Lexical Summary
aión: Age, eternity, world, forever, everlasting
Original Word: αἰών
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: aión
Pronunciation: ah-ee-OWN
Phonetic Spelling: (ahee-ohn')
KJV: age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end)
NASB: forever, age, forever and ever, world, ages, eternal, forevermore
Word Origin: [from an obsolete primary noun apparently meaning "continued duration"]
1. (properly) an age
2. (by extension) perpetuity (also past)
3. (by implication) the world
4. (specially, Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
age, course, eternal, forever
From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future) -- age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Compare chronos.
see GREEK aei
see GREEK chronos
HELPS Word-studies
165 aiṓn (see also the cognate adjective, 166 /aiṓnios, "age-long") – properly, an age (era, "time-span"), characterized by a specific quality (type of existence).
Example: Christians today live in the newer age (165 /aiṓn) of the covenant – the time-period called the NT. It is characterized by Christ baptizing all believers in the Holy Spirit, i.e. engrafting all believers (OT, NT) into His mystical body (1 Cor 12:13) with all the marvelous privileges that go with that (Gal 3:23-25; 1 Pet 2:5,9).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom a prim. root appar. mean. continued duration
Definitiona space of time, an age
NASB Translationage (20), ages (6), ancient time (1), beginning of time (1), course (1), eternal (2), eternity (1), ever* (2), forever (27), forever and ever (20), forevermore (2), long ago (1), never* (1), old (1), time (1), world (7), worlds (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 165: αἰώναἰών,
(ῶνος,
ὁ (as if
Αιε — poetic for
ἀεί —
ὤν, so teaches
Aristotle, de caelo 1, 11, 9, vol. i., p. 279{a} 27; (so
Proclus book iv. in
Plato, Timaeo, p. 241; and others); but more probable is the conjecture (cf.
Etym. Magn. 41, 11) that
αἰών is so connected with
ἄημι to breathe, blow, as to denote properly
that which causes life, vital force; cf. Harless on
Ephesians 2:2). (But
αἰών ( =
αἰϝών) is now generally connected with
αἰεί,
ἀεί, Sanskrit
evas (
aivas), Latin
aevum, Goth.
aivs, German
ewig, English
aye, ever; cf.
Curtius, § 585;
Fick, Part i., p. 27;
Vanicek, p. 79; Benfey, Wurzellex, i., p. 7f; Schleicher, Compend. edition 2, p. 400; Pott, Etymologicum Forsch., edition 2, 2:2, p. 442; Ebeling, Lex.
Homer under the word; Liddell and Scott, under the word
ἀεί;
Cremer, edd, 2, 3 ,4 (although in edition 1 he agreed with Prof. Grimm); Pott and
Fick, however, connect it with Sanskrit
ayus rather than
evas, although both these forms are derived from i to go (see Pott, Sehleicher,
Fick,
Vanicek, as above).) In Greek authors:
1. age (Latinaevum, which is αἰών with the Aeolic digamma), a human lifetime (in Homer, Herodotus, Pindar, Tragic poets), life itself (Homer Iliad 5, 685 με καί λίποι αἰών etc.).
2. an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity, (Plato, Tim., p. 37 d. 38 a.; Tim. Locr., p. 97 d. (quoted below); Plutarch, others). With this signification the Hebrew and rabbinical idea of the word עולָם (of which in the Sept. αἰών is the equivalent) combines in the Biblical and ecclesiastical writings Hence, in the N. T. used:
1.
a. universally: in the phrases εἰς τόν αἰῶνα, לְעולָם (Genesis 6:3), forever, John 6:51, 58; John 14:16; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 6:20, etc.; and strengthened εἰς τόν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, Hebrews 1:8 (from Psalm 44:7
b. in hyperbolic and popular usage: ἀπό τοῦ αἰῶνος (מֵעולָם Genesis 6:4, cf. Deuteronomy 32:7) from the most ancient time down (within the memory of man), from of old, Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Acts 15:18 (Tobit 4:12 οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν ἀπό τοῦ αἰῶνος; Longinus, 34 τούς ἀπ' αἰῶνος ῥήτορας); also ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος, John 9:32 (1 Esdr. 2:19, 22 (23); Diodorus 4:83 of the temple of Venus τήν, ἐξ αἰῶνος ἀρχήν λαβόν, 17, 1 τούς ἐξ αἰῶνος βασιλεῖς (excerpt. de legat, xl.), p. 632 τήν ἐξ αἰῶνος παραδεδομένην ἐλευθερίαν).
