Strong's Lexicon
G746 — ἀρχή
Greek entry for Bible study and original-language reference.
Definition / Gloss
| Strong's Number: | G746 |
|---|---|
| Word: | ἀρχή |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Etymology: | from G756 |
| Language: | Greek |
| Occurrences: | 55 |
| Transliteration: | arche |
| Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation: | ar-khay' |
| Meaning: | 1. (properly abstract) a commencement 2. (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank) |
| KJV Renderings: | beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule |
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Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀρχή, ἀρχῆς, ἡ (from Homer down), in the Sept. mostly equivalent to øÉàùÑ, øÅàÉùÄÑéú, úÀÌçÄìÈÌä;
1. beginning, origin;
a. used absolutely, of the beginning of all things: ἐν ἀρχή, Joh 1:1 f (Gen 1:1); ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, Mat 19:4 (with which cf. Xenophon, mem. 1, 4, 5 ὁ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ποιῶν ἀνθρώπους), Mat 19:8; Joh 8:44; 1Jn 1:1; 1Jn 2:13; 1Jn 3:8; more fully ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως or κόσμου, Mat 24:21; Mar 10:6; Mar 13:19; 2Th 2:13 (where L (Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading) ἀπαρχήν, which see); 2Pe 3:4; κατ’ ἀρχάς, Heb 1:10 (Psalm 101:26 ()).
b. in a relative sense, of the beginning of the thing spoken of: ἐξ ἀρχῆς, from the time when Jesus gathered disciples, Joh 6:64; Joh 16:4; ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, Joh 15:27 (since I appeared in public); as soon as instruction was imparted, 1Jn 2:1-29:(),; ; 2Jn 1:5 f; more fully ἐν ἀρχή τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, Php 4:15 (Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 47, 2 [ET] (see note in Gebh. and Harn. at the passage and cf.) Polycarp, ad Philipp. 11, 3 [ET]); from the beginning of the gospel history, Luk 1:2; from the commencement of life, Act 26:4; ἐν ἀρχή, in the beginning, when the church was founded, Act 11:15. The accusative ἀρχήν (cf. Winers Grammar, 124 (118); Lightfoot on Col 1:18) and τήν ἀρχήν in the Greek writings (cf. Lennep ad Phalarid., pp. 82ff and, pp. 94ff, Lipsius edition; Brückner in DeWette’s Handbook on John, p. 151) is often used adverbially, equivalent to ὅλως altogether (properly, an accusative of ’direction toward’:usqueadinitium (cf. Winers Grammar, 230 (216); Buttmann, 153 (134))), commonly followed by a negative, but not always (cf. e. g. Dio Cassius fragment 101 (93 Dindorf); 45:34 (Dindorf vol. ii., p. 194); 59:20; 62:4; see, further, Lycurgus, § 125, Mätzner edition); hence, that extremely difficult passage, Joh 8:25 τήν ... ὑμῖν, must in my opinion be interpreted as follows: I am altogether or wholly (i. e. in all respects, precisely) that which I even speak to you (I not only am, but also declare to you what I am; therefore you have no need to question me) (cf. Winers Grammar, 464 (432); Buttmann, 253 (218)). ἀρχήν λαμβάνειν, to take beginning, to begin, Heb 2:3. with the addition of the genitive of the thing spoken of: ὠδίνων, Mat 24:8; Mar 13:8() ((here R G plural); τῶν σημείων, Joh 2:11); ἡμερῶν, Heb 7:3; τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, that from which the gospel history took its beginning, Mar 1:1; τῆς ὑποστάσεως, the confidence with which we have made a beginning, opposed to μέχρι τέλους, Heb 3:14. τά στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς, Heb 5:12 (τῆς ἀρχῆς is added for greater explicitness, as in Latinrudimentaprima, Livy 1, 3; Justin., hist. 7, 5; andprimaelamenta, Horat. sat. 1, 1, 26, etc.); ὁ τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγος equivalent to ὁ τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγος ὁ τῆς ἀρχῆς, i. e. the instruction concerning Christ such as it was at the very outset (cf. Winers Grammar, 188 (177); Buttmann, 155 (136)), Heb 6:1.
2. the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader: Col 1:18; Rev 1:8 Rec.; ; (Deu 21:17; Job 40:14(19), etc.).
3. that by which anything begins to be, the origin, active cause (a sense in which the philosopher Anaximander, 8th century B.C., is said to have been the first to use the word; cf. Simplicius, on Aristotle, phys. f. 9, p. 326, Brandis edition and 32, p. 334, Brandis edition (cf. Teichmüller, Stud. zur Gesch. d. Begriffe, pp. 48ff 560ff)): ἡ ἀρχή τῆς κτίσεως, of Christ as the divine λόγος, Rev 3:14 (cf. Düsterdieck at the passage; Clement of Alexandria, protrept. 1, p. 6, Potter edition (p. 30 edition Sylb.) ὁ λόγος ἀρχή θεία τῶν πάντων; in Ev. Nicod. c. 23 (p. 308, Tischendorf edition, p. 736, Thilo edition) the devil is called ἡ ἀρχή τοῦ θανάτου καί ῤίζα τῆς ἁμαρτίας).
