Bible Encyclopedia: Father

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FATHER

fa'-ther (Anglo-Saxon, Foeder; German, Vater; Hebrew 'abh, etymology uncertain, found in many cognate languages; Greek pater, from root pa, "nourisher," "protector," "upholder"):

1. Immediate Male Ancestor:

Immediate male ancestor. The father in the Hebrew family, as in the Roman, had supreme rights over his children, could dispose of his daughter in marriage (Genesis 29), arrange his son's marriage (Genesis 24), sell his children (Exodus 21:7), but not his daughter to a stranger (Nehemiah 5:5), had power of life and death, as in the case of Isaac (Genesis 22), Jephthah's daughter (Judges 11:34), the sacrificing of his children to Molech (Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:3-5), etc. Respect, reverence and affection for fathers (and equally for mothers) is most tenderly, explicitly and sternly prescribed from the earliest times (Exodus 20:12 Leviticus 19:3 Deuteronomy 5:16 Micah 7:6 Ezekiel 22:7, etc.). A symmetrical and beautiful picture of the duties and character of the ideal human father may be built up from the Old Testament, with added and enlarged touches from the New Testament. He loves (Genesis 37:4); commands (Genesis 50:16 Proverbs 6:20); instructs (Proverbs 1:8, etc.); guides, encourages, warns (Jeremiah 3:4 1 Thessalonians 2:11); trains (Hosea 11:3); rebukes (Genesis 34:30); restrains (Eli, by contrast, 1 Samuel 3:13); punishes (Deuteronomy 21:18); chastens (Proverbs 3:12 Deuteronomy 8:5); nourishes (Isaiah 1:2); delights in his son (Proverbs 3:12), and in his son's wisdom (Proverbs 10:1); is deeply pained by his folly (Proverbs 17:25); he is considerate of his children's needs and requests (Matthew 7:10); considerate of their burdens, or sins (Malachi 3:17, "As a man spareth his own son"); tenderly familiar (Luke 11:7, "with me in bed"); considerately self-restrained (Ephesians 6:4, "Provoke not your children to wrath"); having in view the highest ends (ibid., "Nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord"); pitiful (Psalm 103:13, "as a father pitieth his children"); the last human friend (but one) to desert the child (Psalm 27:10: "When (a thing to the psalmist incredible) my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up").

2. Ancestors, Immediate or Remote:

(a) Ancestor, immediate or remote: Genesis 28:13, "Abraham thy father" (grandfather); 1 Kings 22:50, "Jehoshaphat. David his father"; Jeremiah 35:6, "Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father"; Daniel 5:11, "Nebuchadnezzar thy father" (personal or official ancestor); Genesis 15:15, "Go to thy fathers in peace" (and so (in the plural) in over 500 passages). The expressions "slept with his fathers," "go down to his fathers," "buried with his fathers," "gathered to his fathers," are self-explanatory euphemisms.

(b) The founders of the (Hebrew) race, specifically the patriarchs:' Romans 9:5, "whose are the fathers," considered here also as in a sense the religious ancestors of all believers.

(c) Progenitors of clans, i.e. (Revised Version (British and American)) "fathers' houses": Exodus 6:14 1 Chronicles 27:1, etc.

(d) Gods as progenitors of men: Jeremiah 2:27, "Who say to a stock, thou art my father."

3. Figurative and Derived Uses:

(a) A spiritual ancestor, one who has infused his own spirit into others, whether good, as Abraham, the father of the faithful, Romans 4:11; or bad, as John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil."

(b) Indicating closest resemblance, kinship, affinity: Job 17:14, "If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father."

(c) A source: Ephesians 1:17, "Father of glory"; Job 38:28, "Hath the rain a father?"

(d) Creator: James 1:17, "the Father of lights."

(e) The inventor or originator of an art or mode of life: Genesis 4:20, "father of such as dwell in tents" (a hint here of hereditary occupations? Probably not).

(f) One who exhibits the fatherly characteristics: Psalm 68:5, "a father of the fatherless."

(g) One who occupies a position of counsel, care, or control (frequently applied by sultans to their prime ministers): Genesis 45:8, "a father to Pharaoh"; Judges 17:10, "Be unto me a father and a priest."