2. by metonymy of the container for the contained, οἱ αἰῶνες denotes the worlds, the universe, i. e. the aggregate of things contained in time (on the plural cf. Winers Grammar, 176 (166); Buttmann, 24 (21)): Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 11:3; and (?) 1 Timothy 1:17; (Revelation 15:3 WH text; cf. Psalm 144:13
3. As the Jews distinguished הַזֶּה הָעולָם the time before the Messiah, and הַבָּא הַעולָם, the time after the advent of the Messiah (cf. Riehm, Lehrb. d. Hebraerbr., p. 204ff; (Schürer, § 29, 9)), so most of the N. T. writers distinguish ὁ αἰών οὗτος this age (also simply ὁ αἰών, Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19 G L T Tr WH; ὁ ἐνεστὼς αἰών, Galatians 1:4; ὁ νῦν αἰών, 1 Timothy 6:17; (2 Timothy 4:10); Titus 2:12), the time before the appointed return or truly Messianic advent of Christ (i. e., the παρουσία, which see), the period of instability, weakness, impiety, wickedness, calamity, misery — and αἰών μέλλων the future age (also ὁ αἰών ἐκεῖνος, Luke 20:35; ὁ αἰών ὁ ἐρχόμενος, Luke 18:30; Mark 10:30; οἱ αἰῶνες οἱ ἐπερχόμενοι, Ephesians 2:7), i. e., the age after the return of Christ in majesty, the period of the consummate establishment of the divine kingdom and all its blessings: Matthew 12:32; Ephesians 1:21; cf. Fritzsche on Romans, vol. 3:22f. Hence, the things of 'this age' are mentioned in the N. T. with censure: ὁ αἰών οὗτος, by metonymy, men controlled by the thoughts and pursuits of this present time, Romans 12:2, the same who are called υἱοί τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου in Luke 16:8; Luke 20:34; κατά τόν αἰῶνα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου conformably to the age to which this (wicked) world belongs, Ephesians 2:2 (cf. Trench, § 59 under the end); ἀγαπᾶν τόν νῦν αἰῶνα, 2 Timothy 4:10 (see ἀγαπάω); ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, 1 Corinthians 2:6 (see ἄρχων); ὁ Θεός τοῦ αἰ. τούτου, the devil, who rules the thoughts and deeds of the men of this age, 2 Corinthians 4:4; αἱ μέριμναι τοῦ αἰῶνος, the anxieties for the things of this age, Mark 4:19; πλούσιος ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι, rich in worldly wealth, 1 Timothy 6:17; σοφία ... τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου such wisdom as belongs to this age — full of error, arrogant, hostile to the gospel, 1 Corinthians 2:6; συζητητής τοῦ αἰ. τούτου, disputer, sophist, such as we now find him, 1 Corinthians 1:20; συντέλεια τοῦ αἰ. τούτ., the end, or rather consummation, of the age preceding Christ's return, with which will be connected the resurrection of the dead, the last judgment, the demolition of this world and its restoration to a more excellent condition (cf. 4 Esdr. 7:43 [
Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Concept of the “Age”αἰών denotes a time-span marked by distinctive conditions and governance. In Scripture it can refer to (1) the current fallen order, (2) the eschatological order to follow, and (3) the endless succession of ages that frame God’s eternal purpose.
Temporal Nuances: Present Age and Age to Come
• “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage” (Luke 20:34).
• “Do not be conformed to this age” (Romans 12:2).
• Eternal life is promised “in the coming age” (Mark 10:30).
The present age is transitory and corrupt; the coming age is resurrection life under Christ’s direct rule.
Eternal Duration and the Plural “Ages”
The plural intensifies the idea of unending time. “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him … forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13). God’s purpose was hidden “from the ages” (Ephesians 3:9) and His faithfulness endures “into all the ages” (Hebrews 13:8).
Christ’s Lordship Over the Ages
God “made the ages” through His Son (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday and today and to the ages” (Hebrews 13:8). His priesthood is “forever” (Hebrews 7:17). The Spirit abides with believers “forever” (John 14:16).
Doxological Use: Praise “Forever and Ever”
Paul: “To Him be the glory forever!” (Romans 11:36).
Peter: “To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever” (1 Peter 4:11).
Heavenly worship: “Holy, Holy, Holy … who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 4:8-10).
Such doxologies proclaim God’s unending sovereignty.
Salvation, Judgment, and αἰών
Life: “Whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst—ever” (John 4:14).
Security: “They will never perish—ever” (John 10:28).
Judgment: “It will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come” (Matthew 12:32).
Condemnation: “The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever” (Revelation 14:11).
Creation and the Ordering of the Ages
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed by God’s command” (Hebrews 11:3). αἰών embraces both time and the created realms, affirming divine authorship over every epoch.
Pastoral and Practical Applications
1. Worldview—Believers live between ages; hope rests in the age to come (1 Corinthians 10:11).
2. Worship—Prayers conclude “for ever and ever” (Matthew 6:13), shaping corporate praise.
3. Mission—Only Christ rescues from wrath in the coming age (Galatians 1:4).
4. Stewardship—Temporal goods of this age are fleeting; eternal rewards endure (Luke 16:9).
Historical Reception in the Church
The early Church saw itself at “the ends of the ages” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Creeds preserve the language of “life everlasting” and “world without end,” echoing αἰών’s theology. Across centuries the term has reminded believers that God’s redemptive plan spans every age, Christ reigns unceasingly, and the coming age will vindicate His people and display His glory forever.
Forms and Transliterations
αιών αιωνα αιώνα αιώνά αἰῶνα αιωνας αιώνας αἰωνας αἰῶνας αιωνι αιώνι αἰῶνι αιωνος αιώνος αιώνός αἰῶνος αἰῶνός αιωνων αιώνων αἰώνων αιώσι αιωσιν αἰῶσιν ἐθνῶν aiona aiôna aiōna aiō̂na aionas aiônas aiōnas aiō̂nas aioni aiôni aiōni aiō̂ni aionon aiōnōn aiṓnon aiṓnōn aionos aiônos aiônós aiōnos aiō̂nos aiō̂nós aiosin aiôsin aiōsin aiō̂sin ethnon ethnôn ethnōn ethnō̂n
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