G746 — ἀρχή (archḗ)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G746
Original: ἀρχή
Transliteration: archḗ
Pronunciation: ar-khay
Part of Speech: Feminine noun
Root: From ἄρχω (G756) — to rule, to begin
Occurrences: 56 unique verses / 58 tokens across 18 NT books
First Occurrence: Mat 19:4 — "he which made them at the beginning (archē) made them male and female"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

From G756 (ἄρχω). Properly abstract: a commencement; or concretely: chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank). KJV renders: beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.

Two semantic poles: (1) temporal/ordinal priority — "beginning, first" — and (2) positional priority — "rule, authority, ruler, principality." Both derive from the verbal idea of "going first / taking precedence."

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

68.1 — Begin, Start (primary temporal sense)
37.4 — Rule, Govern (primary authority sense)
58.3 — Basic Principles or Features Defining the Nature of Something (Heb 5:12; 6:1 "first principles")
67.65 — A Point of Time with Reference to Duration of Time: Beginning, End (Rev 21:6; 22:13)
12.44 — Supernatural Powers (Rom 8:38; Eph 6:12; Col 2:15 "principalities")
79 — Features of Objects (Acts 10:11; 11:5 "four corners" of a sheet)
89 — Relations; Cause and/or Reason

Co-domain neighbors (68.1 Begin, Start): ἄρχω (G756), ἀρχηγός (G747), ἐνάρχομαι (G1728), ἀναζωπυρέω (G329), προενάρχομαι (G4278)

Co-domain neighbors (37.4 Rule, Govern): ἄρχω (G756), ἄρχων (G758), ἐξουσία (G1849), βασιλεία (G932), βασιλεύς (G935), δεσπότης (G1203), δυνάστης (G1413), ἡγεμονεύω (G2230)

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
(the) beginning	36	64.3%
principalities	5	8.9%
principality	2	3.6%
corners	2	3.6%
from the beginning	1	1.8%
at the first / first / the first / first estate	4	7.1%
magistrates	1	1.8%
power	1	1.8%
principles	1	1.8%
rule	1	1.8%
the beginnings	1	1.8%
to principalities	1	1.8%

Distribution by Book (by density)¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
2 John	2	15.4
1 John	7	6.7
Colossians	4	4.2
Titus	1	2.2
2 Thessalonians	1	2.1
Hebrews	6	2.0
Ephesians	3	1.9
2 Peter	1	1.6
Revelation	4	1.0
John	8	0.9
Mark	4	0.6
Matthew	4	0.4
Acts	4	0.4
Luke	3	0.3
Romans	1	0.2
1 Corinthians	1	0.2
Philemon	1	—
Jude	1	—

Pattern notes: Heaviest density in Johannine epistles (2 Jn, 1 Jn) where "from the beginning" (ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς) is a signature refrain — what was heard / known / commanded "from the beginning." Second cluster in Paul's cosmic-power letters (Eph, Col) where it shifts to "principalities" denoting angelic/demonic authorities. Hebrews uses it for creational, eschatological, and pedagogical "firsts." Revelation uses it in the Christological Alpha-and-Omega formula.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Temporal Origin of Creation / the World¶

The moment creation began; often paired with κτίσις (creation) or κόσμος (world). - Mat 19:4, 8 — "at the beginning" / "from the beginning it was not so" (marriage in creation) - Mar 10:6; 13:19 — "from the beginning of the creation God made them" - Joh 1:1, 2 — "In the beginning was the Word" - 2 Pe 3:4 — "as they were from the beginning of the creation" - Heb 1:10 — "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth"

2. "From the Beginning" of the Gospel / Christian Knowledge¶

Apostolic formula for original deposit of teaching, witness, or command received at first hearing. - Luk 1:2 — "from the beginning were eyewitnesses" - 1 Jn 1:1 — "that which was from the beginning" - 1 Jn 2:7, 13, 14, 24; 3:11 — "the old commandment … which ye had from the beginning" - 2 Jn 1:5, 6 — "not a new commandment … but that which we had from the beginning" - Joh 15:27 — "ye have been with me from the beginning" - 2 Th 2:13 — "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation"

