Greek · G3962 · unreviewed

πατήρ

A "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

πατήρ G3962

Pronunciation patḗr

What does πατήρ (patḗr) mean in the Bible?

πατήρ (patḗr) is a Greek word meaning "a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)". πατήρ, πατρός, -τρί, τέρα, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for אָב ;] a father; __1. Declares Jesus’ unique divine sonship.

Full entry for πατήρ (G3962) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)

Extended definition

Denotes biological parent, ancestor, originator, authority figure, or God—context determines whether literal or metaphorical application.

a father;

1prop.,

aof the male parent: Mat.2:22, Luk.1:17, Jhn.4:53; anarth., Heb.12:7 (M, Pr., 82 f.); pl., of both parents (cl.), Heb.11:23; οἱ π. τ. σαρκός, Heb.12:9;

bof a forefather or ancestor (in cl. usually in pl.; Hom., al.): Mat.3:9, Luk.1:73, Jhn.8:39, al.; pl., Mat.23:30, 32 Luk.6:23, 26 Jhn.4:20, 1Co.10:1, al.

2Metaphorical,

aof an author, originator, or archetype (= αἴτιος, ἀρχηγός, etc.; Pind., Plat., al.): Jhn.8:41-44, Rom.4:11, 12 16.

bas a title of respect or honour, used of seniors, teachers and others in a position of responsible authority (Jdg.17:10, 2Ki.2:12, Pro.1:8, al.): Mat.23:9 Act.7:2 22:1, 1Jn.2:13.

3Of God (as in cl. of Zeus) as Father;

aof created things: τ. φώτων, Jas.1:17;

bof all sentient beings: Eph.3:14, 15 Heb.12:9; __(with) of men, esp. those in covenant relation with Him (freq in OT and later Jewish lit.; see Dalman, Words, 184ff.): Mat.6:4, Luk.6:36, Jhn.4:21, Jas.3:9, al.; ὁ π. ὁ ἐν (τ.) οὐρανοῖς, Mat.5:16, Mrk.11:25; ὁ π. ὁ οὐράνιος, Mat.6:14 15:13; esp. in the Epp., of Christians: Rom.8:15, 2Co.6:18, Gal.4:6, Eph.2:18 4:6, 1Jn.2:1; with genitive qual., τ. οἰκτιρμῶν, 2Co.1:3; τ. δοξῆς, Eph.1:17;

dof Christ (Dalman, Words, 190 ff.); __(α) by our Lord himself: ὁ π., Mat.11:25-27, Luk.10:2, 22 Jhn.5:20-23, al.; ὁ π. μου, Mat.11:27, al.; ὁ ἐν τ. οὐρανοῖς, Mat.7:11, al.; ὁ οὐράνιος, Mat.15:13; vocat., Jhn.11:41 12:27, 28 17:1, 5, 11, 20, 25 (cf. Abbott, JG., 96 f.); __(β) by Apostles: Jhn.1:14 (anarth.; see M, Pr., l.with), Rom.15:6, 2Co.1:3 11:31, Eph.1:3, Col.1:3, Heb.1:5, 1Pe.1:3, Rev.1:6 (cf. Westc., Epp. Jo., 27-34).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Declares Jesus’ unique divine sonship.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine Matt 5:48 · Matt 6:4 · Matt 6:6 · Matt 6:8 · Matt 6:14 · Matt 6:15 · Matt 6:18 · Matt 6:26 · Matt 6:32 · Matt 7:11 · Matt 10:21 · Matt 11:26 · Matt 11:27 · Matt 15:13 · Matt 16:17 · Matt 18:35 110×

Nominative · Plural · Masculine Luke 6:23 · Luke 6:26 · Luke 11:47 · John 4:20 · John 6:31 · John 6:49 · John 6:58 · Acts 7:11 · Acts 7:15 · Acts 7:39 · Acts 7:45 · Acts 7:51 · Acts 7:52 · Acts 15:10 · Rom 9:5 · 1 Cor 10:1 20×

Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 2:22 · Matt 4:21 · Matt 5:45 · Matt 7:21 · Matt 10:20 · Matt 10:29 · Matt 10:32 · Matt 10:33 · Matt 10:35 · Matt 11:27 · Matt 12:50 · Matt 13:43 · Matt 16:27 · Matt 18:10 · Matt 18:14 · Matt 18:19 100×

Genitive · Plural · Masculine Matt 23:30 · Matt 23:32 · Luke 1:17 · Luke 1:72 · Luke 11:48 · John 7:22 · Acts 3:13 · Acts 5:30 · Acts 7:32 · Acts 7:38 · Acts 7:45 · Acts 22:14 · Rom 15:8 · Heb 11:23 14×

Dative · Singular · Masculine Matt 6:1 · Matt 6:6 · Matt 6:18 · Matt 15:5 · Mark 7:11 · Mark 7:12 · Luke 1:62 · Luke 9:42 · Luke 12:53 · Luke 15:12 · Luke 15:29 · John 4:21 · John 4:23 · John 8:38 · John 10:38 · John 14:10 33×

Dative · Plural · Masculine Acts 7:44 · Heb 1:1 · Heb 8:9 3×

Accusative · Singular · Masculine Matt 3:9 · Matt 4:22 · Matt 5:16 · Matt 8:21 · Matt 10:37 · Matt 11:27 · Matt 15:4 · Matt 15:6 · Matt 19:5 · Matt 19:19 · Matt 19:29 · Matt 23:9 · Matt 26:53 · Mark 1:20 · Mark 5:40 · Mark 7:10 93×

Accusative · Plural · Masculine Luke 1:55 · Acts 3:25 · Acts 7:12 · Acts 7:19 · Acts 13:17 · Acts 13:32 · Acts 13:36 · Acts 26:6 · Acts 28:25 · Rom 11:28 · 1 Cor 4:15 · Heb 12:9 12×

Vocative · Singular · Masculine Matt 6:9 · Matt 11:25 · Matt 26:39 · Matt 26:42 · Luke 10:21 · Luke 11:2 · Luke 15:12 · Luke 15:18 · Luke 15:21 · Luke 16:24 · Luke 16:27 · Luke 16:30 · Luke 22:42 · Luke 23:34 · Luke 23:46 · John 11:41 24×

Vocative · Plural · Masculine Acts 7:2 · Acts 22:1 · 1 John 2:13 · 1 John 2:14 4×

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences

Luke 11:1–4 Πάτερ patḗr

Father

New Testament Witnesses

Luke 2:41–52 Πατρός patḗr

Father

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 22 — Paul’s Defense: Christ Appears, Sends, and Preserves His Witness Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Galatians 4 — No Longer Slaves: Sonship, Pastoral Anguish, and Children of Promise John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 2 — The First Sign, the True Temple, and the Glory of Jesus Revealed John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 2 — The Savior Born, Revealed, Presented, and Growing in Wisdom Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 6 — Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details