(h) A revered or honored superior: 2 Kings 5:13, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee"; but especially applied to prophets: 2 Kings 2:12, "My father, my father!" also to elderly and venerable men: 1 John 2:13, "I write unto you, fathers"; hence also, with perhaps an outlook on (2) (a), deceased early Christians: 2 Peter 3:4, "from the day that the fathers fell asleep." An ecclesiastical title, condemned (in principle) by our Lord: Matthew 23:9, "Call no man your father on the earth"; but applied, under the power of the Spirit, to members of the Sanhedrin (probably) by Stephen: Acts 7:2; and by Paul: 22:1, but the latter, perhaps also the former, may simply refer to the elderly among his hearers. Christ's condemnation is clearly of the praise-seeking or obsequious spirit, rather than of a particular custom.

"Father," used by Mary of Joseph, in relation to Jesus, equals "putative father," a necessary reserve at a time when the virgin birth could not yet be proclaimed (Luke 2:49). But note Jesus' answer: "my Father's house."

Philip Wendell Crannell

FATHER, GOD THE

In the Christian religion God is conceived of as "Father," "Our Father. in heaven" (Matthew 6:9, 14, 26, etc.), "the God and Father of the Lord Jesus" (2 Corinthians 11:31, etc.). The tenderness of relation and wealth of love and grace embraced in this profound designation are peculiar to Christ's gospel. Pagan religions also could speak of God as "Father" (Zeus Pater), and in the general sense of Creator God has a universal fatherly relation to the world (Acts 17:24-28). In the Old Testament God was revealed as Father to the chosen nation (Exodus 4:22), and to the special representative of the nation, the king (2 Samuel 7:14), while fatherly love is declared to be the image of His pity for those who fear Him (Psalm 103:13). In the gospel of Jesus alone is this Fatherhood revealed to be of the very essence of the Godhead, and to have respect to the individual. Here, however, there is need for great discrimination. To reach the heart of the truth of the Divine Fatherhood it is necessary to begin, not with man, but with the Godhead itself, in whose eternal depths is found the spring of that Fatherly love that reveals itself in time. It is first of all in relation to the eternal Son-before all time-that the meaning of Fatherhood in God is made clear (John 1:18). In "God the Father" we have a name pointing to that relation which the first Person in the adorable Trinity sustains to "Son" and "Holy Spirit"-also Divine (Matthew 28:19). From this eternal fountain-head flow the relations of God as Father

(1) to the world by creation;

(2) to believers by grace.

Man as created was designed by affinity of nature for sonship to God. The realization of this-his true creature-destiny-was frustrated by sin, and can now only be restored by redemption. Hence, the place of sonship in the gospel, as an unspeakable privilege (1 John 3:1), obtained by grace, through regeneration (John 1:12, 13), and adoption (Romans 8:14, 19). In this relation of nearness and privilege to the Father in the kingdom of His Son (Colossians 1:13), believers are "sons of God" in a sense true of no others. It is a relation, not of nature, but of grace. Fatherhood is now the determinative fact in God's relation to them (Ephesians 3:14). It is an error, nevertheless, to speak of fatherhood as if the whole character of God was therein sufficiently expressed. God is Father, but equally fundamental is His relation to His world as its Moral Ruler and Judge. From eternity to eternity the holy God must pronounce Himself against sin (Romans 1:18); and His fatherly grace cannot avert judgment where the heart remains hard and impenitent (Romans 2:1-9). For the fuller discussion of these points see GOD; CHILDREN OF GOD; TRINITY.

James Orr

GOD, THE FATHER

See FATHER, GOD THE.

