"pr. the first act of a sacrifice; hence, the firstfruits, first portion, firstling, Rom. 8:23"
Definition and meaning
pr. the first act of a sacrifice; hence, the firstfruits, first portion, firstling, Rom. 8:23
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀπαρχή
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of aparche (G536) across the King James Bible.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
I beseech you, brethren,(ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
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Common questions
Strong's G536 (aparche) is a Greek word that means: pr. the first act of a sacrifice; hence, the firstfruits, first portion, firstling, Rom. 8:23 It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word aparche (G536) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G536 is aparche, a Greek word defined as: pr. the first act of a sacrifice; hence, the firstfruits, first portion, firstling, Rom. 8:23. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
aparche is a Greek word found in the New Testament.