4. the extremity of a thing: of the corners of a sail, Act 10:11; Act 11:5; (Herodotus 4, 60; Diodorus 1, 35; others.).
5. the first place, principality, rule, magistracy (cf. English ’authorities’) (ἄρχω τίνος): Luk 12:11; Luk 20:20; Tit 3:1; office given in charge (Gen 40:13; Gen 40:21; 2Ma 4:10, etc.), Jud 1:6. Hence, the term is transferred by Paul to angels and demons holding dominions entrusted to them in the order of things (see ἄγγελος, 2 (cf. Lightfoot on Col 1:16; Meyer on Eph 1:21)): Rom 8:38; 1Co 15:24; Eph 1:21; Eph 3:10; Eph 6:12; Col 1:16; Col 2:10; Col 2:15. See ἐξουσία, 4{c}. ββ.
Other Resources
Englishman's Greek Concordance
ἀρχή (beginning)
Matthew 19:4
- KJV: And he answered and said unto them Have ye not read that he which made at the beginning made them male and female
- GK: ο δε αποκριθείς είπεν αυτοίς ουκ ανέγνωτε ότι ο ποιήσας απ΄ αρχής άρσεν και θήλυ εποίησεν αυτούς
Matthew 19:8
- KJV: He saith unto them Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives but from the beginning it was not so
- GK: λέγει αυτοίς ότι Μωσής προς την σκληροκαρδίαν υμών επέτρεψεν υμίν απολύσαι τας γυναίκας υμών απ΄ αρχής δε ου γέγονεν ούτως
Matthew 24:8
- KJV: All these the beginning of sorrows
- GK: πάντα δε ταύτα αρχή ωδίνων
Matthew 24:21
- KJV: For then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time no nor ever shall be
- GK: έσται γαρ τότε θλίψις μεγάλη οία ου γέγονεν απ΄ αρχής κόσμου έως του νυν ουδ΄ ου γένηται
Mark 1:1
- KJV: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God
- GK: αρχή του ευαγγελίου Ιησού Χριστού υιού του θεού
Mark 10:6
- KJV: But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female
- GK: από δε αρχής κτίσεως άρσεν και θήλυ εποίησεν αυτούς ο θεός
Mark 13:8
- KJV: For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be earthquakes in divers places and there shall be famines and troubles these the beginnings of sorrows
- GK: εγερθήσεται γαρ έθνος επί έθνος και βασιλεία επί βασιλείαν και έσονται σεισμοί κατά τόπους και έσονται λιμοί και ταραχαί αρχαί ωδίνων ταύτα
Mark 13:19
- KJV: For those days shall be affliction such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time neither shall be
- GK: έσονται γαρ αι ημέραι εκείναι θλίψις οία ου γέγονε τοιαύτη απ΄ αρχής κτίσεως ης έκτισεν ο θεος έως του νυν και ου γένηται
Luke 1:2
- KJV: Even as they delivered unto us which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word
- GK: καθώς παρέδοσαν ημίν οι απ΄ αρχής αυτόπται και υπηρέται γενόμενοι του λόγου
Luke 12:11
- KJV: And when they bring you unto the synagogues and magistrates and powers take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer or what ye shall say
- GK: όταν δε προσφέρωσιν υμάς επί τας συναγωγάς και τας αρχάς και τας εξουσίας μη μεριμνάτε πως η τι απολογήσησθε η τι είπητε
Luke 20:20
- KJV: And they watched and sent forth spies which should feign themselves just men that they might take hold of his words that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor
- GK: και παρατηρήσαντες απέστειλαν εγκαθέτους υποκρινομένους εαυτούς δικαίους είναι ίνα επιλάβωνται αυτού λόγου εις το παραδούναι αυτόν τη αρχή και τη εξουσία του ηγεμόνος
John 1:1
- KJV: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God
- GK: εν αρχή ην ο λόγος και ο λόγος ην προς τον θεόν και θεός ην ο λόγος
John 1:2
- KJV: The same was in the beginning with God
- GK: ούτος ην εν αρχή προς τον θεόν
John 2:11
- KJV: This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory and his disciples believed on him
- GK: ταύτην εποίησεν την αρχήν των σημείων ο Ιησούς εν Κανά της Γαλιλαίας και εφανέρωσε την δόξαν αυτού και επίστευσαν εις αυτόν οι μαθηταί αυτού
John 6:64
- KJV: But there are some of you that believe not For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him
- GK: αλλ΄ εισίν εξ υμών τινες οι ου πιστεύουσιν ήδει γαρ εξ αρχής ο Ιησούς τίνες εισίν οι μη πιστεύοντες και τις εστιν ο παραδώσων αυτόν
John 8:25
