Greek word · G3118

μακροχρόνιος

makrochronios

long-lived

“Long-timed”: lasting a long time, long-lived. A rare word, used mainly in the Greek Old Testament for the Hebrew idiom “lengthening of days” (from ʾārak, to be long).

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 24, 2026

What it means

μακρο-χρόνιος, -ον

(μακρός, χρόνος), [in LXX. μ. γίγνεσθαι, εἶναι (יוֹם אָרַךְ), Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 4:40 5:16 17:20 * ;]

of long duration, longlived: Ephesians 6:3 (LXX).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ephesians 6:3

Range of meaning: “Long-timed”: lasting a long time, long-lived. A rare word, used mainly in the Greek Old Testament for the Hebrew idiom “lengthening of days” (from ʾārak, to be long).
Against the English: “Live long” (KJV, WEB) and “have a long life” (BSB) are accurate. What English loses is the Hebrew picture behind it, days being drawn out, and the covenant setting where long days are a sign of blessing and early death a sign of judgment.
Used elsewhere in the period: The Greek Old Testament uses it for the parents commandment (Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16), for Israel keeping God's statutes (Deut 4:40, plural), and for the king who does not set himself above his brothers (Deut 17:20). This is its only appearance in the New Testament. Sirach 3:6 offers the same idea in Jewish wisdom: “Whoever honors his father will have long life.”

Where it appears

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 6:3 μακροχρόνιος long-lived

“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

Here: Literally “long-timed.” It is the Greek Old Testament's rendering of the Hebrew idiom “that your days may be long.” It means a full lifespan, the opposite of being cut off early.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.