adjective
aiōnios
Strong’sG166
eternal, unending
stem aiōni-69 times in the New Testamentin 19 of 27 books9 of 26 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
αἰώνιος means eternal, everlasting, age-long 1234 — literally "lasting for an age" 3. It describes something whose duration stretches beyond ordinary limits, and depending on what it is applied to this can mean having neither beginning nor end, having no beginning, or having no end 1. It is used of things such as a covenant, a dwelling, good news, comfort, redemption, an inheritance, punishment, judgment, destruction, fire, and life 1. Strong's notes that it can also describe past time, or time reaching both backward and forward, not simply unending future duration 2.
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
αἰώνιος, -ον (as usual in Attic), also -α, -ον. II Th 2:16, He 9:12;
(< αἰών), [in LXX chiefly for עוֹלָם;]
SYN.: ἀΐδιος, q.v.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G166 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidahee-o'-nee-os
perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)
Fromfrom G165;
King Jameseternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
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
also α, ον NT+5th c.BC+:— lasting for an age (αἰών 11), perpetual, eternal (but distinct from ἀΐδιος, Refs 5th c.BC+; κακά, δεινά, NT+5th c.BC+; αἰ. διαθήκη, νόμιμον, πρόσταγμα, LXX+NT+3rd c.AD+; κόλασις NT+6th c.AD+
2 holding an office or title for life, perpetual, γυμνασίαρχοςRefs
3 = Latin saecularis, Refs 2nd c.AD+
4 adverb -ίως eternally, νοῦς ἀκίνητος αἰ. πάντα ὤνRefs 5th c.AD+; perpetually, μισεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+
5 αἰώνιον, τό, ={ἀείζωον τὸ μέγα}, Ps.-Refs 1st c.AD+
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.
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 | masculine singular | feminine singular | neuter singular | masculine plural | feminine plural | neuter plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | aiōnios | aiōnias4×αἰώνιος | aiōniem5×αἰώνιον | aiōniois | aiōniais | aiōnieim1×αἰώνια |
| object accusative | aiōnion2×αἰώνιον | aiōnian40×αἰώνιον | aiōnioin | aiōniain1×αἰωνίους | ||
| direct address vocative | aiōnior | aiōniar | aiōnioir | aiōniair | ||
| of, belonging to genitive | aiōniou | aiōniau10×αἰωνίου | aiōnieu4×αἰωνίου | aiōnioiu2×αἰωνίων | aiōniaiu | aiōnieiu |
| to, for dative | aiōnio | aiōnia | aiōnie | aiōnioi | aiōniai | aiōniei |
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
aiōni 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.
69 occurrences, every one of them listed
aiōnion“eternal”objectaccusative singular2×
2 Thessalonians 1:9hotinois dikan tinali olethron aiōnion apo prosōpeu tou kuriou kai apo …They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of …
Philemon 1:15“forever”… dia houtem chōrizita pros hōran hina aiōnion auton apechaseia,For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good —
aiōnias“eternal”subjectnominative singular4×
John 12:50… oidamē hoti tas entolas autou zōas aiōnias atō. heim oun mis lalamō, kathōs …… know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what …
John 17:3houtas de atō tas aiōnias zōas hina gnōskaleiō sin ton monon …Now this is eternal life, that they may know You …
Romans 6:23… tem de charismem tou theou zōas aiōnias en Christo Iēso to kurio nu.… but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 5:20… atō tos alēthinos theos kai zōas aiōnias.… He is the true God and eternal life.
aiōnian“eternal”objectaccusative singular40×
Matthew 19:16… tinem agathem poiameia hina echameia zōan aiōnian?… thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”
Matthew 19:29… onomeu mu, hekatontaplasiōneim labeti kai zōan aiōnian klēronomati.… receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 25:46kai apercheli houtois eis kolasian aiōnian, tois de dikaiois eis zōan aiōnian.And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal …
Matthew 25:46… aiōnian, tois de dikaiois eis zōan aiōnian.… eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Mark 10:17… Didaskalor agathor, tinem poiameia hina zōan aiōnian klēronomameia?… what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mark 10:30… en to aiōno to erchorōnto zōan aiōnian.… and in the age to come, eternal life.
Luke 10:25… auton legarōntos; Didaskalor, tinem poiarantos zōan aiōnian klēronomami?… what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Luke 18:18… legarōntos; Didaskalor agathor, tinem poiarantos zōan aiōnian klēronomami?… what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Luke 18:30… en to aiōno to erchorōnto zōan aiōnian.… and in the age to come, eternal life.”
John 3:15… tos pisteuarōntos en auto echateiō zōan aiōnian.… who believes in Him may have eternal life.
