πατριάρχης

From the study of Acts 7:9

Range of meaning

"Father-ruler": the founding head of a family line or clan. In the Greek Old Testament it is used for heads of families and clans (1 Chr 24:31; 27:22; 2 Chr 19:8; 26:12). In the New Testament it is used for Abraham (Heb 7:4), David (Acts 2:29), and Jacob's twelve sons (Acts 7:8–9).

Against the English

Modern readers hear "the patriarchs" as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the word "patriarchy" adds social overtones that are not in view here. In this verse the word means the twelve tribal ancestors, Reuben, Simeon, Judah and the rest, as the title Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs also does.

How it drifted

Christian and Jewish usage later narrowed "the patriarchs" mostly to the three founding fathers, and modern social debate gave "patriarch/patriarchy" a new set of associations.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Old Testament: Chronicles uses it for clan heads. 4 Maccabees 7:19 and 16:25 use it for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (Second Temple period with later Christian additions) use it for Jacob's sons. Acts 2:29 calls David a patriarch.

From the study of Acts 2:29

Range of meaning

'Father-ruler': the head or founder of a family line or clan. It covers an ancestral founder, a chief of a household or tribe, and a revered forefather.

Against the English

English 'patriarch' usually brings to mind Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, a bearded elder, or 'patriarchy' as a social system. All the major English versions keep 'patriarch', which is a fair rendering. It just does not show that the title is an unusual honor for David.

How it drifted

The English word has narrowed to the three founding fathers of Genesis and has picked up associations from modern discussions of patriarchy.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word appears mainly in Jewish Greek. In the LXX it is used of heads of families and tribes (1 Chr 24:31; 27:22; 2 Chr 19:8; 23:20). In 4 Maccabees it means the forefathers (7:19; 16:25). In the NT it is used of Abraham (Heb 7:4) and the twelve sons of Jacob (Acts 7:8–9). David is called 'patriarch' only here.

From the study of Acts 7:8

Range of meaning

'Father-ruler': the head or founder of a family, clan or tribe. In the Septuagint it is used for heads of ancestral houses (1 Chronicles 24:31; 27:22; 2 Chronicles 19:8). In Jewish Greek it could mean Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (4 Maccabees 7:19; 16:25), Jacob's twelve sons (Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs), or David as the founder of the royal line (Acts 2:29).

Against the English

Modern readers usually hear 'the patriarchs' as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the related word 'patriarchy' brings a modern social debate with it. Here the term means Jacob's twelve sons.

How it drifted

Christian usage settled on 'the patriarchs' as the three founding fathers of Genesis. Twentieth-century 'patriarchy' added an unrelated political overtone.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint Chronicles; 4 Maccabees; the second-century BC Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, which is titled exactly for the sons of Jacob.