Greek

3962. pater -- a father
... a father. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: pater Phonetic Spelling:
(pat-ayr') Short Definition: father, Father, ancestor Definition: father ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3962.htm - 8k

3995. pentheros -- a father-in-law
... a father-in-law. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: pentheros Phonetic
Spelling: (pen-ther-os') Short Definition: a father-in-law Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3995.htm - 6k

5. Abba -- Abba, father
... Abba, father. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Abba Phonetic
Spelling: (ab-bah') Short Definition: Father Definition: Abba, Father. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5.htm - 6k

2291. Thara -- Terah, the father of Abraham
... Terah, the father of Abraham. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Thara Phonetic Spelling: (thar'-ah) Short Definition: Terah Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2291.htm - 6k

914. Barachias -- Barachiah, the father of a man killed in the ...
... Barachiah, the father of a man killed in the temple. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Barachias Phonetic Spelling: (bar-akh-ee'-as) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/914.htm - 6k

2421. Iessai -- Jesse, the father of King David
... Jesse, the father of King David. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Iessai Phonetic Spelling: (es-es-sah'-ee) Short Definition: Jesse ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2421.htm - 6k

3969. Patrobas -- "father's life," Patrobas, a Christian
... "father's life ... Word Origin for Patrobios (a comp. of pater and bios) Definition
"father's life," Patrobas, a Christian NASB Word Usage Patrobas (1). Patrobas. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3969.htm - 6k

2197. Zacharias -- Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist ...
... Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, Zechariah, the son of Barachiah. Part
of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Zacharias Phonetic Spelling: (dzakh ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2197.htm - 6k

2384. Iakob -- Jacob, the son of Isaac, also the father of Joseph ...
... Jacob, the son of Isaac, also the father of Joseph, Mary's husband. Part of Speech:
Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Iakob Phonetic Spelling: (ee-ak ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2384.htm - 6k

2797. Kis -- Kish, the father of King Saul
... Kish, the father of King Saul. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Kis Phonetic Spelling: (kis) Short Definition: Kish Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2797.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1. ab -- father
... 5624, 1. ab. 2 . father. Transliteration: ab Phonetic Spelling: (awb)
Short Definition: father. Word Origin from an unused word ...
/hebrew/1.htm - 6k

2524. cham -- husband's father
... 2523, 2524. cham. 2525 . husband's father. Transliteration: cham Phonetic
Spelling: (khawm) Short Definition: father-in-law. Word ...
/hebrew/2524.htm - 6k

2. ab -- father
... 1, 2. ab. 3 . father. Transliteration: ab Phonetic Spelling: (ab) Short
Definition: father. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding ...
/hebrew/2.htm - 5k

1160. Beor -- "a burning," father of an Edomite king, also the ...
... Beor. 1161 . "a burning," father of an Edomite king, also the father of Balaam.
Transliteration: Beor Phonetic Spelling: (beh-ore') Short Definition: Beor. ...
/hebrew/1160.htm - 6k

85. Abraham -- "exalted father," the father of the Jewish nation
... 84, 85. Abraham. 86 . "exalted father," the father of the Jewish nation.
Transliteration: Abraham Phonetic Spelling: (ab-raw-hawm') Short Definition: Abraham ...
/hebrew/85.htm - 6k

42. Abinoam -- "my father is delight," the father of Barak
... 41, 42. Abinoam. 43 . "my father is delight," the father of Barak. Transliteration:
Abinoam Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-no'-am) Short Definition: Abinoam. ...
/hebrew/42.htm - 6k

2860b. chothen -- wife's father or mother
... 2860a, 2860b. chothen. 2861 . wife's father or mother. Transliteration:
chothen Short Definition: father-in-law. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/2860b.htm - 5k

25. Abi Gibon -- father of Gibeon
Abi Gibon. 24, 25. Abi Gibon. 26 . father of Gibeon. Transliteration: Abi Gibon
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee' ghib-one') Short Definition: Gibeon. ... father of Gibeon ...
/hebrew/25.htm - 6k

5369. Ner -- father of Abner, also the father of Kish
... 5368, 5369. Ner. 5370 . father of Abner, also the father of Kish.
Transliteration: Ner Phonetic Spelling: (nare) Short Definition: Ner. ...
/hebrew/5369.htm - 6k

256. Achab -- "father's brother," a king of Isr., also a false ...
... 255, 256. Achab. 257 . "father's brother," a king of Isr., also a false prophet.
Transliteration: Achab Phonetic Spelling: (akh-awb') Short Definition: Ahab ...
/hebrew/256.htm - 6k

Library

The Father Glorified
... THE FATHER GLORIFIED. Herein is My Father Glorified, that Ye Bear Much Fruit"John
15..8. ... In the disciple who bears much fruit, the Father is glorified. ...
/.../the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/the father glorified.htm

The Hands of the Father.
... THE HANDS OF THE FATHER. "Father, into thy hand I commend my spirit.""
St Luke 23:46. Neither St Matthew nor St Mark tells us of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the hands of the father.htm

Father and Judge
... THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER FATHER AND JUDGE. 'If ye call on Him as Father,
who without respect of persons judgeth according to every ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/father and judge.htm

What is Said of the Father and Son Together, and what Not.
... Book VI. Chapter 2 ."What is Said of the Father and Son Together, and What
Not. 3. But if nothing is spoken of the Father as such ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 2 what is said.htm

'Our Father'
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII 'OUR FATHER'. 'Our Father which art in heaven.'"Matthew
6:9. The words of Christ, like the works of God, are inexhaustible. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/our father.htm

Going to the Father
... GOING TO THE FATHER. "I go to my Father.""John 14:12. WRITTEN AFTER THE DEATH
OF A FRIEND. You can ... religion. That word was Father. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/going to the father.htm

His Father
... HIS FATHER. This ... Epistles. There, in every one of the Epistles addressed to
the Churches (seventeen times), it is always "OUR" Father. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/his father.htm

Whether the Son is in the Father, and Conversely?
... OF EQUALITY AND LIKENESS AMONG THE DIVINE PERSONS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether
the Son is in the Father, and conversely? Objection 1: It ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the son is in.htm

The Father and the Son are Together one Wisdom, as one Essence ...
... Book VII. Chapter 2."The Father and the Son are Together One Wisdom, as
One Essence, Although Not Together One Word. 3. Therefore ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 2 the father and the.htm

Glory to the Father Be,
... DOXOLOGIES. Glory to the Father be,. 7.7.7.7 James Montgomery. IV. Glory to the
Father be,. Equal glory to the Son; And the Holy Spirit,"Three,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/glory to the father be.htm

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Father

The position and authority of the father as the head of the family are expressly assumed and sanctioned in Scripture, as a likeness of that of the Almighty over his creatures. It lies of course at the root of that so-called patriarchal government, (Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 11:3) which was introductory to the more definite systems which followed, and which in part, but not wholly, superseded it. The father's blessing was regarded as conferring special benefit, but his malediction special injury, on those on whom it fell, (Genesis 9:25,27; 27:27-40; 48:15,20; 49:1) ... and so also the sin of a parent was held to affect, in certain cases, the welfare of his descendants. (2 Kings 5:27) The command to honor parents is noticed by St. Paul as the only one of the Decalogue which bore a distinct promise, (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2) and disrespect towards them was condemned by the law as one of the worst crimes. (Exodus 21:15,17; 1 Timothy 1:9) It is to this well-recognized theory of parental authority and supremacy that the very various uses of the term "father" in Scripture are due. "Fathers" is used in the sense of seniors, (Acts 7:2; 22:1) and of parents in general, or ancestors. (Daniel 5:2; Jeremiah 27:7; Matthew 23:30,32)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Father

Is often synonymous with ancestor, founder, or originator, as Genesis 4:20-21 John 8:56 Romans 4:16. Joseph was a father to Pharoah, Genesis 45:8, as his counselor and provider. God is the FATHER of men, as their Creator, De 32:6 Isaiah 63:16 64:8 Luke 3:38. But as we have forfeited the rights of children by our sins, it is only through Christ that we can call God by that endearing name, "our Father," John 20:17 Romans 8:15-17.

In patriarchal times, a father was master and judge in his own household, and exercised and authority almost unlimited over his family. Filial disobedience or disrespect was a high offence. Under the law, certain acts of children were capital crimes, Exodus 21:15,17 Le 20:9; and the father was required to bring his son to the public tribunal, De 21:18-21. See MOTHER.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A name applied (1) to any ancestor (Deuteronomy 1:11; 1 Kings 15:11; Matthew 3:9; 23:30, etc.); and (2) as a title of respect to a chief, ruler, or elder, etc. (Judges 17:10; 18:19; 1 Samuel 10:12; 2 Kings 2:12; Matthew 23:9, etc.). (3) The author or beginner of anything is also so called; e.g., Jabal and Jubal (Genesis 4:20, 21; Comp. Job 38:28).

