Strong G4747στοιχεῖον
principle
- Transliteration
- stoicheion
- Pronunciation
- stoy-khi'-on
- Morphology
- Greek Noun Neuter
Definition
Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of G4748; something orderly in arrangement that is (by implication) a serial (basal fundamental 6
initial) constituent (literally) proposition (figuratively): - element principle rudiment.
initial) constituent (literally) proposition (figuratively): - element principle rudiment.
Detailed definition
στοιχεῖον, -ου, τό
[in LXX: Wis.7:17 19:18, 4Ma.12:13 *;]
prop., one of a row (στοῖχος) or series, hence,
1. the shadow-line of a dial (Aristoph.).
2. an elementary sound or letter of the alphabet (Anth., Plut., π.).
3. the elements or rudiments of knowledge (Arist., al.) Heb.5:12; πτωχὰ σ., Gal.4:9; σ. τοῦ κόσμου, Gal.4:3, Col.2:8, 20 (but see infr.).
4. The material elements of the universe (Plat.; LXX, ll. with): 2Pe.3:10 3:12.
5. The heavenly bodies (Ding. Laert.).
6. The demons or tutelary spirits of nature (Enoch., Test., Sol., al.; for this sense in Ga, Col, ll. with, see ICC on Col.2:8; Enc. Bibl., see word " Elements ").†
(AS)
[in LXX: Wis.7:17 19:18, 4Ma.12:13 *;]
prop., one of a row (στοῖχος) or series, hence,
1. the shadow-line of a dial (Aristoph.).
2. an elementary sound or letter of the alphabet (Anth., Plut., π.).
3. the elements or rudiments of knowledge (Arist., al.) Heb.5:12; πτωχὰ σ., Gal.4:9; σ. τοῦ κόσμου, Gal.4:3, Col.2:8, 20 (but see infr.).
4. The material elements of the universe (Plat.; LXX, ll. with): 2Pe.3:10 3:12.
5. The heavenly bodies (Ding. Laert.).
6. The demons or tutelary spirits of nature (Enoch., Test., Sol., al.; for this sense in Ga, Col, ll. with, see ICC on Col.2:8; Enc. Bibl., see word " Elements ").†
(AS)
In the Bible
Strong G4747 appears in 7 verses of the KJV.
Translated in the KJV by
- element4
- rudiment2
- principle1
- the1
First verses
- Galatians 4:3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
- Galatians 4:9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
- Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
- Colossians 2:20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
- Hebrews 5:12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
- 2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
- 2 Peter 3:12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Occurrences by book
Related words
Word family
Detailed Greek dictionary
στοιχεῖον, τό:
I in a form of sun-dial, the shadow of the gnomon, the length of which in feet indicated the time of day, ὅταν ᾖ δεκάπουν τὸ σ. when the shadow is ten feet long, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ecclesiazusae” 652)], see [Refs 4th c.BC+ (Scholia; ὁπηνίκ᾽ ἂν εἴκοσι ποδῶν.. τὸ σ. ᾖ 4th c.BC: Eubulus Comicus 119.7, compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Philemo Comicus 83.)]
