744. archaios

Lexicon

archaios: Ancient, old, former

Original Word: ἀρχαῖος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: archaios
Pronunciation: ar-KHAH-yos
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-khah'-yos)
Definition: Ancient, old, former
Meaning: original, primitive, ancient.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

of old, original.

From arche; original or primeval -- (them of) old (time).

see GREEK arche

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from arché
Definition
original, ancient
NASB Translation
ancient (2), ancients (2), early (1), long standing (1), old (4), old things (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 744: ἀρχαῖος

ἀρχαῖος, ἀρχαῖα, ἀρχαῖον (from ἀρχή beginning, hence) properly, that has been from the beginning, original, primeval, old, ancient, used of men, things, times, conditions: Luke 9:8, 19; Acts 15:7, 21; Acts 21:16; 2 Peter 2:5; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2; οἱ ἀρχαιοι the ancients, the early Israelites: Matthew 5:21, 27 (Rec.),33; τά ἀρχαῖα the man's previous moral condition: 2 Corinthians 5:17. (In Greek writings from Pindar and Herodotus down.) [SYNONYMS: ἀρχαῖος, παλαιός: In παλαιός the simple idea of time dominates, while ἀρχαῖος ("σημαίνει καί τό ἀρχῆς ἔχεσθαι," and so) often carries with it a suggestion of nature or original character. Cf. Schmidt, chapter 46; Trench, § lxvii.]

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from ἀρχή (archē), meaning "beginning" or "origin."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 6931: קָדְמוֹן (qadmon) • meaning "ancient" or "former."
• Strong's Hebrew 5769: עוֹלָם (olam) • often translated as "eternity," "everlasting," or "ancient."
• Strong's Hebrew 6440: פָּנִים (panim) • in some contexts, it can refer to "before" or "formerly," indicating something from the past.

These Hebrew terms share a thematic connection with ἀρχαῖος, as they all relate to concepts of time, antiquity, and the enduring nature of certain truths or entities within the biblical narrative.

Usage: The word ἀρχαῖος is used in the New Testament to describe things that are ancient or from a former time. It can refer to old customs, previous states, or things that existed from the beginning.

Context: The Greek term ἀρχαῖος appears in the New Testament to convey the concept of antiquity or something that is from a former era. It is used to describe the old nature of humanity before the transformative work of Christ. For example, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (BSB), it is written, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" Here, ἀρχαῖος is translated as "old," referring to the former way of life that is replaced by the new life in Christ.

The term also appears in Revelation 12:9 (BSB), where it is used to describe the devil as "that ancient serpent," linking back to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, thus emphasizing the longstanding nature of evil and its opposition to God's purposes.

In a broader biblical context, ἀρχαῖος can be seen as a reminder of the continuity and fulfillment of God's plan from ancient times to the present. It underscores the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant, highlighting the transformative power of Christ's redemptive work.

Forms and Transliterations

αρχαια αρχαία ἀρχαῖα αρχαίαις αρχαίαν αρχαίας αρχαιοις αρχαίοις ἀρχαίοις αρχαίον αρχαιος αρχαίος ἀρχαῖος αρχαιου αρχαίου ἀρχαίου αρχαιω αρχαίω ἀρχαίῳ αρχαιων αρχαίων ἀρχαίων archaia archaîa archaio archaiō archaíoi archaíōi archaiois archaíois archaion archaiōn archaíon archaíōn archaios archaîos archaiou archaíou

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 5:21 Adj-DMP
GRK: ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις Οὐ φονεύσεις
NAS: You have heard that the ancients were told,
KJV: it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
INT: it was said to the ancients not You will murder

Matthew 5:33 Adj-DMP
GRK: ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις
NAS: you have heard that the ancients were told,
KJV: it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt
INT: it was said to the ancients not You will swear falsely

Luke 9:8 Adj-GMP
GRK: τις τῶν ἀρχαίων ἀνέστη
NAS: of the prophets of old had risen again.
KJV: one of the old prophets
INT: one of the ancients had arisen

Luke 9:19 Adj-GMP
GRK: τις τῶν ἀρχαίων ἀνέστη
NAS: of the prophets of old has risen again.
KJV: one of the old prophets
INT: one of the ancients has arisen

Acts 15:7 Adj-GFP
GRK: ἀφ' ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων ἐν ὑμῖν
NAS: you know that in the early days
KJV: know how that a good while ago
INT: from days ancient among us

Acts 15:21 Adj-GFP
GRK: ἐκ γενεῶν ἀρχαίων κατὰ πόλιν
NAS: For Moses from ancient generations
KJV: Moses of old time hath
INT: from generations of old in every city

Acts 21:16 Adj-DMS
GRK: τινι Κυπρίῳ ἀρχαίῳ μαθητῇ
NAS: a disciple of long standing with whom
KJV: of Cyprus, an old disciple,
INT: a certain a Cypriot an old disciple

2 Corinthians 5:17 Adj-NNP
GRK: κτίσις τὰ ἀρχαῖα παρῆλθεν ἰδοὺ
NAS: creature; the old things passed away;
KJV: creature: old things are passed away;
INT: creation the old things passed away Behold

2 Peter 2:5 Adj-GMS
GRK: καὶ ἀρχαίου κόσμου οὐκ
NAS: and did not spare the ancient world,
KJV: spared not the old world, but
INT: and [the] ancient world not

Revelation 12:9 Adj-NMS
GRK: ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος ὁ καλούμενος
NAS: down, the serpent of old who is called
KJV: was cast out, that old serpent,
INT: serpent ancient who is called

Revelation 20:2 Adj-NMS
GRK: ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος ὅς ἐστιν
NAS: the serpent of old, who
KJV: the dragon, that old serpent,
INT: serpent ancient who is

Strong's Greek 744
11 Occurrences

ἀρχαῖα — 1 Occ.
ἀρχαίῳ — 1 Occ.
ἀρχαίων — 4 Occ.
ἀρχαίοις — 2 Occ.
ἀρχαῖος — 2 Occ.
ἀρχαίου — 1 Occ.