What does אָב · πατήρ mean in the Bible?
אָב · πατήρ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "father or paternal authority".
Hebrew · H1, G3962
אָב
Father , in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application · a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
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.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
אָב H1 father , in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Pronunciation ʾāb
Father as both literal parent and figurative source/founder; extends to ancestor, chief, and originating authority
Open lexicon entry →
πατήρ G3962 a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Pronunciation patḗr
Denotes biological parent, ancestor, originator, authority figure, or God—context determines whether literal or metaphorical application.
Open lexicon entry →
What does אָב (av) mean in the Bible?
אָב · πατήρ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "father or paternal authority".
Full entry for אָב (H1, G3962) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H1, G3962?
H1, G3962 is connected to 1,213 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. father or paternal authority
Strong's H1, G3962
Lexical occurrences 1,213 verses Source Gloss
father or paternal authority
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
אָב is a primitive word - no further derivation.
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
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain