Quick Definition
ἀρχή, ῆς, ἡ n.f. ruler, beginning
Strong's Definition
(properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
Derivation: from G756 (ἄρχομαι);
KJV Usage: beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ῆς | ἄρχω
68.1 · Aspect · Begin, Start
beginning initiation of an action, process, or state of being It would also be possible to treat ἀρχή in MRK 1:1 as indicating sequence (Domain 61), so that the contents of verse 1 could be regarded as a type of title for the following section. It seems far better, however, to regard ἀρχή in MRK 1:1 as being closely related to what immediately follows in verse 2, so that one may translate ‘the good news about Jesus Christ the Son of God began as the prophet Isaiah had written ...’
MAT 24:8 · MRK 1:1 · MRK 13:8 · JHN 2:11 · JHN 8:25 · COL 1:18 · HEB 3:14 · HEB 6:1 · 1JN 2:24
67.65 · Time · A Point of Time with Reference to Duration of Time: Beginning, End
beginning, to begin a point of time at the beginning of a duration
MAT 19:4 · MAT 19:8 · MAT 24:21 · MRK 10:6 · MRK 13:19 · JHN 1:1 · JHN 1:2 · JHN 6:64 · JHN 8:44 · JHN 15:27 · JHN 16:4 · ACT 11:15 · ACT 26:4 · PHP 4:15 · HEB 1:10 · HEB 2:3 · HEB 3:14 · HEB 7:3 · 2PE 3:4 · 1JN 1:1 · 1JN 2:7 · 1JN 2:13 · 1JN 2:14 · 1JN 2:24 · 1JN 3:8 · 1JN 3:11 · 2JN 1:5 · 2JN 1:6 · REV 21:6 · REV 22:13
89.16 · Relations · Cause and/or Reason
first cause, origin one who or that which constitutes an initial cause It is also possible to understand ἀρχή in REV 3:14 as meaning ‘ruler’ (see 37.56).
37.55 · Control, Rule · Rule, Govern
sphere of authority, limit of one’s rule the sphere of one’s authority or rule
37.56 · Control, Rule · Rule, Govern
ruler, governor (derivative of ἄρχω ‘to rule,’ 37.54) one who rules or governs
LUK 12:11 · LUK 20:20 · ROM 8:38 · 1CO 15:24 · EPH 1:21 · TIT 3:1
12.44 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Powers
power, authority, lordship, ruler, wicked force (title for supernatural forces and powers) a supernatural power having some particular role in controlling the destiny and activities of human beings Some scholars have believed that it is possible to reconstruct at least in part some of the hierarchy represented by these various supernatural forces and powers, on the basis of the neoplatonic system of nine such powers arranged in three orders of three each. NT terminology and usage does not, however, lend itself to such a classification, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine what are the significant differences between these supernatural powers and forces.
In the case of EPH 1:21 some scholars apply the terms in question both to the supernatural and to the human sphere, thus emphasizing the totality of Christ’s rule. This has a considerable measure of justification in view of the concepts held by persons in the ancient world, since various earthly powers were supposed to reflect corresponding supernatural powers.
For the most part, translators have endeavored to render the various terms in somewhat different ways, for example, ἐξουσία as ‘authority’; δύναμις as ‘power’; κυριότης as ‘ruler’; and phrases such as τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις as ‘wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world.’ In a number of languages, however, there are simply not enough terms to designate various kinds of powers, authorities, and forces which could be employed in speaking of such supernatural impersonal powers. Accordingly, some translators have simply used a phrase such as ‘any and all kinds of supernatural powers.’ Where it is possible to make certain lexical distinctions between terms and phrases, this, of course, should be done, but in a number of contexts this may be impossible, and accordingly, some explanation in a marginal note may be required if the reader is to understand satisfactorily the intent of the passages in question.
In some instances a measure of meaning may be obtained by somewhat paraphrastic expressions. For example, Ephesians 2:2 is rendered in some languages as ‘at that time you lived in the way in which the spirit that governs this world dictated you should live. This is the way the one who rules over the power in space commanded you to live. This is the very spirit that now commands the people who disobey God.’
