Word Study for G744 (ἀρχαῖος)

archaîos /ar-khah'-yos/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀρχή

Meaningoriginal or primeval

KJV usage(them of) old (time).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of archaîos — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word archaîos, represented by G744, refers to that which is original or primeval. Derived from ἀρχή, it signifies something ancient, from the beginning, or belonging to a former time. It appears 12 times across 12 unique verses in the Bible. It is used to describe people, concepts, and even the world itself as belonging to a past age.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G744 is used to establish a contrast between a former state and a new one. In 2 Corinthians, "old things" (G744) are said to have passed away for the believer in Christ, who has become a "new creature" 2 Corinthians 5:17. The term also identifies a key spiritual adversary, describing Satan as "that old (G744) serpent" (Revelation 12:9, Revelation 20:2). It is used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to refer to the teachings heard by "them of old time" (Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:33), setting a foundation for his own authoritative instruction. The word can also refer to the "old world" that was destroyed in the flood 2 Peter 2:5 or to individuals, such as an "old disciple" Acts 21:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of G744 in context:

G2537 kainós (new): This word is used in direct opposition to G744 to describe the "new creature" and how "all things are become new," highlighting a complete transformation from a former state 2 Corinthians 5:17.
G3789 óphis (serpent): This term is explicitly linked to G744 to identify the Devil, or Satan, as "that old serpent," emphasizing his ancient and cunning nature as an adversary (Revelation 12:9, Revelation 20:2).
G2889 kósmos (world): This refers to the orderly arrangement of the world and its inhabitants. It is paired with G744 to describe the "old world" that God did not spare from the flood, contrasting it with the world that followed 2 Peter 2:5.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G744 is significant, often serving to frame a transition in God's redemptive plan.

A New Creation: The declaration that "old things are passed away" establishes a clear line between life before and after salvation in Christ. The believer's former identity is considered G744, or "old," and replaced by a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17.
The Ancient Enemy: By labeling the dragon (G1404) as the "old serpent," scripture connects the final enemy of God's people with the primeval deceiver from the beginning, identifying Satan (G4567) as a long-standing foe of humanity Revelation 12:9.
Foundation for Fulfilment: Jesus' references to the teachings given to "them of old time" do not necessarily dismiss them, but rather use their ancient authority as the starting point for a deeper, fulfilled understanding of the law that He brings (Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:27).

Summary

In summary, G744 is more than just a label for age. It points to what is foundational, primeval, and often, what is being superseded by a new work of God. Whether describing the "old world," the "old serpent," or the "old things" of a believer's past, archaîos serves to highlight the profound and transformative nature of God's actions throughout history and in the life of an individual.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as an adjective across 12 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Dative Plural Masculine 3×
Genitive Plural Feminine 2×
Genitive Plural Masculine 2×
Nominative Singular Masculine 2×
Dative Singular Masculine 1×
Genitive Singular Masculine 1×
Nominative Plural Neuter 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew and Acts (3 verses each); never once in the other 21.

Matthew

Luke

Acts

2 Corinthians

2 Peter

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.