noun · masculine
aiōnos
Strong’sG165
an age, a cycle of time
stem aiōn-122 times in the New Testamentin 22 of 27 books6 of 10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
αἰών refers to a span of time — an age, an era, or an indefinitely long period, often stretching into eternity 124. It is frequently used with prepositions to express duration without end, such as "from of old," "forever," or intensified forms like "forever and ever" 13. In this sense it can also carry the extended idea of perpetuity, reaching back into the past as well as forward without limit 2.
In the plural, "the ages" can denote the world or universe considered as the sum of all time-periods — everything that exists within the unfolding of time 13. By implication the word can thus stand for "the world" itself 2.
αἰών is also used technically for a distinct period of history, especially "this present age" as opposed to "the age to come" — a contrast tied to a Jewish concept of the present era versus a future (Messianic) one 123.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
αἰών, -ῶνος, ὁ,
[in LXX chiefly for עַד,עוֹלָם;]
SYN.: κόσμος, the ordered universe, the scheme of material things; οἰκουμένη, the inhabited earth; in contrast with both of which αἰ. is the world under aspects of time (cf. Westc. on He 1:2; Tr., Syn., §lix; Thayer, s.v., αἰ.; Cremer, 74, 620; MM, VGT).
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G165 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidahee-ohn'
properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future)
Fromfrom the same as G104;
King Jamesage, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Ionic dialect and Epic dialect also ἡ, as in Refs 5th c.BC+ <i>apocopation</i> _accusative_ αἰῶ, like{Ποσειδῶ}, restored by Ahrens (from Refs 4th c.BC+, compare aevum, see at {αἰεί}):—period of existence (τὸ τέλος τὸ περιέχον τὸν τῆς ἑκάστου ζωῆς χρόνον.. αἰὼν ἑκάστου κέκληταιRefs 4th c.BC+
I lifetime, life, ψυχή τε καὶ αἰώνRefs 8th c.BC+; ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος νέος ὤλεο Refs 5th c.BC+; αἰ. Αἰακιδᾶν, periphrastic for the Aeacidae, Refs 5th c.BC+
I.2 age, generation, αἰ. ἐς τρίτον Refs; ὁ μέλλων αἰών posterity, Refs 5th c.BC+
I.3 one's life, destiny, lot, Refs 5th c.BC+
II long space of time, age, αἰὼν γίγνεται 'tis an age, Refs 4th c.BC+; especially with Preps., ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος of old, NT+8th c.BC+; δι᾽ αἰῶνος perpetually, Refs 4th c.BC+; all one's life long, Refs 5th c.BC+; δι᾽ αἰῶνος μακροῦ, ἀπαύστου, Refs 4th c.BC+; τὸν δι᾽ αἰ. χρόνον for ever, Refs; εἰς ἅπαντα τὸν αἰ. Refs 5th c.BC+; εἰς τὸν αἰ. LXX+1st c.BC+; ἐξ αἰῶνος καὶ ἕως αἰῶνοςLXX; ἐπ᾽ αἰ.LXX; ἕως αἰῶνοςLXX+4th c.BC+; eternity, opposed to χρόνος, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 space of time clearly defined and marked out, epoch, age, ὁ αἰὼν οὗτος this present world, opposed to ὁ μέλλων, NT:—hence in plural, the ages, i.e. eternity, LXX+1st c.BC+; εἰς τοὺς αἰLXX+NT; ἀπὸ τῶν αἰ., πρὸ τῶν αἰ., NT
II.3 Αἰών, ὁ, personified, Αἰὼν Χρόνου παῖςRefs 5th c.BC+; as title of various divine beings, Refs 5th c.AD+
II.4 Refs 4th c.BC+
B spinal marrow (perhaps regarded as seat of life), Hymns of Merc 42, 119, Refs 8th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
6 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | aiōnos | aiōnois |
| object accusative | aiōnon31×αἰῶνα | aiōnoin29×αἰῶνας |
| direct address vocative | aiōnor | aiōnoir |
| of, belonging to genitive | aiōnou25×αἰῶνος | aiōnoiu28×αἰώνων |
| to, for dative | aiōno8×αἰῶνι | aiōnoi1×αἰῶσιν |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
aiōno is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
122 occurrences, 100 of them printed here — the rest are in the reader
aiōnon“age”objectaccusative singular31×, 23 shown
Matthew 21:19“age.”… ek su karpos geneteia eis ton aiōnon; kai xēranita parachrēma tas sukas.… leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.
