"a patriarch, head or founder of a family, Acts 2:29; 7:8, 9; Heb. 7:4*"
Definition and meaning
a patriarch, head or founder of a family, Acts 2:29; 7:8, 9; Heb. 7:4*
In the original Greek the word is written: πατριάρχης
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 patriarches (G3966) across the King James Bible.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
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Common questions
Strong's G3966 (patriarches) is a Greek word that means: a patriarch, head or founder of a family, Acts 2:29; 7:8, 9; Heb. 7:4* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word patriarches (G3966) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3966 is patriarches, a Greek word defined as: a patriarch, head or founder of a family, Acts 2:29; 7:8, 9; Heb. 7:4*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
patriarches is a Greek word found in the New Testament.