ἀήρ, ἀέρος, ὁ (ἄημι, ἄω (cf. ἄνεμος, at the beginning)), the air (particularly the lower and denser, as distinguished from the higher and rarer ὁ αἰθήρ, cf. Homer, Iliad 14, 288), the atmospheric region: Act_22:23; 1Th_4:17; Rev_9:2; Rev_16:17; ὁ ἄρχων τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος in Eph_2:2 signifies 'the ruler of the powers (spirits, see ἐξουσία 4 c. ββ.) in the air,' i. e. the devil, the prince of the demons that according to Jewish opinion fill the realm of air (cf. Meyer at the passage; (B. D. American edition under the word ; Stuart in Bib. Sacr. for 1843, p. 139f)). Sometimes indeed, ἀήρ denotes a hazy, obscure atmosphere (Homer, Iliad 17, 644; 3, 381; 5, 356, etc.; Polybius 18, 3, 7), but is nowhere quite equiv, to σκότος the sense which many injudiciously assign it in Ephesians, the passage cited ἀέρα δέρειν, (cf.verberat ictibus auras, Vergil Aen. 5, 377, of pugilists who miss their aim) i. e. to contend in vain, 1Co_9:26; εἰς ἀέρα λαλεῖν (verba ventis profundere, Lucr. 4, 929 (932)) 'to speak into the air' i. e. without effect, used of those who speak what is not understood by the hearers, 1Co_14:9.

ἀήρ aēr 7x air, atmosphere

ἀήρ , ἀέρος , ὁ , [in LXX : 2Ki_22:12 ( = Psa_18:11 , H7834 ), Wis_8:1-21 ;] in Hom ., Hes ., the lower air which surrounds the earth, as opp . to the purer αἰθήρ of the higher regions; generally, air ( MM , VGT , s.v. ): Act_22:23 , 1Th_4:17 , Rev_9:2 ; Rev_16:17 ; of the air as the realm of demons, Eph_2:2 ; ἀ . δρεινέ of striving to no purpose, 1Co_9:26 ; εἰς ἀ λαλεῖν , of speaking without effect, not being understood, 1Co_14:9 .†

ἀήρ [page 11] A very late (vi/A.D.) citation may be made from an illiterate document which fairly proves the word in continued vernacular use : P Lond 991 .10 ( = III. p. 258) ἀπὸ θημελίου ἕως ἀέρως . Vettius Valens p. 330 .19 has ὅ τε περικεχυμένος ἀὴρ ἄφθαρτος ὑπάρχων καὶ διήκων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἀπόρροιαν καιρικὴν ἀθανασίας ἀπονέμει κτλ . In Wόnsch AF 4 .37 (iii/A.D.) we have ἀέρος τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἔχοντα Ωη Ἰάω εεαφ but in syncretic documents of this kind a reminiscence of Eph_2:2 is not excluded. Add P Leid W xviii. 38 ὁ ἀέρα βλέπων . In BGU IV. 1207 .6 (B.C. 28) we find some gauzy fabrics described as ἀεροε̣[ι ]δ̣ῆ̣. The noun survives in MGr. [Supplemental from 1930 edition] ἀήρ , perhaps metaphorical in P Oxy XIV. 1672 .15 (A.D. 37 41), see the editors note. The word = wind in ib. 1682 .4 (iv/A.D.).

ἀήρ [Etym: ἄημι] "the lower air, the air" that surrounds the earth, opp. to αἰθήρ "the upper air" (v. Il. 14. 288, where a tall pine μακροτάτη πεφυυῖα δι᾽ ἠέρος αἰθέρ᾽ ἵκανεν); hence "mist, gloom", περὶ δ᾽ ἠέρα πουλὺν ἔχευεν Il. ; ἠέρα μὲν σκέδασε id=Il. ; cf. ἠέριος, ἠεροειδής. generally, "air", Soph. , etc.; ἀέρα δέρειν (cf. Virg. "verberat auras)", NTest.

ἀήρ, ἀέρος, ὁ, [in LXX: 2Ki.22:12 (= Psa.17(18):11 שׁחק), Wi .8 ;] in Hom., Hes., the lower air which surrounds the earth, as opposite to the purer αἰθήρ of the higher regions; generally, air (MM, VGT, see word): Act.22:23, 1Th.4:17, Rev.9:2 16:17; of the air as the realm of demons, Eph.2:2; ἀ. δέρειν, of striving to no purpose, 1Co.9:26; εἰς ἀ. λαλεῖν, of speaking without effect, not being understood, 1Co.14:9.† (AS)