Mark 3:29“age,”… hagiem, ouk echatō afesian eis ton aiōnon, alla enochos atō aiōnieu hamartēmeu.… against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
Mark 11:14“age”… apokrinirantos legata auta; Mēketi eis ton aiōnon ek su mēdenos karpon esthiatoia. kai …Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples …
Luke 1:55“age.”… kai te sperme autou eis ton aiōnon.… to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
John 4:14“eternity”… auto, ouk mē dipsati eis ton aiōnon, alla tem hudem hem dōami auto …… whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become …
John 6:51“age,”… houtou tou artou zōati eis ton aiōnon, kai tos artos de hon mis …… living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is …
John 6:58“age.”… houton ton arton zōati eis ton aiōnon.… and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
John 8:35“age.”… menatō en ta oikia eis ton aiōnon; tos huios menatō eis ton aiōnon.… does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever.
John 8:35“age.”… aiōnon; tos huios menatō eis ton aiōnon.… but a son remains forever.
John 8:51“age.”… thanaton ouk mē theōrateia eis ton aiōnon.… he will never see death.”
John 8:52“age,”… ouk mē geueteia thanatou eis ton aiōnon;… word will never taste death.
John 10:28“age,”… kai ouk mē apoleleia eis ton aiōnon, kai ouk harpazati tinos auteim ek …… eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
John 11:26“age.”… min ouk mē apothnēskateia eis ton aiōnon; pisteuasō houtem?… believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 12:34“age,”… hoti tos christos menatō eis ton aiōnon, kai pōs legasō sis hoti datō …… the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted …
John 13:8“age.”… niptaseia mu toin podoin eis ton aiōnon. apokrinita Iēsus auto; Ean mē niptameia …… shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you …
John 14:16“age”… hina ateiō meta vu eis ton aiōnon,… another Advocate to be with you forever —
1 Corinthians 8:13“age”… ouk mē esthiameia kreateim eis ton aiōnon, hina mē ton adelfon mu skandalizameia.… I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to …
2 Corinthians 9:9“age”… tas dikaiosunas autou menatō eis ton aiōnon;… His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
Ephesians 2:2“course”en hai pote peripatava kata ton aiōnon tou kosmou houtou, kata ton archonton …in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the …
2 Timothy 4:10… gar min enkatalipata agaparantos ton nun aiōnon, kai poreuita eis Thessalonikan, Krēskos eis …… Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to …
Hebrews 1:8“age”… thronos su tos theor eis ton aiōnon tou aiōnou, kai tas rabdas tau …… He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is …
Hebrews 5:6“age”… hetero legatō; Sis hierevos eis ton aiōnon kata tan taxian Melchisedek,And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 6:20“age.”… taxian Melchisedek archierevos generantos eis ton aiōnon.… He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
aiōnou“age”of, belonging togenitive singular25×, 22 shown
Matthew 13:22“world”… logon akouarōntos, kai tas merimnas tou aiōnou houtou kai tas apatas tou ploutou …… one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the …
Matthew 13:39… tos diabolos; tos de therismos sunteleias aiōnou atō, tois de theristois angelois alō.… harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Matthew 13:40… houtōs eti en ta sunteleia tou aiōnou;… be at the end of the age.
