Strong's Lexicon aparché: Firstfruits Original Word: ἀπαρχή Word Origin: From ἀπό (apo, meaning "from") and ἀρχή (arché, meaning "beginning" or "first") Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H7225 (רֵאשִׁית, reshith): Often translated as "beginning" or "firstfruits," used in contexts like Genesis 1:1 and Proverbs 3:9. - H1061 (בִּכּוּרִים, bikkurim): Specifically refers to the firstfruits offering, as seen in passages like Exodus 23:16 and Leviticus 2:14. Usage: The term "aparché" refers to the first portion of a harvest that is set aside and offered to God. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the first converts in a region, the resurrection of Christ as the first of those who will be raised, and the Holy Spirit as a foretaste of the believer's future inheritance. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of firstfruits was deeply embedded in the agricultural and religious life of the people. The firstfruits were the initial yield of the harvest, which were offered to God as an act of gratitude and acknowledgment of His provision. This practice was a part of the Mosaic Law (e.g., Exodus 23:19, Leviticus 23:10) and symbolized the dedication of the entire harvest to God. In the Greco-Roman world, similar practices existed, where the first portion of produce or livestock was offered to deities. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and arché Definition the beginning of a sacrifice, i.e. the first fruit NASB Translation first convert (1), first fruits (6), first piece (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 536: ἀπαρχήἀπαρχή, ἀπαρχῆς, ἡ (from ἀπάρχομαι: a. to offer firstlings or first-fruits; b. to take away the first-fruits; cf. ἀπό in ἀποδεκατόω), in the Sept. generally equivalent to רֵאשִׁית; the first-fruits of the productions of the earth (both those in a natural state and those prepared for use by hand), which were offered to God; cf. Winers RWB under the word Erstlinge (BB. DD. under the word b. of persons superior in excellence to others of the same class: so in Revelation 14:4 of a certain class of Christians sacred and dear to God and Christ beyond all others (Schol. ad Euripides, Or. 96 ἀπαρχή ἐλέγετο οὐ μόνον πρῶτον τῇ τάξει, ἀλλά καί τό πρῶτον τῇ τιμή). c. οἱ ἔχοντες τήν ἀπαρχήν τοῦ πνεύματος who have the first-fruits (of future blessings) in the Spirit (τοῦ πνεύματος is genitive of apposition), Romans 8:23; cf. what Winer § 50, 8 a. says in opposition to those (e. g. Meyer, but see Weiss in edition 6) who take τοῦ πνεύματος as a partitive genitive, so that οἱ ἔχοντες τήν ἀπαρχήν τοῦ πνεύματος are distinguished from the great multitude who will receive the Spirit subsequently. (In Greek writings from (Sophocles) Herodotus down.) From a compound of apo and archomai; a beginning of sacrifice, i.e. The (Jewish) first-fruit (figuratively) -- first-fruits. see GREEK apo see GREEK archomai Englishman's Concordance Romans 8:23 N-AFSGRK: αὐτοὶ τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τοῦ πνεύματος NAS: having the first fruits of the Spirit, KJV: which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, INT: ourselves the first-fruit of the Spirit Romans 11:16 N-NFS Romans 16:5 N-NFS 1 Corinthians 15:20 N-NFS 1 Corinthians 15:23 N-NFS 1 Corinthians 16:15 N-NFS James 1:18 N-AFS Revelation 14:4 N-NFS Strong's Greek 536 |
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