πατρίς (patris)
patris
fatherland
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun patris refers to one’s fatherland or native country, carrying the sense of a fixed abode or home rooted in ancestral ties. It is the feminine form derived from the word for father, emphasizing the land inherited from one’s forebears rather than just a geographical location.
In the Gospels, this term appears when Jesus returns to his hometown, such as in Nazareth (Matthew 13:54; Mark 6:1). The sources note that while it often means country broadly, it can specifically denote one’s own town. This usage highlights the personal and social weight of place, showing how familiarity with a person’s origins influenced their reception by neighbors.
Translators typically render patris as "country" or "homeland," capturing the emotional and cultural identity attached to the word. It appears in Acts and Hebrews as well, where it underscores the significance of returning to one’s roots, reflecting a deep connection between identity, lineage, and place.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word patris points to the land where you were born and raised, carrying the weight of family history and local identity. It is more than a map location; it is the place that shaped your earliest memories and relationships. In the Gospels, Jesus returns to Nazareth, his patris, expecting acceptance but facing skepticism instead.
This story reminds us that familiarity can sometimes blind people to God’s work. When you encounter resistance from those who know your past, remember that Jesus also faced this in His hometown. Your origins do not limit your purpose or value in God’s eyes. There is hope and new beginnings available beyond the boundaries of where you started.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hometown6×
- their country1×
- region1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πατρίδι5×
- πατρίδα3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 13:57
They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.”
Jesus uses this term to explain why His own townspeople struggled to believe in Him despite His wisdom.
-
Mark 6:4
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.”
Here the word highlights the specific social barrier Jesus faced among relatives and neighbors who knew Him too well.
-
Luke 4:24
He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
This occurrence underscores the difficulty prophets face when their authority is questioned by those from their own community.