3. Beginning of a Narrative / Event / Ministry¶

Starting point of a discourse, event-sequence, or ministry stretch. - Mar 1:1 — "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ" - Joh 2:11 — "This beginning of miracles did Jesus" - Joh 6:64; 8:25; 16:4 — Jesus' knowledge/speech "from the beginning" - Act 11:15 — "the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning" - Mat 24:8; Mar 13:8 — "the beginning of sorrows" (ἀρχὴ ὠδίνων)

4. First Principles / Elementary Teaching¶

Foundational pedagogical material, the "ABCs" of doctrine. - Heb 5:12 — "the first principles of the oracles of God" - Heb 6:1 — "leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ" - Heb 3:14 — "hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast"

5. Rulers / Principalities (angelic & demonic powers)¶

Cosmic-authority sense, typically plural; often coupled with ἐξουσία (authorities) and δύναμις (powers). - Rom 8:38 — "nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers" - Eph 1:21 — "far above all principality, and power, and might" - Eph 3:10 — "principalities and powers in heavenly places" - Eph 6:12 — "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities" - Col 1:16 — "thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers" - Col 2:10, 15 — Christ is "the head of all principality" / "having spoiled principalities" - 1 Co 15:24 — "shall have put down all rule and all authority"

6. Human Rulers / Civil Magistrates¶

Visible earthly office-holders. - Luk 12:11 — "bring you unto the synagogues, and magistrates" - Luk 20:20 — "deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor" - Tit 3:1 — "be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates"

7. Christ as the Beginning / Origin¶

Christological title combining temporal priority, creational source, and headship. - Col 1:18 — "he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead" - Rev 3:14 — "the beginning of the creation of God" - Rev 1:8; 21:6; 22:13 — "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end"

8. Assigned Sphere / Original Estate¶

Apostate angels who abandoned their original position. - Jude 1:6 — angels "which kept not their first estate (ἀρχή)"

9. Corner / Extremity (concrete object)¶

The four projecting "beginnings" of a sheet — a spatial edge/corner. - Act 10:11; 11:5 — "a great sheet knit at the four corners"

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
θεός (theós)	G2316	14x (25%)	"God from the beginning" / "principalities … of God"
ἐξουσία (exousía)	G1849	10x (18%)	"principalities and powers/authorities" (Rom 8:38; Eph 1:21, 3:10, 6:12; Col 1:16, 2:10, 2:15; Tit 3:1; 1 Co 15:24)
γίνομαι (gínomai)	G1096	9x (16%)	"came to pass from the beginning" / "made at the beginning"
πᾶς (pâs)	G3956	9x (16%)	"all principality" / "from the beginning of all things"
λόγος (lógos)	G3056	8x (14%)	"In the beginning was the Word"; "the word from the beginning"
ἀκούω (akoúō)	G191	6x (11%)	"that which ye have heard from the beginning" (Johannine formula)
πατήρ (patḗr)	G3962	6x (11%)	"fathers … from the beginning" (1 Jn 2:13–14; 2 Pe 3:4)
τέλος (télos)	G5056	6x (11%)	"beginning … end" antithesis (Rev 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Heb 3:14; 7:3)
ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía)	G1577	4x	archē as head/ruler over the church (Col 1:18)
ζωή (zōḗ)	G2222	4x	"beginning of days … end of life" (Heb 7:3); Word-of-life formulas
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs)	G2424	4x	Christological beginning/ruler passages

Word Family / Cognates (same ἀρχ- root)¶

ἄρχω (G756) — to rule, to begin (the root verb; 86x)
ἄρχων (G758) — ruler, chief, prince (37x) — "ruler of this world" Joh 12:31
ἀρχηγός (G747) — author, captain, prince (4x) — "author of life" Acts 3:15; "captain of salvation" Heb 2:10
ἀρχαῖος (G744) — ancient, old, from the beginning (11x)
ἀρχάγγελος (G743) — archangel (2x — 1 Th 4:16; Jude 9)
ἀρχιερεύς (G749) — high priest, chief priest (122x)

Synonyms¶

No close lexical synonyms were identified by search_relationships.py; the major semantic overlaps are already represented by the ἀρχ- cognates and the temporal/authority domain material elsewhere in the study.