II element,
II.1 a simple sound of speech, as the first component of the syllable, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Cratylus” 424d)]; τὸ ῥῶ τὸ σ[Refs 4th c.BC+ (. [prev. work] 426d; γραμμάτων σ. καὶ συλλαβάς [prev. author] “Tht.” 202e; σ. ἐστι φωνὴ ἀδιαίρετος 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Poetica” 1456b22; φωνῆς σ. καὶ ἀρχαὶ δοκοῦσιν εἶναι ταῦτ᾽ ἐξ ὧν σύγκεινται αἱ φωναὶ πρώτων [prev. author] “Metaphorical” 998a23, compare 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 15.6:)] —στοιχεῖα therefore, strictly, were different from letters (γράμματα), [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Diogenes Babylonius Stoicus 3.213, Scholia 2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus p.32, +others)], but are frequently not clearly distinguished from them, as by [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Tht.” [same place], “Cra.” 426d; τὰ σ. τῶν γραμμάτων τὰ τέτταρα καὶ εἴκοσι 4th c.BC: Aeneas Tacticus 31.21)]; σ. ε ¯ letter ε (in a filing-system), [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (“BGU” 959.2 (2nd c.AD))]; ἀκουόμενα σ. letters which are pronounced, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Adverbiis;” 165.17)]; γράμματα and ς. are expressly identified by [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus 630.32)]; the ς. and its name are confused by [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Syntaxi;” 29.1, but distinguished by Hdn.Gr. cited in 4th-5th c.AD: Choeroboscus Grammaticus “Scholia in Theodosii Canones” 1.340, Scholia 2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus [same place]:)] — κατὰ στοιχεῖον in the order of the letters, alphabetically, [Refs 1st c.AD+ (Anthologia Graeca 11.15 (2nd c.AD: Ammianus Epigrammaticus); uncertain meaning in 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.422e.)]
II.2 in Physics, στοιχεῖα were the components into which matter is ultimately divisible, elements, reduced to four by Empedocles, who called them ῥιζὤματα, the word στοιχεῖα being first used (accusative to [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Eudemus Philosophus cited in 6th c.AD: Simplicius Philosophus “in Aristotelis Physica commentaria - Comm. in Arist. Graeca” 7.13) by 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus)], τὰ πρῶτα οἱονπερεὶ σ, ἐξ ὧν ἡμεῖς τε συγκείμεθα καὶ τἄλλα [Refs (“Tht.” 201e)]; τὰ τῶν πάντων σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+ (“Plt.” 278d; αὐτὰ τιθέμενοι σ. τοῦ παντός “Ti.” 48b, compare 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “de Generatione et Corruptione” 314a29, “Metaphorical” 998a28, 4th-3rd c.BC: Theophrastus Philosophus “de Sensu” 3, +others, 3rd c.AD(?): Diogenes Laertius 3.24; σ. σωματικά 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Meteorologica” 338a22, 4th-3rd c.BC: Theophrastus Philosophus “Fragmenta” 46)]; ἄτομα σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-3rd c.BC: Epicurus Philosophus “Epistulae” 2p.36U.)]; equivalent to ἀρχαί, Thales cited in [Refs 6th c.BC+ (1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.875c, 6th c.BC: Anaximander Philosophus cited in 3rd c.AD(?): Diogenes Laertius 2.1, Anonymus cited in 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Physica” 188b28, “Metaphorical” 1059b23, +others; but 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus)] also distinguishes ς. from ἀρχή as less comprehensive, [Refs ([prev. work]1070b23)]; τὰ σ. ὕλη τῆς οὐσίας [Refs ([prev. work]1088b27)]; τρία τὰ σ. [Refs ([prev. author] “Ph.” 189b16)]; distinguished from ἀρχή on other grounds by [Refs (“Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta” 2.111)]; ς. used in three senses by Chrysipp., [Refs ([prev. work]136, cf. Zeno [prev. work]1.24, +others)]; in Medicine, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 6.3, 420, +others, 15.7, +others; Αἰθέρ, κόσμου σ. ἄριστον 5th-6th c.AD: Orphica “Hymni” 5.4)]; ἀνηλεὲς σ., of the sea, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Babrius Fabularum Scriptor 71.4)]; τὸ σ., of the sea, [Refs 1st c.AD+ (1st-2nd c.AD: Polemo Sophista “Cynegirus” 44)]; ἄμφω τὰ σ., i.e. land and sea,[Refs 2nd c.AD+ ([prev. work] 11, compare 2nd c.AD: Herodianus Grammaticus 3.1.5, 4th c.AD: Himerius Sophista “Eclogae” 2.18.)]
