GospelMount
Search Topics Scripture Prayer Resources Ebooks About Support the mission Saved articles

πατήρ (patēr)

patēr

father

G3962 · Greek · New Testament · 372 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
372 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The Greek word patēr fundamentally means father, referring to a male parent or an ancestor. In the New Testament, it appears 372 times, most frequently in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John. It can describe a biological father, as seen when Jesus heals the servant of a centurion in Matthew 8:5-13, or refer to forefathers like Abraham, whom Jesus addresses in John 8:39.

Beyond family ties, patēr carries significant metaphorical weight. It is used as a title of respect for teachers and elders, such as when Stephen calls the Sanhedrin "fathers" in Acts 7:2. The term also identifies originators or authors of a lineage, describing God as the father of lights in James 1:17 or the spiritual father of Christians in Ephesians 3:14-15.

A defining feature of patēr in Scripture is its application to God. While ancient Greek culture often called Zeus "father," the biblical usage emphasizes a unique covenantal relationship. Jesus frequently refers to God as "my Father" (Matthew 11:27) and teaches his followers to pray to "our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). This usage highlights intimacy and authority, distinguishing the divine fatherhood from mere biological or honorary titles.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word patēr appears over three hundred times in the New Testament, moving from simple family ties to a profound spiritual reality. While it describes biological parents and ancestral roots, its most significant use is for God. Jesus taught his followers to address God as Father, inviting believers into a relationship defined by trust rather than distance.

This title changes how we view our daily lives. When Jesus speaks of the Father who feeds the birds or knows our needs before we ask, he reveals a God who cares about the small details of existence. This understanding offers comfort during times of uncertainty, reminding us that we are seen and valued by the Creator.

Reflecting on this word invites a shift in perspective. Instead of viewing God as a distant ruler, we can approach Him with the confidence of a child. This relationship is built on His faithfulness and our reliance on His guidance, providing a steady foundation for our spiritual journey.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 372 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • Father190×
  • father74×
  • fathers38×
  • Father,35×
  • [the] Father18×
  • Father.12×
  • fathers,6×
  • a father3×
  • [the] father3×
  • [the] Father.3×
  • Father;3×
  • the Father2×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • πατὴρ76×
  • πατέρα73×
  • πατρὸς61×
  • πατρός31×
  • πατρὶ24×
  • πατήρ19×
  • πατέρες18×
  • πάτερ,14×
  • πατέρων12×
  • πατήρ,11×
  • πατέρας11×
  • πατέρα,10×

Key Verses

  • Matthew 6:9
    Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

    This verse establishes the central Christian practice of addressing God as Father, framing prayer within a context of reverence and intimacy.

  • Matthew 6:26
    See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

    Jesus uses this occurrence to illustrate God’s attentive care for creation, encouraging trust in His provision for human needs.

  • Matthew 7:11
    If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

    Here the term highlights the contrast between imperfect human parenting and the perfect generosity of God toward those who ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does patēr mean in the New Testament?

It primarily means father, referring to a male parent or ancestor. However, it is most frequently used to describe God’s relationship with Jesus and with believers, emphasizing care, authority, and intimacy.

How is God called Father in the Bible?

Jesus taught his followers to pray to Our Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9). He also referred to God as my Father, indicating a unique relationship that believers are invited to share through faith.

Does patēr only refer to biological fathers?

No. While it describes human parents, the term is often used metaphorically for spiritual ancestors, teachers, or God Himself. It signifies origin, authority, and protective care rather than just biology.

Every Occurrence (372 verses across 26 books)

Matthew 56 verses
Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there.…

Matthew 3:9

Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to…

Matthew 4:21

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with…

Matthew 4:22

They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Matthew 5:16

Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:45

that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and…

Matthew 5:48

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6:1

“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from…

Matthew 6:4

so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:6

But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret;…

Matthew 6:8

Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:9

Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

Matthew 6:14

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 6:15

But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:18

so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in…

Matthew 6:26

See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds…

Matthew 6:32

For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Matthew 7:11

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven…

Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my…

Matthew 8:21

Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”

Matthew 10:20

For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Matthew 10:21

“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause…

Matthew 10:29

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

Matthew 10:32

Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:33

But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:35

For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against…

Matthew 10:37

He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t…

Matthew 11:25

At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise…

Matthew 11:26

Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.

Matthew 11:27

All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know…

Matthew 12:50

For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Matthew 13:43

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 15:4

For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to…

Matthew 15:5

But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a…

Matthew 15:13

But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

Matthew 16:17

Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father…

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to…

Matthew 18:10

See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of…

Matthew 18:14

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:19

Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be…

Matthew 18:35

So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”

Matthew 19:5

and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall…

Matthew 19:19

‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 19:29

Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my…

Matthew 20:23

He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on…

Matthew 21:31

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell…

Matthew 23:9

Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

Matthew 23:30

and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the…

Matthew 23:32

Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

Matthew 24:36

“But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 25:34

Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from…

Matthew 26:29

But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with…

Matthew 26:39

He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away…

Matthew 26:42

Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink…

Matthew 26:53

Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 28:19

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mark 18 verses
Luke 48 verses
John 116 verses
Acts 34 verses
Romans 13 verses
I Corinthians 6 verses
II Corinthians 4 verses
Galatians 5 verses
Ephesians 11 verses
Philippians 4 verses
Colossians 6 verses
I Thessalonians 5 verses
II Thessalonians 3 verses
I Timothy 2 verses
II Timothy 1 verse
Titus 1 verse
Philemon 1 verse
Hebrews 8 verses
James 4 verses
I Peter 3 verses
II Peter 2 verses
I John 13 verses
II John 3 verses
Jude 1 verse
Revelation of John 4 verses