### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **patriá**, represented by `{{G3965}}`, refers to paternal descent and can describe a group of families, a whole race, or a nation. It is translated as **family**, **kindred**, and **lineage**. Though derived from the word for father, it appears only **3 times** in **3 unique verses**, each time expanding its scope and significance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{G3965}}` illustrates a progression from the specific to the universal. In its most narrow sense, it establishes physical ancestry, as Joseph is described as being of the "house and **lineage** of David" [[Luke 2:4]]. This specific heritage is what required him to travel to Bethlehem. The term is broadened in Acts, where it refers to "all the **kindreds** of the earth" who are to be blessed through the covenant God made with Abraham [[Acts 3:25]]. Finally, it reaches its most expansive meaning in a spiritual context, describing "the whole **family** in heaven and earth" [[Ephesians 3:15]], a single community of believers named from one source.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the concept of lineage and group identity:
* `{{G3962}}` **patḗr** (a "father"): As the root of **patriá**, this word is foundational to the concept of paternal descent and heritage. The lineage of **patriá** originates from a specific **father** or ancestor.
* `{{G3624}}` **oîkos** (a dwelling... a family): Often used alongside **patriá**, this word refers to a "house" or "household." The phrase "house and lineage" [[Luke 2:4]] combines the immediate family unit with the broader ancestral line.
* `{{G1093}}` **gē** (soil; a region, or the... globe): This word for "earth" provides the setting for the promise that all the **kindreds** of the **earth** will be blessed [[Acts 3:25]] and defines one sphere of the unified spiritual family [[Ephesians 3:15]].
* `{{G3772}}` **ouranós** (the sky; heaven): Paired with "earth" in [[Ephesians 3:15]], this term elevates the concept of **patriá** beyond a terrestrial group to a unified spiritual family that exists in both **heaven** and on earth.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G3965}}` is significant, highlighting key aspects of God's redemptive plan.
* **Messianic Heritage:** The use of **lineage** in [[Luke 2:4]] connects Joseph directly to the royal line of **David** `{{G1138}}`, establishing a crucial link in the fulfillment of messianic prophecy concerning the Savior's ancestry.
* **Covenantal Scope:** In [[Acts 3:25]], **patriá** defines the recipients of God's covenantal promise to **Abraham** `{{G11}}`. The blessing is not for one lineage alone but for "all the **kindreds** of the earth," demonstrating the universal reach of God's grace.
* **Spiritual Unity:** The term culminates in [[Ephesians 3:15]], where it describes the "whole **family** in heaven and earth." This redefines lineage not by blood but by a shared spiritual identity, where all believers are united as a single family.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3965}}` is a term whose meaning deepens with each use in Scripture. It begins by defining a critical physical **lineage** tied to prophetic fulfillment, expands to encompass all the **kindreds** of the earth as heirs of a divine promise, and is ultimately used to describe the unified spiritual **family** of God that spans both heaven and earth. It demonstrates how the biblical concept of family points to a much larger, spiritual reality.
TRV