II.3 the elements of proof, e.g. in general reasoning the πρῶτοι συλλογισμοί, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Metaphysica” 1014b1)]; in Geometry, the propositions whose proof is involved in the proof of other propositions,[Refs ([prev. work] 998a26, 1014a36)]; title of geometrical works by Hippocrates of Chios, Leon, Theudios, and Euclid, [Refs 5th c.AD+ (5th c.AD: Proclus Philosophus “in primum Euclidis librum commentarius” pp.66,67, 68F.)]: hence applied to whatever is one, small, and capable of many uses, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Metaphysica” 1014b3)]; to whatever is most universal, e.g. the unit and the point,[Refs ([prev. work] 6)]; the line and the circle, [Refs ([prev. author] “Top.” 158b35; the τόπος (argument applicable to a variety of subjects), [prev. work] 120b13, +others, “Rh.” 1358a35, +others; στοιχεῖα τὰ γένη λέγουσί τινες [prev. author] “Metaphorical” 1014b10)]; τὸ νόμισμα σ. καὶ πέρας τῆς ἀλλαγῆς coin is the unit.. of exchange, [Refs ([prev. author] “Pol.” 1257b23)]; in Grammar, σ. τῆς λέξεως parts of speech, [Refs 1st c.BC+ (1st c.BC: Dionysius Halicarnassensis “de Compositione Verborum” 2)]; but also, the letters composing a word, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Syntaxi;” 313.7)]; letters of the alphabet, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Diogenes Cynicus Philosophus Bab. “Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta” 3.213)]; σ. τοῦ λόγου the elements of speech, i.e. words, or the kinds of words, parts of speech, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-3rd c.BC: Theophrastus Philosophus cited in 6th c.AD: Simplicius Philosophus “in Aristotelis Categorias commentarium - Comm. in Arist. Graeca” 10.24, 3rd c.BC: Chrysippus Stoicus 2.45, 2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Syntaxi;” 7.1, 313.6.)]
II.4 generally, elementary or fundamental principle, ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ τῶν σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Memorabilia” 2.1.1; σ. χρηστῆς πολιτείας 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 2.16)]; τὸ πολλάκις εἰρημένον μέγιστον σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1309b16; σ. τῆς ὅλης τέχνης 4th c.BC(?): Nicolaus Comicus 1.30, compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Epicurus Philosophus “Epistulae” 1p.10U., “Ep.” 3p.59U., 1st c.BC: Philodemus Gadarensis Epigrammaticus “Rh.” 1.127S., 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 6.306.)]
II.5 ἄστρων στοιχεῖα the stars, [NT+4th c.AD+ (4th c.AD(?): Manetho Astrologus 4.624; σ. καυσούμενα λυθήσεται NT.2Pet.3.10, compare 12)]; especially planets, στοιχείῳ Διός [Refs 1st c.AD+ (“PLond.” 1.130.60 (1st-2nd c.AD))]; so perhaps in [NT (NT.Gal.4.3, NT.Col.2.8)]; especially a sign of the Zodiac, [Refs 3rd c.AD+ (3rd c.AD(?): Diogenes Laertius 6.102)]; of the Great Bear, [Refs (“PMag.Par.” 1.1303.)]
II.6 σ. ={ἀριθμός}, as etymology of Στοιχαδεύς, Scholia 2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus p.192 H.
I in a form of sun-dial, the shadow of the gnomon, the length of which in feet indicated the time of day, ὅταν ᾖ δεκάπουν τὸ σ. when the shadow is ten feet long, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ecclesiazusae” 652)], see [Refs 4th c.BC+ (Scholia; ὁπηνίκ᾽ ἂν εἴκοσι ποδῶν.. τὸ σ. ᾖ 4th c.BC: Eubulus Comicus 119.7, compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Philemo Comicus 83.)]
