αἰών (G165) — Greek Lexicon

αἰών

aiṓn

G165 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A segment, period, or span of time; in contexts, a specific era, epoch, or prescribed age, often with distinctive character or significance. αἰών can refer both to a finite lifetime, a historical period (such as a generation or age), or, more abstractly, to the totality of temporal existence ('world-age'). In some contexts, it can imply an ongoing perpetuity or a time of indefinite duration, and by extension, the world order or cosmos as structured within a given age.

Semantic Range

lifetime, era, epoch, age, period of time, indefinite duration, world order, perpetuity, eternity (in some contexts), world (archaic or poetic sense)

Root / Etymology

Related to ἀεί (always, ever), possibly through a form *αἰϝών; originally conveyed the sense of 'life' or 'lifetime,' then developed to signify age, era, or epoch. The precise origin is uncertain, but connection to Indo-European roots meaning 'vital force, life' has been suggested.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, αἰών most commonly referred to a lifetime or the duration of a person's life, or more abstractly, the span or era marking a significant period. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, αἰών frequently denotes a defined age or epoch (such as 'this present age' vs. 'the age to come'), sometimes marked by moral or cosmological transitions. It also developed the sense of an epochal world or cosmic order but is not synonymous with 'world' in a purely physical or spatial sense (for which κόσμος is standard). In various scriptural contexts, it can refer to an unspecified but significant future or enduring era, especially in expressions about ongoing or future realities (e.g., 'unto the ages of ages,' meaning 'forever'). Early English translations sometimes rendered αἰών as 'world,' but this can obscure the temporal nuance; 'age' or 'era' typically better reflects the original contexts. Not to be confused with χρόνος, which refers to chronological or measurable time.

Translation Consistency

primary "age" 121 occurrences

Most natural, flexible English noun covering lifetime, era, epoch, and the broader sense of a world-order or eternity. 'Age' is the simple base form that can be inflected to 'ages' or given possessives as needed, and matches the common usage patterns in the P2 data (55 occurrences of 'age' vs. 54 of 'ages'), so it best serves consistency and natural readability.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as ἀεί; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):--age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end). Compare χρόνος.

Root Family

αἰών (aiōn) — life, lifetime, age, epoch

Root αἰων- life (lifetime), age, epoch

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G165-01`	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age	31
`G165-02`	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages	30
`G165-04`	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages	27
`G165-05`	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age	25
`G165-03`	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age	8
`G165-06`	αἰῶσιν	aiosin	`N DAT M PL`	ages	to the ages	ages	1