Antonyms¶

G4009 πέρας (peras) — end, extremity, uttermost part (search_relationships.py bucket antonym; Abbott-Smith)

UBS Semantic Domains¶

[068] Aspect — includes ἀγωνίζομαι (G75), ἀδιάλειπτος (G88), ἀδιαλείπτως (G89), ἀκατάπαυστος (G180), ἀναζωπυρέω (G329), ἀνάπαυσις (G372)
[067] Time — includes ἄγω (G71), ἀεί (G104), ἀΐδιος (G126), αἰφνίδιος (G160), αἰών (G165), αἰώνιος (G166)
[089] Relations — includes αἰτία (G156), αἴτιος (G158), ἀλλά (G235), ἄλογος (G249), ἅμα (G260), ἀνά (G303)
[037] Control, Rule — includes ἀγγαρεύω (G29), ἀγοράζω (G59), αἰχμαλωτίζω (G163), ἀκατάστατος (G182), ἅλυσις (G254), ἀναγκάζω (G315)
[012] Supernatural Beings and Powers — includes ἀββᾶ (G5), ἄγγελος (G32), ᾅδης (G86), ἀήρ (G109), ἄθεος (G112), αἰών (G165)
[058] Nature, Class, Example — includes ἀγαπητός (G27), ἀλλάσσω (G236), ἄλλος (G243), ἄλλως (G247), ἀνακαινόω (G341), ἀνακαίνωσις (G342)
[079] Features of Objects — includes ἄδολος (G97), ἀκαθαρσία (G167), ἀκατακάλυπτος (G177), ἄκρατος (G194), ἄκρον (G206), ἀμαράντινος (G262)

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
ἄρχομαι (G756)	—	"beginning" (KJV sometimes renders the verb as "began")	G756 is the verbal action of beginning/ruling; G746 is the nominal point, principle, or ruler
ἐξουσία (G1849)	—	"power" / "authority"	exousia = delegated right/jurisdiction; archē = the office or rank itself. Often conjoined (archai kai exousiai), but archē emphasizes primacy/station, exousia emphasizes prerogative
δύναμις (G1411)	—	"power"	dynamis = effective force/miraculous energy; archē = positional rule. Triplet archē, exousia, dynamis in Eph 1:21
γωνία (G1137)	—	"corner"	gōnia = geometric angle/corner; archē in Acts 10:11/11:5 = "starting-edge" of the sheet. Only overlap is physical extremities
πρῶτος (G4413)	—	"first"	prōtos = ordinal position in a series; archē = the origin-point or source itself
κεφαλή (G2776)	—	"head" / ruler sense	kephalē = head as origin/authority over a body; archē = rulership abstractly. Paired in Col 1:18 and Col 2:10 — Christ is both kephalē and archē
τέλος (G5056)	—	opposite pole	télos = goal/end/consummation; archē = origin/start. Together form the creation-eschaton frame (Rev 21:6; 22:13)

Hebrew Source (LXX ancestry)¶

Hebrew Source	Strong's	LXX Co-occ	PMI	Score
תְּחִלָּה (tᵉchillâh)	H8462	16	6.79	19.24
רֵאשִׁית (rêʼshîyth)	H7225	18	5.80	17.07
רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh)	H7218	53	3.85	15.34
קֶדֶם (qedem)	H6924	16	4.83	13.67
שׇׁלְטָן (sholṭân, Aramaic)	H7985	5	6.34	11.35
רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn)	H7223	14	3.56	9.65
קַדְמָה (qadmâh)	H6927	3	6.77	9.38
מַמְלָכָה (mamlâkâh)	H4467	9	3.59	8.26
עֲדָא (ʻădâʼ, Aramaic)	H5709	3	5.60	7.76

LXX bridge note: Gen 1:1 LXX — ἐν ἀρχῇ translates בְּרֵאשִׁית (H7225). The Johannine ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος (Joh 1:1) deliberately echoes this LXX phrasing, binding archē to the Genesis creation horizon. The H7218 rōʼsh mapping (53x) covers the "chief/head/ruler" sense that carries over to Paul's "principalities" and to Col 1:18 "head of the body." H8462 tᵉchillâh gives the narrative "at the first / beginning of a matter" sense.