Homeland, native country, fatherland Original Word: πατρίς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance own country. From parasemos; a father-land, i.e. Native town; (figuratively) heavenly home -- (own) country. see GREEK parasemos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom patér Definition of one's fathers, fatherland NASB Translation country (1), country of their own (1), hometown (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3968: πατρίςπατρίς, πατρίδος, ἡ (πατήρ), one's native country; a. as in classical Greek from Homer down, one's fatherland, one's (own) country: John 4:44 (cf. γάρ, II. 1); equivalent to a fixed abode (home (R. V. a country of their own), opposed to the land where one παρεπιδημει), Hebrews 11:14. b. one's native (own) place i. e. city: Matthew 13:54, 57; Mark 6:1, 4; Luke 4:23,(24); so Philo, leg. ad Gaium § 36 (ἐστι δέ μοι Ἱεροσόλυμα πατρίς); Josephus, Antiquities 10, 7, 3; 6, 4, 6; ᾧ πατρίς ἡ Ἀκυληια ἦν, Herodian, 8, 3, 2 (1 edition, Bekker). The Greek term rendered “hometown,” “native land,” or “fatherland” conveys more than geography; it gathers ideas of family lineage, civic identity, and inherited traditions. In first-century Mediterranean culture a person’s patris was the nexus of kinship ties, local synagogue life, and social standing. It was assumed that loyalty, honor, and credibility would be greatest there—an assumption the New Testament repeatedly overturns. Occurrences in the New Testament • Matthew 13:54 – Jesus teaches in His hometown synagogue. These eight uses fall into two clusters: the Gospel narratives of Jesus’ rejection and the epistolary reflection on the pilgrim faith of the patriarchs. Jesus and His Hometown “Coming to His hometown, He taught them in their synagogue, and they were astonished” (Matthew 13:54, Berean Standard Bible). Rather than receiving Him as the promised Messiah, Nazareth’s familiarity bred contempt. His hearers reduced Him to “the carpenter’s son,” demonstrating how preconceived categories can blind hearts to divine revelation. The episode exposes the peril of evaluating spiritual authority by natural connections instead of prophetic fulfillment. The Principle of Prophetic Rejection “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor” (Mark 6:4). Jesus cites a maxim that surfaces in all four Gospels (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44). The pattern reaches back to Israel’s earlier resistance to Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, and other spokesmen of the Lord. By invoking the proverb, Jesus aligns Himself with that prophetic tradition and prepares His disciples for similar treatment (compare Acts 7:52). Faith’s True Homeland “Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own” (Hebrews 11:14). Abraham and his descendants acknowledged themselves as “strangers and foreigners on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). The same word for Jesus’ earthly hometown is here applied to the heavenly homeland prepared by God (Hebrews 11:16). Thus the term spans earthly roots and eschatological hope, illustrating that the gospel redefines belonging: believers are citizens of a higher commonwealth (Philippians 3:20). Theological Themes 1. Revelation versus familiarity – God’s greatest works can be hidden from those who think they already know. Historical and Cultural Notes In the Greco-Roman world, one’s patris provided patron-client networks, economic opportunity, and burial plots. Leaving it was costly; being expelled was disgraceful. The Nazarene’s itinerant life and the apostles’ missionary call challenged prevailing loyalties and showcased the radical nature of discipleship: allegiance to the Kingdom surpasses ancestral ties (Luke 14:26). Practical and Ministry Insights • Expect opposition where familiarity is greatest; persistence and humility are vital. Related Old Testament Patterns God summoned Abram out of Ur (Genesis 12:1) and later called Israel out of Egypt, teaching reliance on divine promise rather than ancestral security. Exilic Psalms (for example, Psalm 137) lament the loss of homeland yet nourish hope for restoration—anticipating the better homeland of Hebrews 11. Summary Strong’s Greek 3968 traces a path from Nazareth’s rejection to the patriarchs’ expectation of a superior country. It uncovers the tension between natural affiliation and spiritual destiny, warns against the complacency of familiarity, and anchors Christian identity in the promised homeland that God Himself prepares for His people. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 13:54 N-AFSGRK: εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν NAS: He came to His hometown and [began] teaching KJV: into his own country, he taught them INT: into the region his [own] he taught Matthew 13:57 N-DFS Mark 6:1 N-AFS Mark 6:4 N-DFS Luke 4:23 N-DFS Luke 4:24 N-DFS John 4:44 N-DFS Hebrews 11:14 N-AFS Strong's Greek 3968 |
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