παλαιόω (palaioō)
palaioō
to make old
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb palaioō means to make something old or to declare it obsolete. In the New Testament, it carries a specific legal and theological weight: when something is declared "old," it is on the verge of being abolished. This usage appears most prominently in Hebrews 8:13, where the author argues that by calling the first covenant "old," God has made it ready to vanish away.
The word also describes physical wear and tear from age. In Luke 12:33, Jesus advises storing up treasure in heaven rather than keeping earthly goods in "worn-out" bags. Similarly, Hebrews 1:11 quotes Psalm 102 to describe how the heavens will perish like a garment that has grown old through use.
Its root is palaios, meaning ancient or aged. The term does not merely suggest antiquity but implies expiration. Translators often render it "old," yet the context demands a sense of obsolescence. The word highlights the temporary nature of the old order in contrast to the enduring new reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word palaioō carries a quiet but firm warning about the limits of what we hold onto in this life. It describes things that are not just ancient, but worn out and ready to vanish. Jesus used this imagery when he spoke against storing up treasures on earth. He pointed out that even our best earthly provisions will eventually wear thin, like old bags or fading garments. This is not meant to frighten us, but to free us from trusting in things that cannot last.
In the New Testament, this concept reaches its deepest meaning in Hebrews. The author explains that by calling the first covenant "old," God was signaling its end. What is aging is on the verge of disappearing, making way for something new and enduring. This truth offers a gentle invitation to shift our focus from temporary security to the permanent hope found in Christ. We are not called to cling to what fades, but to rest in what remains.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will grow old,1×
- growing old,1×
- growing old1×
- He has made obsolete1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πεπαλαίωκεν1×
- παλαιωθήσονται,1×
- παλαιούμενον1×
- παλαιούμενα,1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 8:13
In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first obsolete. But that which is becoming obsolete and grows aged is near to vanishing away.
This verse shows the word functioning as a theological marker for obsolescence, indicating that the old covenant is actively fading away.
-
Luke 12:33
Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
Here the term describes physical wear and tear, illustrating the fragility of earthly security compared to heavenly treasure.
-
Hebrews 1:11
They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.
The word is used here to contrast the temporary nature of creation with the eternal constancy of God.