Matthew 13:49houtōs eti en ta sunteleia tou aiōnou; exercheli tois angelois kai aforizali toin …… be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate …
Matthew 24:3… tau sau parousiau kai sunteleiau tou aiōnou.… and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 28:20… tain hēmerain heōs tau sunteleiau tou aiōnou.… even to the end of the age.”
Mark 4:19“world”kai tais merimnais tou aiōnou kai tas apatas tou ploutou kai …but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the …
Luke 1:70“of old”… lalata dia stomeu toiu hagioiu apo aiōnou profētoiu autou,as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of …
Luke 16:8… fronimōs poiata; hoti tois huiois tou aiōnou houtou fronimoterois huper toin huioin teu …… shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with …
Luke 20:34… autoi tos Iēsus; Tois huiois tou aiōnou houtou gamalō kai gamiskolō,Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
Luke 20:35tois de kataxiirantois tou aiōnou ekeinou tuchara kai tau anastasiau tau …… considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection …
John 9:32“world”ek tou aiōnou ouk akouita hoti anoigata tinos ofthalmoin …Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a …
Acts 3:21“earliest times”… theos dia stomeu toiu hagioiu apo aiōnou autou profētoiu.… things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
Acts 15:18“long ago”gnōsteim apo aiōnou.… have been known for ages.’
1 Corinthians 1:20… sofos? pou grammatevos? pou suzētētos tou aiōnou houtou? ouchi mōranata tos theos tan …… Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the …
1 Corinthians 2:6… toi teleioi, sofian de ouk tou aiōnou houtou oude toiu archontoiu tou aiōnou …… but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this …
1 Corinthians 2:6… aiōnou houtou oude toiu archontoiu tou aiōnou houtou toiu katargorōntoiu;… or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 2:8han oudenos toiu archontoiu tou aiōnou houtou gnōskatē, ei gar gnōskala, ouk …None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had …
2 Corinthians 4:4en hoi tos theos tou aiōnou houtou tuflata teim noēmeim toiu apistoiu …The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers …
Galatians 1:4… nu hopōs exaireteia nin ek tou aiōnou tou enstēarēntou ponērou kata tem thelēmem …… rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our …
Ephesians 3:21“age”… Iēso eis pantain tain geneain tou aiōnou toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 1:8“ages;”… tos theor eis ton aiōnon tou aiōnou, kai tas rabdas tau euthutau rabdas …… throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your …
aiōno“age”to, fordative singular8×
Matthew 12:32… afiēkiti auto oute en houto to aiōno oute en to mellarōnto.… not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
Mark 10:30… agroin meta diōgmoiu, kai en to aiōno to erchorōnto zōan aiōnian.… along with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life.
Luke 18:30… to kairo houto kai en to aiōno to erchorōnto zōan aiōnian.… in this age — and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Romans 12:2kai mē suschēmatizovōr to aiōno houto, alla metamorfovōr ta anakainōsia tou …Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing …
1 Corinthians 3:18… sofos arō en vi en to aiōno houto, mōros genetar, hina geneteia sofos,… thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so …
Ephesians 1:21… onomeu onomazorōnteu ouk monem en to aiōno houto alla kai en to mellarōnto;… named, not only in the present age but also in the one to …
1 Timothy 6:17Toi plousioi en to nun aiōno parangelasōr mē hupsēlofronarō mēde elpizarē epi …… who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not …
Titus 2:12… kai eusebōs zōaneia en to nun aiōno,… and godly lives in the present age,
aiōnoin“ages”objectaccusative plural29×, 23 shown
Luke 1:33“ages”… epi ton oikon Iakōb eis toin aiōnoin, kai tau basileiau autou ouk eti …… will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never …
Romans 1:25“eternity”… ktizaranton, hos atō eulogētos eis toin aiōnoin; amēn.… than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Romans 9:5“ages,”… epi panteiu, theos eulogētos eis toin aiōnoin; amēn.… who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Romans 11:36“eternity”… panteim; auto tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin, amēn.… Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
2 Corinthians 11:31“ages”… oidatē, tos arōntos eulogētos eis toin aiōnoin, hoti ouk pseudomō.… Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.