Applied to God (Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 32:6; 2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm 89:27, 28, etc.).

(1.) As denoting his covenant relation to the Jews (Jeremiah 31:9; Isaiah 63:16; 64:8; John 8:41, etc.).

(2.) Believers are called God's "sons" (John 1:12; Romans 8:16; Matthew 6:4, 8, 15, 18; 10:20, 29). They also call him "Father" (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:4)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent.

2. (n.) A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in the plural, fathers, ancestors.

3. (n.) One who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance, affectionate care, counsel, or protection.

4. (n.) A respectful mode of address to an old man.

5. (n.) A senator of ancient Rome.

6. (n.) A dignitary of the church, a superior of a convent, a confessor (called also father confessor), or a priest; also, the eldest member of a profession, or of a legislative assembly, etc.

7. (n.) One of the chief ecclesiastical authorities of the first centuries after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers.

8. (n.) One who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer, author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or occupation; a distinguished example or teacher.

9. (n.) The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in the Trinity.

10. (v. t.) To make one's self the father of; to beget.

11. (v. t.) To take as one's own child; to adopt; hence, to assume as one's own work; to acknowledge one's self author of or responsible for (a statement, policy, etc.).

12. (v. t.) To provide with a father.

Thesaurus

Father (11359 Occurrences)
... They also call him "Father" (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2;
Galatians 1:4). ... 10. (vt) To make one's self the father of; to beget. 11. ...
/f/father.htm - 21k

Father-in-law (25 Occurrences)
Father-in-law. Fatherinlaw, Father-in-law. Fatherless . ... (n.) The father of one's
husband or wife; -- correlative to son-in-law and daughter-in-law. Int. ...
/f/father-in-law.htm - 15k

Nursing-father (2 Occurrences)
Nursing-father. Nursing, Nursing-father. Nursing-fathers .
Multi-Version Concordance Nursing-father (2 Occurrences). ...
/n/nursing-father.htm - 7k

Father's (251 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia FATHER'S HOUSE, FATHERS' HOUSE. (beth
'abh, beth 'abhoth): Father's house in the Old Testament is ...
/f/father's.htm - 40k

Salmon (7 Occurrences)
... sal'-mon, (salmon, "investiture" (Ruth 4:21), salmah, "clothing" (Ruth 4:20), salma'
(1 Chronicles 2:11, 51, 54); Salmon): (1) The father of Boaz, the husband ...
/s/salmon.htm - 11k

Kish (18 Occurrences)
... 2:5). (5.) A Benjamite, the son of Abiel, and father of king Saul (1 Samuel
9:1, 3; 10:11, 21; 14:51; 2 Samuel 21:14). All that ...
/k/kish.htm - 15k

Shem (17 Occurrences)
... 2. History, and the Nations Descended from Him: Shem, who is called "the father
of all the children of Eber," was born when Noah had attained the age of 500 ...
/s/shem.htm - 15k

Hamor (13 Occurrences)
... ha'-mor (chamor, "an ass"; Emmor): Hamor was the father of Shechem from whom Jacob
bought a piece of ground on his return from Paddan-aram for one hundred ...
/h/hamor.htm - 12k

Serveth (24 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Philippians 2:22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child 'serveth'
a father, 'so' he served with me in furtherance of the gospel. (ASV YLT). ...
/s/serveth.htm - 13k

Snakes (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 12:11 If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder: my father
gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes. ...
/s/snakes.htm - 13k

Bible Concordance

Father (11359 Occurrences)

Father appears 11359 times in 12 translations.

You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search.

Subtopics

Father

Father of all Lies

Father: An Idolatrous Title of Priests

Father: Forbidden to be Used As a Title Among the Disciples

Fatherhood

Related Terms

Father-in-law (25 Occurrences)