Occurrences in Scripture

122 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G165-03`	Matthew 12:32	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-05`	Matthew 13:22	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	of an age
`G165-05`	Matthew 13:39	αἰῶνός	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	of-age	of an age	of an age
`G165-05`	Matthew 13:40	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	of an age
`G165-05`	Matthew 13:49	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-01`	Matthew 21:19	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	ever	an age	an age
`G165-05`	Matthew 24:3	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-05`	Matthew 28:20	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	of the world	of an age	age
`G165-01`	Mark 3:29	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-05`	Mark 4:19	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	world	of an age	age
`G165-03`	Mark 10:30	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-01`	Mark 11:14	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age
`G165-02`	Luke 1:33	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-01`	Luke 1:55	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-05`	Luke 1:70	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	of an age
`G165-05`	Luke 16:8	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-03`	Luke 18:30	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-05`	Luke 20:34	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-05`	Luke 20:35	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	the age	of an age	age
`G165-01`	John 4:14	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 6:51	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 6:58	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 8:35	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 8:35	αἰῶνα	aiona-2	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 8:51	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 8:52	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-05`	John 9:32	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	world	of an age	age
`G165-01`	John 10:28	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 11:26	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	eternity	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 12:34	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	ever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 13:8	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-01`	John 14:16	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	ever	an age	an age
`G165-05`	Acts 3:21	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	beginning	of an age	of an age
`G165-05`	Acts 15:18	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	eternity	of an age	of an age
`G165-02`	Romans 1:25	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-02`	Romans 9:5	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-02`	Romans 11:36	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-03`	Romans 12:2	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-02`	Romans 16:27	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-05`	1 Corinthians 1:20	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	world	of an age	of an age
`G165-05`	1 Corinthians 2:6	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-05`	1 Corinthians 2:6	αἰῶνος	aionos-2	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-04`	1 Corinthians 2:7	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	of ages
`G165-05`	1 Corinthians 2:8	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-03`	1 Corinthians 3:18	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-01`	1 Corinthians 8:13	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-04`	1 Corinthians 10:11	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-05`	2 Corinthians 4:4	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-01`	2 Corinthians 9:9	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-02`	2 Corinthians 11:31	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-05`	Galatians 1:4	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-02`	Galatians 1:5	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Galatians 1:5	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-03`	Ephesians 1:21	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-01`	Ephesians 2:2	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	course	an age	an age
`G165-06`	Ephesians 2:7	αἰῶσιν	aiosin	`N DAT M PL`	ages	to the ages	ages
`G165-04`	Ephesians 3:9	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-04`	Ephesians 3:11	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-05`	Ephesians 3:21	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-04`	Ephesians 3:21	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Philippians 4:20	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Philippians 4:20	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-04`	Colossians 1:26	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-04`	1 Timothy 1:17	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	eternal	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	1 Timothy 1:17	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ever	ages	ages
`G165-04`	1 Timothy 1:17	αἰώνων	aionon-2	`N GEN M PL`	ever	of ages	ages
`G165-03`	1 Timothy 6:17	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-01`	2 Timothy 4:10	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	world	an age	an age
`G165-02`	2 Timothy 4:18	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	2 Timothy 4:18	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-03`	Titus 2:12	αἰῶνι	aioni	`N DAT M SG`	age	in the age	age
`G165-02`	Hebrews 1:2	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	worlds	ages	ages
`G165-01`	Hebrews 1:8	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-05`	Hebrews 1:8	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	of an age
`G165-01`	Hebrews 5:6	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	ever	an age	an age
`G165-05`	Hebrews 6:5	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	age	of an age	age
`G165-01`	Hebrews 6:20	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	Hebrews 7:17	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	ever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	Hebrews 7:21	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	Hebrews 7:24	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-01`	Hebrews 7:28	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-04`	Hebrews 9:26	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	of-ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Hebrews 11:3	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	worlds	ages	ages
`G165-02`	Hebrews 13:8	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	forever	ages	ages
`G165-02`	Hebrews 13:21	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Hebrews 13:21	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ever	of ages	ages
`G165-01`	1 Peter 1:25	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-02`	1 Peter 4:11	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	1 Peter 4:11	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	1 Peter 5:11	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ever	ages	ages
`G165-05`	2 Peter 3:18	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	of eternity	of an age	of an age
`G165-01`	1 John 2:17	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-01`	2 John 1:2	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	age	an age	an age
`G165-01`	Jude 1:13	αἰῶνα	aiona	`N ACC M SG`	forever	an age	an age
`G165-05`	Jude 1:25	αἰῶνος	aionos	`N GEN M SG`	time	of an age	age
`G165-02`	Jude 1:25	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 1:6	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 1:18	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 1:18	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 4:9	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 4:9	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 4:10	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 4:10	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 5:13	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 5:13	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 7:12	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 7:12	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 10:6	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 10:6	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 11:15	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 11:15	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	of ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 14:11	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ever	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 14:11	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	and-ever	of ages	of ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 15:3	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	of ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 15:7	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 15:7	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	of ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 19:3	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 19:3	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 20:10	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 20:10	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	ages	of ages	ages
`G165-02`	Revelation 22:5	αἰῶνας	aionas	`N ACC M PL`	ages	ages	ages
`G165-04`	Revelation 22:5	αἰώνων	aionon	`N GEN M PL`	of ages	of ages	ages

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