Galatians 1:5“ages”ho tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:20“ages”… patro nu tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17“ages”… theo, timas kai doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18“ages”… epouranan; ho tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu, amēn.… me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 1:2“world”… panteiu, dia hou kai poiata toin aiōnoin;… heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
Hebrews 11:3“worlds”pistia noanō katartizorē toin aiōnoin rēme theou, eis tem mē ek …By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out …
Hebrews 13:8“ages.”… sēmeron tos autos, kai eis toin aiōnoin.… Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:21“ages”… Christou, ho tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin; amēn.… through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11“ages”… doxas kai tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:11“agess”auto tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:25… kai nun kai eis pantoin toin aiōnoin; amēn.… time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
Revelation 1:6“ages”… doxas kai tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… and Father — to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 1:18“ages”… kai idou zōarōntos amō eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu kai echamō tain kleidain …… dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
Revelation 4:9“ages”… to throno, to zōarōnto eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu,… and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and …
Revelation 4:10“ages”… kai proskunali to zōarōnto eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu, kai balali toin stefanoin …… down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Revelation 5:13“ages”… doxas kai tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu.… throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and …
Revelation 7:12“ages”… ischuas to theo nu eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 10:6“ages”kai omnuata to zōarōnto eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu, hos ktizata ton ouranon …And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and …
aiōnoiu“ages”of, belonging togenitive plural28×, 23 shown
1 Corinthians 2:7“ages”… han proorizata tos theos pro toiu aiōnoiu eis doxan nu;… wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
1 Corinthians 10:11… nu, eis hoin teim teleim toiu aiōnoiu katantatē.… on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Galatians 1:5“ages”… tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:9… teu mustērieu teu apokruptorēnteu apo toiu aiōnoiu en to theo to teim panteim …… stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God …
Ephesians 3:11kata prothesian toiu aiōnoiu han poiata en to Christo Iēso …according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ …
Ephesians 3:21“ages”… pantain tain geneain tou aiōnou toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:20“ages”… tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:26tem mustēriem tem apokruptorēntem apo toiu aiōnoiu kai apo taiu geneaiu, nun de …the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed …
1 Timothy 1:17to de basilevo toiu aiōnoiu, aftharto, aorato, mono theo, timas kai …Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God …
1 Timothy 1:17“ages”… kai doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18“ages”… tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu, amēn.… me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 9:26… nuni de hapax epi sunteleia toiu aiōnoiu eis athetēsian hamartau dia tau thusiau …… all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by …
1 Peter 4:11“ages”… tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:11“ages”… tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:6“ages.”… tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… and Father — to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 1:18“ages.”… zōarōntos amō eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu kai echamō tain kleidain tou thanatou …… now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
Revelation 4:9“ages,”… to zōarōnto eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu,… and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and …
Revelation 4:10“ages”… to zōarōnto eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu, kai balali toin stefanoin autoiu enōpion …… down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Revelation 5:13“ages.”… tem kratem eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu.… throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and …
Revelation 7:12“ages.”… theo nu eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu; amēn.… strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 10:6“ages,”… to zōarōnto eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu, hos ktizata ton ouranon kai teim …… swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and …
Revelation 11:15“ages.”… kai basilati eis toin aiōnoin toiu aiōnoiu.… The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and …
Revelation 14:11“of ages;”… kapnos tou basanismou autoiu eis aiōnoin aiōnoiu anabainatō, kai ouk echalō anapausian hēmerau …And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those …
aiōnoi“ages”to, fordative plural1×
Ephesians 2:7hina endeiketeia en toi aiōnoi toi eperchorōntoi tem huperballarōntem ploutem tau …in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches …