πατρῷος G3971
ancestral, paternal, inherited from one's fathers; belonging to or coming from one's forefathers
This adjective means 'of or from one's fathers,' describing what is inherited, traditional, or ancestral. Paul defends himself by citing his education 'according to the strict manner of our ancestral law' (Acts 22:3). He emphasizes serving God 'as my forefathers did' in his worship according to the Way (Acts 24:14). He assures Roman Jewish leaders he has done nothing against 'the people or the customs of our fathers' (Acts 28:17). In each case, Paul anchors his identity and practice in the heritage passed down through generations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Cross-linguistic evidence stresses inherited/ancestral nature: English 'ancestral', Spanish 'de-los-padres' (of the fathers), French 'paternel', German preserves Greek forms πατρῴοις/πατρῴου/πατρῴῳ. The lexicon defines it as 'of or from one's father, coming or inherited from him' with meanings including 'fatherland', 'patrimony', 'hereditary friend'. All three NT uses (Acts 22:3, 24:14, 28:17) are Paul defending his adherence to ancestral Jewish customs and law. The word emphasizes continuity with forefathers and inherited tradition. 3×
AR["آبائِنا", "الآبَاءِ", "الْآبَاءِ"]·ben["পিতৃপুরুষদের", "পৈতৃক"]·DE["πατρῴοις", "πατρῴου", "πατρῴῳ"]·EN["ancestral"]·FR["paternel"]·heb["אֲבוֹתִיים", "אֲבוֹתֵינוּ"]·HI["पूर्वजों-की", "पूर्वजोंके", "पैतृक;"]·ID["leluhur", "leluhur;"]·IT["paterno"]·jav["leluhur", "leluhur;"]·KO["조상들-의", "조상의"]·PT["paternais;"]·RU["отеческим;", "отеческого", "отеческому"]·ES["de-los-padres"]·SW["ya-baba", "za-baba-zetu"]·TR["-içine", "ataların"]·urd["آبائی", "باپ-دادا"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πατρῷος, α, ον, also ος, ον Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.; Epic dialect and Ionic dialect πατρώϊος, η, ον, the only form used in Refs 8th c.BC+; the former first in Refs 6th c.BC+, though both use the longer form, Refs 6th c.BC+; Thess. πατρούεος (which see): (πατήρ):— of or from one's father, coming or inherited from him, σκῆπτρον, ἔγχος, Refs 8th c.BC+; ξεῖνος πατρώϊός ἐσσι παλαιός my old hereditary…