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γέρων

gérōn

G1088 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An elderly man; a person advanced in age. Primarily denotes an old man, typically marked by visible signs of aging or social position as elder. The term can refer to someone of advanced years in a general sense, or, contextually, someone who participates in the role of an elder or respected senior within a community.

Semantic Range

old man, elderly male, senior person, aged individual, elder (non-technical sense), one advanced in years

Root / Etymology

From the root γερ- as in γῆρας (old age), itself of uncertain Indo-European affinity and possibly pre-Greek origin. The word parallels several ancient Indo-European terms for old age or old people, but a specific root is not firmly established.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, γέρων referred broadly to any old man, often with connotations of respect or authority due to age. In Homeric and later epic, it could indicate a counselor or advisor owing to age and experience (cf. the council of elders in the Iliad). In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the term retained its primary reference to age but could also overlap with official titles for community elders, though less institutionalized than πρεσβύτερος, which became the standard term for a formal officeholder or elder in both civic and synagogue settings, as well as in early assemblies of followers of Jesus. In the Septuagint and New Testament, γέρων is rare and typically refers simply to old men, without the technical, communal office sense of πρεσβύτερος. English translations usually render the word as "old man" or "elderly man," sometimes as "elder," but should not be confused with the formal sense of 'elder' for leaders, which is better represented by πρεσβύτερος.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity (compare γῆρας); aged:--old.

Root Family

γέρων (gerōn) — old, aged, elderly

Root γερ- old, aged, elderly

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1088-01 γέρων geron N NOM M SG old elderly man elderly man 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1088-01 John 3:4 γέρων geron N NOM M SG old elderly man elderly man
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