# ancestor, father, fathered, forefather, grandfather

## Definition:

The term “father” refers to a person’s male parent.

* The terms “father” and “forefather” are often used to refer to a male ancestor(s) of a certain person or people group. This could also be translated a “ancestor” or “ancestral father.”
* The expression “the father of” can figuratively refer to a person who is the leader a group of related people or the source of something. For example, in Genesis 4 “the father of all who live in tents” could mean, “the first clan leader of the first people who ever lived in tents.”
* The apostle Paul figuratively called himself the “father” of those he had helped to become Christians through sharing the gospel with them.

## Translation Suggestions

* When talking about a father and his literal son, this term should be translated using the usual term to refer to a father in the language.
* “God the Father” should also be translated using the usual, common word for “father.”
* When referring to forefathers, this term could be translated as “ancestors” or “ancestral fathers.”
* When Paul refers to himself figuratively as a father to believers in Christ, this could be translated as “spiritual father” or “father in Christ.”
* Sometimes the word “father” can be translated as “clan leader,” depending on the context.
* The phrase “father of all lies” could be translated as “source of all lies” or “the one from whom all lies come.”

(See also: [God the Father](../kt/godthefather.md), [son](../kt/son.md), [Son of God](../kt/sonofgod.md))

## Bible References:

* [Acts 7:2](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/02)
* [Acts 7:32](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/32)
* [Acts 7:45](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/45)
* [Acts 22:3](rc://en/tn/help/act/22/03)
* [Genesis 31:30](rc://en/tn/help/gen/31/30)
* [Genesis 31:42](rc://en/tn/help/gen/31/42)
* [Genesis 31:53](rc://en/tn/help/gen/31/53)
* [Hebrews 7:4-6](rc://en/tn/help/heb/07/04)
* [John 4:12](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/04/12)
* [Joshua 24:3-4](rc://en/tn/help/jos/24/03)
* [Malachi 3:7](rc://en/tn/help/mal/03/07)
* [Mark 10:7-9](rc://en/tn/help/mrk/10/07)
* [Matthew 1:7](rc://en/tn/help/mat/01/07)
* [Matthew 3:9](rc://en/tn/help/mat/03/09)
* [Matthew 10:21](rc://en/tn/help/mat/10/21)
* [Matthew 18:14](rc://en/tn/help/mat/18/14)
* [Romans 4:12](rc://en/tn/help/rom/04/12)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H0001, H0002, H0025, H0369, H0539, H1121, H1730, H1733, H2524, H3205, H3490, H4940, H5971, H7223, G05400, G10800, G37370, G39620, G39640, G39660, G39670, G39700, G39710, G39950, G42450, G42690, G46130