II element,
II.1 a simple sound of speech, as the first component of the syllable, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Cratylus” 424d)]; τὸ ῥῶ τὸ σ[Refs 4th c.BC+ (. [prev. work] 426d; γραμμάτων σ. καὶ συλλαβάς [prev. author] “Tht.” 202e; σ. ἐστι φωνὴ ἀδιαίρετος 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Poetica” 1456b22; φωνῆς σ. καὶ ἀρχαὶ δοκοῦσιν εἶναι ταῦτ᾽ ἐξ ὧν σύγκεινται αἱ φωναὶ πρώτων [prev. author] “Metaphorical” 998a23, compare 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 15.6:)] —στοιχεῖα therefore, strictly, were different from letters (γράμματα), [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Diogenes Babylonius Stoicus 3.213, Scholia 2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus p.32, +others)], but are frequently not clearly distinguished from them, as by [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Tht.” [same place], “Cra.” 426d; τὰ σ. τῶν γραμμάτων τὰ τέτταρα καὶ εἴκοσι 4th c.BC: Aeneas Tacticus 31.21)]; σ. ε ¯ letter ε (in a filing-system), [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (“BGU” 959.2 (2nd c.AD))]; ἀκουόμενα σ. letters which are pronounced, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Adverbiis;” 165.17)]; γράμματα and ς. are expressly identified by [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus 630.32)]; the ς. and its name are confused by [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Syntaxi;” 29.1, but distinguished by Hdn.Gr. cited in 4th-5th c.AD: Choeroboscus Grammaticus “Scholia in Theodosii Canones” 1.340, Scholia 2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus [same place]:)] — κατὰ στοιχεῖον in the order of the letters, alphabetically, [Refs 1st c.AD+ (Anthologia Graeca 11.15 (2nd c.AD: Ammianus Epigrammaticus); uncertain meaning in 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.422e.)]
II.2 in Physics, στοιχεῖα were the components into which matter is ultimately divisible, elements, reduced to four by Empedocles, who called them ῥιζὤματα, the word στοιχεῖα being first used (accusative to [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Eudemus Philosophus cited in 6th c.AD: Simplicius Philosophus “in Aristotelis Physica commentaria - Comm. in Arist. Graeca” 7.13) by 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus)], τὰ πρῶτα οἱονπερεὶ σ, ἐξ ὧν ἡμεῖς τε συγκείμεθα καὶ τἄλλα [Refs (“Tht.” 201e)]; τὰ τῶν πάντων σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+ (“Plt.” 278d; αὐτὰ τιθέμενοι σ. τοῦ παντός “Ti.” 48b, compare 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “de Generatione et Corruptione” 314a29, “Metaphorical” 998a28, 4th-3rd c.BC: Theophrastus Philosophus “de Sensu” 3, +others, 3rd c.AD(?): Diogenes Laertius 3.24; σ. σωματικά 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Meteorologica” 338a22, 4th-3rd c.BC: Theophrastus Philosophus “Fragmenta” 46)]; ἄτομα σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-3rd c.BC: Epicurus Philosophus “Epistulae” 2p.36U.)]; equivalent to ἀρχαί, Thales cited in [Refs 6th c.BC+ (1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.875c, 6th c.BC: Anaximander Philosophus cited in 3rd c.AD(?): Diogenes Laertius 2.1, Anonymus cited in 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Physica” 188b28, “Metaphorical” 1059b23, +others; but 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus)] also distinguishes ς. from ἀρχή as less comprehensive, [Refs ([prev. work]1070b23)]; τὰ σ. ὕλη τῆς οὐσίας [Refs ([prev. work]1088b27)]; τρία τὰ σ. [Refs ([prev. author] “Ph.” 189b16)]; distinguished from ἀρχή on other grounds by [Refs (“Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta” 2.111)]; ς. used in three senses by Chrysipp., [Refs ([prev. work]136, cf. Zeno [prev. work]1.24, +others)]; in Medicine, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 6.3, 420, +others, 15.7, +others; Αἰθέρ, κόσμου σ. ἄριστον 5th-6th c.AD: Orphica “Hymni” 5.4)]; ἀνηλεὲς σ., of the sea, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Babrius Fabularum Scriptor 71.4)]; τὸ σ., of the sea, [Refs 1st c.AD+ (1st-2nd c.AD: Polemo Sophista “Cynegirus” 44)]; ἄμφω τὰ σ., i.e. land and sea,[Refs 2nd c.AD+ ([prev. work] 11, compare 2nd c.AD: Herodianus Grammaticus 3.1.5, 4th c.AD: Himerius Sophista “Eclogae” 2.18.)]