- KJV: Then said they unto him Who thou And Jesus saith unto them Even that I said unto you from the beginning
- GK: έλεγον ούν αυτώ συ τις ει και είπεν αυτοίς ο Ιησούς την αρχήν ο και λαλώ υμίν
John 8:44
- KJV: Ye are of father the devil and the lusts your father ye will do He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him When he speaketh a lie speaketh of his own for he is a liar and the father of it
- GK: υμείς εκ του πατρός του διαβόλου εστέ και τας επιθυμίας του πατρός υμών θέλετε ποιείν εκείνος ανθρωποκτόνος ην απ΄ αρχής και εν τη αληθεία ουχ έστηκεν ότι ουκ έστιν αλήθεια εν αυτώ όταν λαλή το ψεύδος εκ των ιδίων λαλεί ότι ψεύστης εστί και ο πατήρ αυτού
John 15:27
- KJV: And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning
- GK: και υμείς δε μαρτυρείτε ότι απ΄ αρχής μετ΄ εμού εστε
John 16:4
- KJV: But these things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them And these things I said not unto you at the beginning because I was with you
- GK: αλλά ταύτα λελάληκα υμίν ίνα όταν έλθη η ώρα μνημονεύητε αυτών ότι εγώ είπον υμίν ταύτα δε υμίν εξ αρχής ουκ είπον ότι μεθ΄ υμών ήμην
Acts 10:11
- KJV: And saw heaven opened and a certain vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth
- GK: και θεωρεί τον ουρανόν ανεωγμένον και καταβαίνον επ΄ αυτόν σκεύός τι ως οθόνην μεγάλην τέσσαρσιν αρχαίς δεδεμένον και καθιέμενον επί της γης
Acts 11:5
- KJV: I was in the city of Joppa praying and in a trance I saw a vision A certain vessel descend as it had been a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners and it came even to me
- GK: εγώ ήμην εν πόλει Ιόππη προσευχόμενος και είδον εν εκστάσει όραμα καταβαίνον σκεύός τι ως οθόνην μεγάλην τέσσαρσιν αρχαίς καθιεμένην εκ του ουρανού και ήλθεν άχρις εμού
Acts 11:15
- KJV: And as I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning
- GK: εν δε τω άρξασθαί με λαλείν επέπεσε το πνεύμα το άγιον επ΄ αυτούς ώσπερ και εφ΄ ημάς εν αρχή
Acts 26:4
- KJV: My manner of life from my youth which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem know all the Jews
- GK: την μεν ουν βίωσίν μου την εκ νεότητος την απ΄ αρχής γενομένην εν τω έθνει μου εν Ιεροσολύμοις ίσασι πάντες οι Ιουδαίοι
Romans 8:38
- KJV: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come
- GK: πέπεισμαι γαρ ότι ούτε θάνατος ούτε ζωή ούτε άγγελοι ούτε αρχαί ούτε δυνάμεις ούτε ενεστώτα ούτε μέλλοντα
1 Corinthians 15:24
- KJV: Then the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power
- GK: είτα το τέλος όταν παραδώ την βασιλείαν τω θεώ και πατρί όταν καταργήση πάσαν αρχήν και πάσαν εξουσίαν και δύναμιν
Ephesians 1:21
- KJV: Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come
- GK: υπεράνω πάσης αρχής και εξουσίας και δυνάμεως και κυριότητος και παντός ονόματος ονομαζομένου ου μόνον εν τω αιώνι τούτω αλλά και εν τω μέλλοντι
Ephesians 3:10
- KJV: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God
- GK: ίνα γνωρισθή νυν ταις αρχαίς και ταις εξουσίαις εν τοις επουρανίοις διά της εκκλησίας η πολυποίκιλος σοφία του θεού
Ephesians 6:12
- KJV: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers agains the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high
- GK: ότι ουκ έστιν ημίν η πάλη προς αίμα και σάρκα αλλά προς τας αρχάς προς τας εξουσίας προς τους κοσμοκράτορας του σκότους του αιώνος τούτου προς τα πνευματικά της πονηρίας εν τοις επουρανίοις
Philippians 4:15
- KJV: Now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving but ye only
- GK: οίδατε δε και υμείς Φιλιππήσιοι ότι εν αρχή του ευαγγελίου ότε εξήλθον από Μακεδονίας ουδεμία μοι εκκλησία εκοινώνησεν εις λόγον δόσεως και λήψεως ει υμείς μόνοι
Colossians 1:16
- KJV: For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by him and for him
- GK: ότι εν αυτώ εκτίσθη τα πάντα τα εν τοις ουρανοίς και τα επί της γης τα ορατά και τα αόρατα είτε θρόνοι είτε κυριότητες είτε αρχαί είτε εξουσίαι τα πάντα δι΄ αυτού και εις αυτόν έκτισται