ROM 8:38 · EPH 1:21 · EPH 3:10 · EPH 6:12 · COL 1:16 · COL 2:10 · COL 2:15
58.20 · Nature, Class, Example · Basic Principles or Features Defining the Nature of Something
elementary aspect, simple truth elementary and preliminary aspects defining the nature of something Compare also the occurrence of ἀρχή[g] in HEB 5:12 in which it serves to reinforce the meaning of στοιχεῖα (see 58.19).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀρχή, -7s, 7, (fr. Hom. down], in Sept. mostly equiv. to UND, MUN, monn; 1. beginning, origin; a. used absolutely, of the beginning of all things: ἐν ἀρχῇ, Jn. i. 1 sq. (Gen. i. 1); ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς. Mt. xix. 4 (with which ef. Xen. mem. 1, 4, 5 ὁ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ποιῶν ἀνθρώπους), 8; In. Vili. 44; 1 Jn. i. 1; ii. 13 sq.; iii. 8; more fully ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως or κύσμου. Mt. xxiv. 21 3 Mk. x. 6 3 xiii. 19; 2 Th. ii. 13 (where L[Trmrg. WH mrg.] ἀπαρχήν, 4- v-) ; 2 Pet. iii. 4; κατ᾽ apya , Heb. i. 10 (Ps. ci. (cii.) 20). b. ina relative sense, of the beginning of the thing spoken of: ἐξ ἀρχῆς, fr. the time when Jesus gathered disciples, Jn. vi. 64; xvi. 4; ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς. Jn. xv. 27 (since I appeared in public); as soon as instruction was imparted, 1 Jn. ii. [1], 24; iii. 11; 2 Jn. 5 sq.; more fully ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ edayyeXiov, Phil. iv. 15 (Clem. Rom. 1 Cor. 47, 2 [see note in Gebh. and Harn. ad loc. and cf.] Polye. ad Philipp. 11, 3); from the beginning of the gospel history, Lk. i. 2; from the commencement of life, Acts xxvi. 4; ἐν ἀρχῇ; in the beginning, when the church was founded, Acts xi. 15. The ace. ἀρχήν [ef. W. 124 (118): Bp. Lehtft. on Col. i. 18] and τὴν ἀρχήν in the Grk. writ. (cf. Lennep ad Phalarid. p. 82 sqq. and p. 94 sqq. ed. Lips.; Briickner in De Wette’s Hdbch. on John p. 151) is often used adverbially, i. q. ὅλως altogether, (properly. an ace. of “ direction towards’: usque ad initium, [ef. W. 230 (216); B. 153 (134)]), commonly followed by a negative, but not always [cf. e.g. Dio Cass. frag. 101 (93 Dind.); xlv. 34 (Dind. vol. ii. p. 194); lix. 20; Ixii. 4; see, further, Lycurg. § 125 ed. Miitzner]; hence that extremely diflicult passage, Jn. viii. 25 rv. . . ὑμῖν, must in my opinion be interpreted as follows: / am altogether or wholly (i. e. in all respects, precisely) that which I even speak to you (1 not only am, but also declare to you what I am; therefore you have no need to question me), [ef. W. 464 (432); B. 253 (218) |. ἀρχὴν λαμβάνειν to take beginning, to begin, Heb. ii. 3. with the addition of the gen. of the thing spoken of : ὠδινων. Mt. xxiv. 8; Mk. xiii. 8 (9) [(here R G plur.): to” σημείων, Jn. ii. 11]; ἡμερῶν, Heb. vii. 3; τοῦ εὐαγγελίου. that from which the gospel history took its beginning, Mk. i. 1; τῆς ὑποστάσεως, the confidence with which we have made a beginning, opp. to μέχρε τέλους. Heb. iii. 14. τὰ στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς, Heb. v. 12 (τῆς ἀρχῆς is added for greater explicitness, as in Lat. rudimenta prima, Liv.1,3; Justin. hist. 7,5; and prima ἀρχηγός T elementa, Horat. sat. 1, 1, 26, ete.); ὁ τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγος equiv. to ὁ τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγος ὁ τῆς ἀρχῆς; i. 6. the instruction concerning Christ such as it was at the very outset [cf. W. 188 (177); B. 155 (136) ], Heb. vi.l. 2. the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in aseries, the leader : Col.i. 18; Rev. i. 8 Ree.; xxi. 6; xxii. 13; (Deut. xxi. 17; Job xl. 14 (19), etc.). 8. that by which anything begins to be, the origin, active cause (a sense in which the philosopher Anaximander, 8th cent. B. c., is said to have been the first to use the word; ef. Simpl. on Aristot. phys. f. 9 p. 326 ed. Brandis and 32 p. 334 ed. Brandis, [ef. Teichmiiller, Stud. zur Gesch. ἃ. Begriffe, pp. 48 sqq. 560 sqq.]): ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως, of Christ as the divine λόγος. Rey. iii. 14 (cf. Diisterdieck ad loc.; Clem. Al. protrept. 1, p. 6 ed. Potter, [p. 30 ed. Sylb.] ὁ λόγος ἀρχὴ θεῖα τῶν πάντων ; in Evang. Nicod. ὁ. 23 [p. 308 ed. Tdf., p. 736 ed. Thilo] the devil is called ἡ ἀρχὴ τοῦ θανάτου καὶ ῥίζα τῆς ἁμαρτίας). 4. the extremity of a thing: of the corners of a sail, Acts x. 11; xi. 5; (Hdt. 4, 60; Diod. 4, 35; al.). 5. the first place, principality, rule, magistracy, [cf. Eng. ‘ authorities’, (ἄρχω twos): Lk. xii. 11; xx. 20; Tit. iii. 1; office given in charge (Gen. xl. 13, 21; 2 Mace. iv. 10, ete.), Jude 6. Hence the term is transferred by Paul to angels and demons holding dominions entrusted to them in the order of things (see ἄγγελος, 2 [ef. Bp. Lghtft. on Col. i. 16; Mey. on Eph. i. 21]): Ro. viii. 88; 1 Co. xv. 24; Eph. i. 21; iii. 10; vi. 12; Col. 1.16 ; 11.10, 15. See ἐξουσία, 4c. BS.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀρχή archē 55x
a beginning, Mt. 24:8; an extremity, corner, or, an attached cord, Acts 10:11; 11:5; first place, headship; high estate, eminence, Jude 6; authority, Lk. 20:20; an authority, magistrate, Lk. 12:11; a principality, prince, of spiritual existence, Eph. 3:10; 6:12; ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, ἐξ ἀρχῆς, from the first, originally, Mt. 19:4, 8; Lk. 1:2; Jn. 6:64; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Jn. 1:1; 2:7; ἐν ἀρχῇ, κατ’ ἀρχάς, in the beginning of things, Jn. 1:1, 2; Heb. 1:10; ἐν ἀρχῇ, at the first, Acts 11:15; τὴν ἀρχήν, used adverbially, wholly, altogether, Jn. 8:25
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀρχή, -ῆς, ἡ,
[in LXX for קֶדֶם, רֹאשׁ, רֵאשִׁית, etc.;]
beginning, origin; absol., of the beginning of all things: of God as the Eternal, the First Cause, Re 21:6 (cf. 1:8); similarly, of Christ, Re 22:13; of Christ as the uncreated principle, the active cause of creation, Re 3:14; in his relation to the Church, Col 1:18; ἐν ἀ., Jo 1:1, 2; ἀπ᾽ ἀ. (and ἀπ᾽ ἀ. κτισεως), Mt 19:4, 8 24:21, Mk 10:6 13:19, Jo 8:44, II Th 2:13, II Pe 3:4, I Jo 1:1 2:13, 14 3:8; κατ’ ἀρχάς, He 1:10;
relatively: He 7:3; ἀ. ὠδίνων, Mt 24:8, Mk 13:9; τ. σημείων, Jo 2:11; τ. ὑποστάσεως, He 3:14; τ. λογίων, He 5:12; ὁ τ. ἀρχῆς τ. Χριστοῦ λόγος, the account of the beginning, the elementary view of Christ, He 6:1; ἀρχὴν λαμβάνειν, to begin, He 2:3; ἐξ ἀ., Jo 6:64 16:4; ἀπ’ ἀ., Lk 1:2, Jo 15:27, I Jo 2:7, 24 3:11, II Jo 5, 6; ἐν ἀ., Ac 11:15 26:4, Phl 4:15; τὴν ἀρχήν, adverbially, at all (Hdt., al.; v MM, s.v.): Jo 8:25.
an extremity, a corner: Ac 10:11 11:5.
sovereignty, principality, rule (cf. DB, i, 616 f.): Lk 12:11 20:20, Ro 8:38, I Co 15:24, Eph 1:21 3:10 6:12, Col 1:16 2:10, 15, Tit 3:1, Ju 6 (Cremer, 113).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀρχή (ii/B.c., Amorgos), opposed to τόκος. For the more general sense of ‘ancient,’ recurrent in Mt 524, etc., we may comcompare the horoscope P Oxy II. 2355 (A.D. 20-50) where a date is given kat[a δὲ τοὺς] ἀρχαίους χρόνους, z.c. “old style”: see also P Fay 139° (late ii/a.D.), Prersigke 1011 (ii/A.D.), 3462 (A.D. 154-5), and P Grenf II. 67° (A.D. 237) (= Selections, p. 108). The reference is to the old Egyptian system of reckoning 365 days to the year without a leapyear, which continued to be used in many non-official documents even after the introduction of the Augustan calendar. The neuter = ‘‘ original condition” may be seen in OG/S 672°. (a.p. 80) where a river is dredged, etc., καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἀπεκατεστάθη : similarly in 2 Cor 517, the ‘foriginal conditions” pass away before the fiat that καινὰ ποιεῖ πάντα (Rev 215). The standard of ‘‘antiquity” may be illustrated by Sy// 355" (c. A.D. 3), where ἀρχαιοτάτου δό(γ)μαϊτος refers to a senatus consultum of B.c. 80. We find towns partial to the adj.: cf. P Lond 1157 werso ? (a.p. 246) (=III. p. 110) “EppoumdXews τῆς peya’ ἀρχαίας Kal λαμπρᾶς καὶ σεμνοτάτης. The staniling title of Heracleopolis (as BGU III. 9241—iii/a.D.), a. kal θεόφιλος, reminds us of ‘‘ancient and religious foundations” at Oxford or Cambridge to-day. Reference may also be made to a payment for ἀρχαίων ἱππέων, Ostr 323 (c. i/B.c.), evidently a cavalry regiment (the ‘‘Old Guard”), see 26. i. p. 161f., Archiv ii. p. 155; and to a land survey, P Tebt II. 610 (ii/A-D.) [@A]Ans ποταμοφο(ρήτου) ἀρχαίας. In P Par 60 δὲς 3 (c. B.C. 200) we find Td ἀνήλωμα εἰς ᾿Αλεξάνδρειαν ἀπὸ τῶν πληρωμάτων [ἀρ]χαίων : on the grammar cf. Proleg. p- 84 π΄. The distinction between a. and παλαιός is naturally worn thin on occasion, asin BGU III. 781 (i/a.p.), an inventory including sundry ‘‘old” crockery, as πινάκια βωλητάρια ἀρχαῖα 1, ἄλλα ἀρχαῖα ὠτάρια ἔχοντα 1-4. ᾽Α. of relative antiquity is well illustrated by Karbe/ 24108 (p. 521) ἀρχαίων κηδομένη λεχέων. Note further the comparative in a British Museum papyrus, cited in Archiv vi. p. 103 (A.D. 103), ἀπὸ τῶν ἀρχεωτέρων χρόνω(ν). The adj. survives in MGr.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἀρχή (archē) — beginning. ἀρχή, ἡ, (see. ἄρχω) beginning, origin, νείκεος ἀ.[Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to τέλος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to τελευτή, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ἀρχὴν ὑποθέσθαι lay a foundation, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (and passive, ἀρχαὶ βέβληνται[Refs 5th c.BC+]; source of action, [ὁ ἄνθρωπος] ἔχει ἀρχὴν ἐλευθέραν[Refs 3rd c.AD+] __b with Preps. in adverbial usages, ἐξ ἀρχῆς from the beginning, from the first, from of old, [Refs 8th c.BC+]anew, afresh, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ ἐξ ἀ. λόγος the original argument, [Refs]; τὰ ἐξ ἀ. the principal sum, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κατ᾽ ἀρχάς in the beginning, at first, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __c accusative ἀρχήν, absolutely, to begin with, at first, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: frequently followed by a negative, not at all, ἀρχὴν μηδὲ λαβών[Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. first principle, element, first so used by Anaximander, accusative to [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of ὕλη and θεός, opposed to στοιχεῖα, [Refs]; practical principle of conduct, τῶν πράξεων τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ὑποθέσεις[Refs 4th c.BC+]; principles of knowledge, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. end, corner, of a bandage, rope, sheet, etc., [NT+5th c.BC+]; of a compound pulley, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
4. in Mathematics texts, origin of a curve, τῆς ἕλικος[Refs 3rd c.BC+]
5. branch of a river, [LXX]
6. sum, total,[LXX]
7. vital organs of the body, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. first place or power, sovereignty (not in [Refs 8th c.BC+] of a stroke of fortune, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. τῶν νεῶν, τῆς θαλάσσης, power over them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; method of government, οὐδὲ τὴν ἄλλην ἀ. ἐπαχθής[Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. empire, realm, Κύρου, Περδίκκου ἀ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. magistracy, office, ἀρχὴν ἄρχειν, παραλαμβάνειν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰς ἀ. καθίστασθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰς τὴν ἀ. εἰσιέναι [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἀ. λαχεῖν to obtain an office, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. χειροτονητή, κληρωτή, Legal cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; term of office, ἀρχῆς λοιποὶ αὐτῷ δύο μῆνες[Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. in plural, αἱ ἀρχαί the authorities, the magistrates, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν ταῖς ἀ. εἶναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ ἀρχή collectively, 'the board', [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but ἡ ἀ., of a single magistrate, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; κατ᾽ ἀρχῆς γὰρ φιλαίτιος λεώς against authority, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.5. command, i.e. body of troops, [LXX]
II.6. plural, heavenly powers, [NT+5th c.AD+]; powers of evil, [NT]
III. ={εἶδος μελίσσης ἀκέντρου}, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
Bible Occurrences (55)
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Principality (746) arche