Strong's Lexicon
archó: to rule, to begin
Original Word: ἄρχω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: archó
Pronunciation: ar'-kho
Phonetic Spelling: (ar'-kho)
Definition: to rule, to begin
Meaning: I reign, rule.
Word Origin: A primary verb
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H7227 (רַב, rab): Often used to denote a chief or leader.
- H7218 (רֹאשׁ, rosh): Meaning head or chief, often used in contexts of leadership or beginning.
Usage: The Greek verb "archó" primarily means "to rule" or "to begin." In the New Testament, it is often used in contexts that denote authority or leadership, as well as the commencement of an action or event. The term can imply both the exercise of authority and the initiation of something new.
Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "archó" was closely associated with governance and leadership. The term was used to describe rulers, magistrates, and those in positions of authority. In Jewish culture, leadership was often seen in the context of religious and community guidance, with a strong emphasis on moral and spiritual oversight. The dual meaning of "archó" as both ruling and beginning reflects the interconnectedness of leadership and the initiation of new ventures or eras.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to rule, to begin
NASB Translation
began (62), begin (7), beginning (8), begins (2), begun (1), proceed (1), rule (1), rulers (1), starting (2).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 757: αρχι(
αρχι( (from ἄρχω, ἀρχός), an inseparable prefix, usually to names of office or dignity, to designate the one who is placed over the rest that hold the office (German Ober-,Erz- (English arch- (chief-, high))), as ἀρχάγγελος, ἀρχιποίμην (which see), ἀρχιερεύς, ἀρχιατρος, ἀρχιευνοῦχος, ἀρχυπερετης (in Egyptian inscriptions), etc., most of which belong to Alexandrian and Byzantine Greek. Cf. Thiersch, De Pentateuehi versione Alex., p. 77f.
STRONGS NT 757: ἄρχωἄρχω; (from Homer down); to be first.
1. to be the first to do (anything), to begin — a sense not found in the Greek Bible.
2. to be chief, leader, ruler: τίνος (Buttmann, 169 (147)), Mark 10:42; Romans 15:12 (from Isaiah 11:10). See ἄρχων. Middle, present ἄρχομαι; future ἄρξομαι (once (twice), Luke 13:26 (but not Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading; a. the idea of beginning has more or less weight or importance, so that it is brought out by a separate word: Matthew 11:7 (the disciples of John having retired, Christ began to speak concerning John, which he did not do while they were present); Luke 3:8 (do not even begin to say; make not even an attempt to excuse yourselves); Luke 15:14 (the beginning of want followed hard upon the squandering of his goods); Luke 21:28; 2 Corinthians 3:1; especially when the beginning of an action is contrasted with its continuance or its repetition, Mark 6:7; Mark 8:31 (cf. Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33f); or with the end of it, Luke 14:30 (opposed to ἐκτελέσαι); John 13:5 (cf. 12). b. ἄρχειν denotes something as begun by someone, others following: Acts 27:35f (Winers Grammar, § 65, 7 d.). c. ἄρχειν indicates that a thing was but just begun when it was interrupted by something else: Matthew 12:1 (they had begun to pluck ears of grain, but they were prevented from continuing by the interference of the Pharisees); Matthew 26:22 (Jesus answered before all had finished), Matthew 26:74; Mark 2:23; Mark 4:1 (he had scarcely begun to teach, when a multitude gathered unto him); Mark 6:2; Mark 10:41; Luke 5:21; Luke 12:45; Luke 13:25; Acts 11:15 (cf. Acts 10:44); d. the action itself, instead of its beginning, might indeed have been mentioned; but in order that the more attention may be given to occurrences which seem to the writer to be of special importance, their initial stage, their beginning, is expressly pointed out: Mark 14:65; Luke 14:18; Acts 2:4, etc. e. ἄρχω occurs in a sentence which has grown out of the blending of two statements: Matthew 4:17; Matthew 16:21 (from ἀπό τότε ἐκήρυξε ... ἔδειξέ, and τότε ἤρξατο κηρύσσειν ... δεικνύειν). The infinitive is lacking when discoverable from the context: ἀρχόμενος, namely, to discharge the Messianic office, Luke 3:23 (Winer's Grammar, 349 (328)); ἀρξάμενος namely, λέγειν, Acts 11:4. (Compare: ἐνάρχω (ἐνάρχομαι), προενάρχομαι, ὑπάρχω, προϋπάρχω. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance A primary verb; to be first (in political rank or power) -- reign (rule) over. Forms and Transliterations Links