540. apatór

Lexicon

apatór: without father, fatherless

Original Word: ἀπάτωρ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: apatór
Pronunciation: ah-PAH-tor
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-at'-ore)
Definition: without father, fatherless
Meaning: without (recorded) father, of unknown father.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

without father.

From a (as a negative particle) and pater; fatherless, i.e. Of unrecorded paternity -- without father.

see GREEK a

see GREEK pater

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and patér
Definition
fatherless
NASB Translation
without father (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 540: ἀπάτωρ

ἀπάτωρ, ἀπατορος, ὁ, ἡ (πατήρ), a word which has almost the same variety of senses as ἀμήτωρ, which see; (from Sophocles down); (without father i. e.) whose father is not recorded in the genealogies: Hebrews 7:3.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-, "without") and πατήρ (patēr, "father").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀπάτωρ, the concept of being without a father or lacking a recorded genealogy can be related to the Hebrew term יָתוֹם (yathom, Strong's Hebrew 3490), which means "orphan" or "fatherless." However, it is important to note that the theological implications of ἀπάτωρ in the context of Melchizedek are unique to the New Testament Greek usage and are not directly paralleled in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: The term ἀπάτωρ is used in the New Testament to describe someone who is without a known or recorded father. It is a term that can denote a lack of paternal lineage or heritage.

Context: The Greek term ἀπάτωρ (apatōr) appears in the New Testament in the context of describing Melchizedek, a figure of significant theological importance. In Hebrews 7:3, Melchizedek is described as "without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually" (BSB). This description emphasizes the mysterious and eternal nature of Melchizedek's priesthood, which is likened to that of Jesus Christ.

The use of ἀπάτωρ in this context highlights the unique and divine appointment of Melchizedek as a priest, independent of human lineage or descent. This serves to illustrate the superiority and eternal nature of Christ's priesthood, which is not based on earthly ancestry but on divine ordination.

In a broader theological sense, the term ἀπάτωρ underscores the concept of spiritual heritage and identity that transcends physical lineage. It points to the idea that spiritual authority and identity in Christ are not bound by earthly genealogies but are rooted in a divine calling and relationship with God.

Forms and Transliterations

απατωρ απάτωρ ἀπάτωρ apator apatōr apátor apátōr

Englishman's Concordance

Hebrews 7:3 Adj-NMS
GRK: ἀπάτωρ ἀμήτωρ ἀγενεαλόγητος
NAS: Without father, without mother,
KJV: Without father, without mother,
INT: without father without mother without genealogy

Strong's Greek 540
1 Occurrence

ἀπάτωρ — 1 Occ.