What does ἀρχή · ἀπό mean in the Bible?
ἀρχή · ἀπό: Primary meaning: originating point or source; secondarily, those who hold first rank or authority
Greek · G746, G575
ἀρχή
Beginning · away from
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἀρχήG746beginning
Pronunciationarchḗ
Beginning as origin or first cause; also means rule/authority when referring to cosmic powers or earthly governance.
Open lexicon entry →ἀπόG575away from
Pronunciationapó
Open lexicon entry →What does ἀρχή (archḗ) mean in the Bible?
ἀρχή · ἀπό: Primary meaning: originating point or source; secondarily, those who hold first rank or authority
Full entry for ἀρχή (G746, G575) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G746, G575?
G746, G575 is connected to 55 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. Primary meaning: originating point or source; secondarily, those who hold first rank or authority
Source Gloss
(properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
Extended definition
Primary meaning: originating point or source; secondarily, those who hold first rank or authority
:--beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 7 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns7Aligned forms55Case patternGenitive (26)Number patternSingular (45)
Nominative · Singular · FeminineMatt 24:8 · Mark 1:1 · Mark 13:8 · Col 1:18 · Rev 3:14 · Rev 21:6 · Rev 22:137×
Nominative · Plural · FeminineRom 8:38 · Col 1:162×
Genitive · Singular · FeminineMatt 19:4 · Matt 19:8 · Matt 24:21 · Mark 10:6 · Mark 13:19 · Luke 1:2 · John 6:64 · John 8:44 · John 15:27 · John 16:4 · Acts 26:4 · Eph 1:21 · Col 2:10 · Heb 5:12 · Heb 6:1 · 2 Pet 3:426×
Dative · Singular · FeminineLuke 20:20 · John 1:1 · John 1:2 · Acts 11:15 · Phil 4:155×
Dative · Plural · FeminineActs 10:11 · Acts 11:5 · Eph 3:10 · Titus 3:14×
Accusative · Singular · FeminineJohn 2:11 · John 8:25 · 1 Cor 15:24 · Heb 2:3 · Heb 3:14 · Heb 7:3 · Jude 1:67×
Accusative · Plural · FeminineLuke 12:11 · Eph 6:12 · Col 2:15 · Heb 1:104×
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
Additional Occurrences
1-johnFrom the beginningarchḗ · apó
from the origin or eternal commencement
1-johnFrom the beginningarchḗ · apó
from the origin of proclamation
Jude 1:5–7ἀρχήarchḗ · apó
domain; rule; assigned authority
Luke 20:20–26ἀρχῇarchḗ · apó
Authority, rule
Mark 1:1–8ἀρχήarchḗ · apó
beginning, origin, inauguration
New Testament Witnesses
domain, rule, assigned authority
Word Origins
ἀρχή is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Highlights rebellion against divine order, not merely misconduct.
Highlights rebellion against divinely appointed order.
Links mature knowledge of God to recognition of the eternal Son emphasized earlier in the letter.
Anchors faith in the original apostolic witness rather than evolving reinterpretations.