II.3 the elements of proof, e.g. in general reasoning the πρῶτοι συλλογισμοί, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Metaphysica” 1014b1)]; in Geometry, the propositions whose proof is involved in the proof of other propositions,[Refs ([prev. work] 998a26, 1014a36)]; title of geometrical works by Hippocrates of Chios, Leon, Theudios, and Euclid, [Refs 5th c.AD+ (5th c.AD: Proclus Philosophus “in primum Euclidis librum commentarius” pp.66,67, 68F.)]: hence applied to whatever is one, small, and capable of many uses, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Metaphysica” 1014b3)]; to whatever is most universal, e.g. the unit and the point,[Refs ([prev. work] 6)]; the line and the circle, [Refs ([prev. author] “Top.” 158b35; the τόπος (argument applicable to a variety of subjects), [prev. work] 120b13, +others, “Rh.” 1358a35, +others; στοιχεῖα τὰ γένη λέγουσί τινες [prev. author] “Metaphorical” 1014b10)]; τὸ νόμισμα σ. καὶ πέρας τῆς ἀλλαγῆς coin is the unit.. of exchange, [Refs ([prev. author] “Pol.” 1257b23)]; in Grammar, σ. τῆς λέξεως parts of speech, [Refs 1st c.BC+ (1st c.BC: Dionysius Halicarnassensis “de Compositione Verborum” 2)]; but also, the letters composing a word, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Syntaxi;” 313.7)]; letters of the alphabet, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Diogenes Cynicus Philosophus Bab. “Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta” 3.213)]; σ. τοῦ λόγου the elements of speech, i.e. words, or the kinds of words, parts of speech, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-3rd c.BC: Theophrastus Philosophus cited in 6th c.AD: Simplicius Philosophus “in Aristotelis Categorias commentarium - Comm. in Arist. Graeca” 10.24, 3rd c.BC: Chrysippus Stoicus 2.45, 2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Syntaxi;” 7.1, 313.6.)]
II.4 generally, elementary or fundamental principle, ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ τῶν σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Memorabilia” 2.1.1; σ. χρηστῆς πολιτείας 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 2.16)]; τὸ πολλάκις εἰρημένον μέγιστον σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1309b16; σ. τῆς ὅλης τέχνης 4th c.BC(?): Nicolaus Comicus 1.30, compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Epicurus Philosophus “Epistulae” 1p.10U., “Ep.” 3p.59U., 1st c.BC: Philodemus Gadarensis Epigrammaticus “Rh.” 1.127S., 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 6.306.)]
II.5 ἄστρων στοιχεῖα the stars, [NT+4th c.AD+ (4th c.AD(?): Manetho Astrologus 4.624; σ. καυσούμενα λυθήσεται NT.2Pet.3.10, compare 12)]; especially planets, στοιχείῳ Διός [Refs 1st c.AD+ (“PLond.” 1.130.60 (1st-2nd c.AD))]; so perhaps in [NT (NT.Gal.4.3, NT.Col.2.8)]; especially a sign of the Zodiac, [Refs 3rd c.AD+ (3rd c.AD(?): Diogenes Laertius 6.102)]; of the Great Bear, [Refs (“PMag.Par.” 1.1303.)]
II.6 σ. ={ἀριθμός}, as etymology of Στοιχαδεύς, Scholia 2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus p.192 H.