540. apatór
Strong's 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.

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

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "apatór," the concept is related to the figure of Melchizedek, whose account is found in Genesis 14:18-20. The Hebrew term for father is אָב (ab), which is Strong's Hebrew #1.

Usage: The term "apatór" is used to describe someone who is without a father. In the context of the New Testament, it is often used metaphorically to describe a person who lacks a genealogical record or whose paternal lineage is unknown or unimportant. This term is notably used in the context of Melchizedek, a figure in the Bible who is described as having no recorded father, emphasizing his unique priesthood and typological connection to Christ.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Jewish culture, genealogy and lineage were of great importance, especially in establishing one's identity, inheritance rights, and religious roles. The absence of a recorded father could imply a lack of social standing or legitimacy. However, in the case of Melchizedek, the absence of a genealogical record serves to highlight his eternal priesthood, which prefigures the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ, who is described as a priest in the order of Melchizedek.

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, , (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.

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

Forms and Transliterations
απατωρ απάτωρ ἀπάτωρ apator apatōr apátor apátōr
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
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.

















539
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