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# ancestor, father, forefather #
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## Definition: ##
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When used literally, the term "father" refers to a person's male parent. There are also several figurative uses of this term.
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* The terms "father" and "forefather" are often used to refer to the male ancestors 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."
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* The apostle Paul figuratively called himself the "father" of those he had helped to become Christians through sharing the gospel with them.
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## Translation Suggestions ##
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* 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."
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* When referring to forefathers, this term could be translated as "ancestors" or "ancestral fathers."
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* 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."
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* The phrase "father of all lies" could be translated as "source of all lies" or "the one from whom all lies come."
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(See also: [God the Father ](../kt/godthefather.md ), [son ](../kt/son.md ), [Son of God ](../kt/sonofgod.md ))
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## Bible References: ##
* [Acts 07:1-3 ](en/tn/act/help/07/01 )
* [Acts 07:31-32 ](en/tn/act/help/07/31 )
* [Acts 07:44-46 ](en/tn/act/help/07/44 )
* [Acts 22:3-5 ](en/tn/act/help/22/03 )
* [Genesis 31:29-30 ](en/tn/gen/help/31/29 )
* [Genesis 31:41-42 ](en/tn/gen/help/31/41 )
* [Genesis 31:51-53 ](en/tn/gen/help/31/51 )
* [Hebrews 07:4-6 ](en/tn/heb/help/07/04 )
* [John 04:11-12 ](en/tn/jhn/help/04/11 )
* [Joshua 24:3-4 ](en/tn/jos/help/24/03 )
* [Malachi 03:6-7 ](en/tn/mal/help/03/06 )
* [Mark 10:7-9 ](en/tn/mrk/help/10/07 )
* [Matthew 01:7-8 ](en/tn/mat/help/01/07 )
* [Matthew 03:7-9 ](en/tn/mat/help/03/07 )
* [Matthew 10:21-23 ](en/tn/mat/help/10/21 )
* [Matthew 18:12-14 ](en/tn/mat/help/18/12 )
* [Romans 04:11-12 ](en/tn/rom/help/04/11 )
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