ἄρχω
To be first (in political rank or power)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does ἄρχω (árchō) mean in the Bible?
ἄρχω (árchō) is a Greek word meaning "to be first (in political rank or power)". ἄρχω [in LXX for חָלַל, מָשַׁל, etc.
Meaning
To rule or govern; in NT often means to begin an action or process (especially with infinitive).
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Indicative states a fact or reality 65×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 12×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 5×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 4×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 5 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Biblical Witnesses
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.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain