ἀρχαῖος G0744
Ancient, old, from the beginning — pertaining to what existed long ago or to persons and things of former times
The adjective ἀρχαῖος (archaios) describes what is ancient, original, or belonging to earlier times. Jesus invokes it in the Sermon on the Mount when he says, 'You have heard that it was said to those of old' (Matt 5:21, 33), establishing his authority to fulfill and surpass the ancient Torah teaching. The crowds speculate that 'one of the ancient prophets' has risen (Luke 9:8, 19). In Acts, Peter appeals to what God decided 'in the early days' (Acts 15:7), and James notes that Moses has been proclaimed 'from ancient generations' (Acts 15:21). Revelation calls Satan 'the ancient serpent' (Rev 12:9; 20:2), linking him to the Genesis narrative. Spanish 'antiguo' and French 'ancien' both carry the temporal depth.
Senses
1. ancient, old, from the beginning — Pertaining to former times or earlier generations — ancient, old. Jesus uses it to reference the Torah commandments given 'to those of old' (Matt 5:21, 33), while the crowds identify Jesus as possibly 'one of the ancient prophets' returned (Luke 9:8, 19). Peter and James appeal to 'early days' and 'ancient generations' at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:7, 21). Mnason is described as an 'early disciple' (Acts 21:16). Most distinctively, Revelation identifies Satan as 'the ancient serpent' (Rev 12:9; 20:2), reaching back to Genesis 3. Spanish 'antiguo' and German 'alt/uralte' reflect the temporal range from 'early' to 'primordial.' 11×
AR["العتيقُ","القَديمَةُ","القَديمِ","الْقُدَماءِ","قَديمَةٍ","قَدِيمٍ","لْقُدَمَاءِ"]·ben["পুরাতন","প্রাচীন","প্রাচীনদের","প্রাচীনদের,"]·DE["alt"]·EN["ancient","ancient-ones","ancients","early","of-ancient","old-things"]·FR["ancien"]·heb["בְּ-","בָּ-","הַקַּדְמוֹנִי","הָעַתִּיקִים","יְשָׁנוֹת","עַל-עוֹלָם","קַדְמוֹן","קַדְמוֹנִים","קָדִים"]·HI["पुराना","पुरानी-बातें","पुराने","पूर्वजों-से","प्राचीन"]·ID["dahulu","dahulu-kala","kuno","lama","tua","tua,","zaman-dahulu"]·IT["antico","archaiois","archaion","archaios","archaiou"]·jav["kina","lawas"]·KO["옛","옛-것들이","옛날의","옛사람들","오래된"]·PT["antiga","antigas,","antigas-coisas","antigo","antigos","antigos,","o-antigo"]·RU["давнему","древнего","древнее","древний,","древним","древних"]·ES["antigua","antigua,","antiguas","antiguas-cosas","antiguo","antiguos","del-antiguo"]·SW["ulimwengu-wa-kale","vya-zamani","wa-kale","wa-kale,","wa-zamani","ya-kale","za-zamani"]·TR["eski","eskilere","eskilerin,","o-"]·urd["اگلوں","قدیموں-کا","پرانا","پرانی","پرانے","پُرانا"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀρχαῖος, α, ον, (ἀρχή I) from the beginning or origin: __I mostly of things, ancient, σκότοςRefs 5th c.BC+; χερὸς σῆς πίστιν ἀρχαίαν faith firm for ever, Refs __I.2 old-fashioned, antiquated, Refs 5th c.BC+; of literary style, Refs 4th c.BC+ __I.2.b simple, silly, Refs 5th c.BC+ __I.3 ancient, former, τὸ ἀ. ῥέεθονRefs 5th c.BC+; οἱ ἀ., opposed to οἱ ὕστερον, Refs 5th c.BC+ __I.4 old, worn out,…