John 3:16… auton mē apoleteia alla echateiō zōan aiōnian.… Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:36… pisteuarōntos eis ton huion echatō zōan aiōnian; tos de apeitharōntos to huio ouk …Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will …
John 4:14… auto pēgas hudeu hallorōnteu eis zōan aiōnian.… fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4:36… labatō kai sunagatō karpon eis zōan aiōnian, hina tos sperarōntos homou chairateiō kai …… wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and …
John 5:24… pisteuarōntos to pemparanto min echatō zōan aiōnian, kai eis krisian ouk erchotō alla …… believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under …
John 5:39… hoti vis dokavō en autai zōan aiōnian echarō; kai ekeinais alō tais marturarōntais …… presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words …
John 6:27… tan brōsian tan menarōntan eis zōan aiōnian, han tos huios tou anthrōpou vi …… but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man …
John 6:40… kai pisteuarōntos eis auton echateiō zōan aiōnian, kai anastēami auton mis ta eschata …… and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him …
John 6:47… legamō vi, tos pisteuarōntos echatō zōan aiōnian.… tell you, he who believes has eternal life.
John 6:54… pinarōntos mu tem haimem echatō zōan aiōnian, kamis anastēami auton ta eschata hēmera.… flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him …
John 10:28kamis dōamō autei zōan aiōnian, kai ouk mē apoleleia eis ton …I give them eternal life, and they will never perish …
John 12:25… en to kosmo houto eis zōan aiōnian fulassati autan.… this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 17:2… hem dōasē auto dōateia autoi zōan aiōnian.… people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have …
Acts 13:48… pisteuala hosois ale tassorēntois eis zōan aiōnian;… and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
Romans 2:7… kai timan kai aftharsian zētarōntoi zōan aiōnian;… honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
Romans 5:21… charitas basilateia dia dikaiosunau eis zōan aiōnian dia Iēsu Christou tou kuriou nu.… might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:22… eis hagiasmon, tem de telem zōan aiōnian.… to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
2 Corinthians 5:1… oikodoman ek theou echanō oikian acheiropoiētan aiōnian en toi ouranoi.… have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by …
Galatians 6:8… pneumem ek teu pneumeu therizati zōan aiōnian.… Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
2 Thessalonians 2:16… tos agaparantos nin kai dōarantos paraklēsian aiōnian kai elpidan agathan en charita,… has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,
1 Timothy 1:16… mellarōntoiu pisteuarō epi auto eis zōan aiōnian.… who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Hebrews 9:12… haimeu, eiserchata efapax eis teim hagieim, aiōnian lutrōsian heuriskerantos.… by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
1 Peter 5:10… charitau, tos kalarantos vin eis tan aiōnian autou doxan en Christo, oligem pascharantoin …… who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore …
2 Peter 1:11… epichorēgiti vi tas eisodas eis tan aiōnian basileian tou kuriou nu kai sōtērou …… receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior …
1 John 1:2… kai apangelanō vi tan zōan tan aiōnian hotinas ate pros ton patron kai …… and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father …
1 John 2:25… autos epangeleta ni, tan zōan tan aiōnian.… that He Himself made to us: eternal life.
1 John 3:15… hoti pantos anthrōpoktonos ouk echatō zōan aiōnian en auto menarōntan.… a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a …
1 John 5:11… houtas atō tas marturias, hoti zōan aiōnian dōata tos theos ni, kai houtas …… that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in …
1 John 5:13… vi hina oidaveiē hoti zōan echavō aiōnian, toi pisteuarōntoi eis tem onomem tou …… you may know that you have eternal life.
Jude 1:21… kuriou nu Iēsu Christou eis zōan aiōnian.… Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.
aiōniau“eternal”of, belonging togenitive singular10×
Mark 16:8“eternal”… tem hierem kai afthartem kērugmem tau aiōniau sōtērēau. amēn.So the women left …
John 6:68… Kurior, pros tinon apercheni? rēmeim zōau aiōniau echasō,… go? You have the words of eternal life.
Acts 13:46… kai ouk axioin krinavō heautoin tau aiōniau zōau, idou strefonō eis teim ethneim;… do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the …
1 Timothy 6:12… kalon agōnon tau pistiau, epilabesar tau aiōniau zōau, eis han kalisa kai homologasa …… the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called …
2 Timothy 2:10… tau en Christo Iēso meta doxau aiōniau.… that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Titus 1:2epi elpida zōau aiōniau, han epangeleta tos apseudos theos pro …in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie …
Titus 3:7… charita klēronomois genineia kata elpidan zōau aiōniau.… become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Hebrews 5:9… pantoi toi hupakouarōntoi auto aitios sōtērēau aiōniau,… perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
Hebrews 9:15… tan epangelian labaleia tois kalorēntois tau aiōniau klēronomiau.… are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died …
Hebrews 13:20… probateiu ton megon en haime diathēkau aiōniau, ton kurion nu Iēsun,… who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead …
aiōniem“eternal”subject or objectdirect singular5×
Matthew 18:8… echarōnton balira eis tem purem tem aiōniem.… feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.
Matthew 25:41… tois katarorēntoir eis tem purem tem aiōniem tem hetoimazorēntem to diabolo kai toi …… you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and …
2 Corinthians 4:17… thlipsiau nu kata huperbolan eis huperbolan aiōniem barosem doxau katergazotō ni,… affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far …
Revelation 14:6… angelon petorōnton en mesouranēme, echarōnton euangeliem aiōniem euangelizara epi toin kathorōntoin epi tau …… another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who …
1 Timothy 6:16… horara dunotō; ho timas kai kratem aiōniem; amēn.… Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
aiōnieu“eternal”of, belonging togenitive singular4×
Mark 3:29… eis ton aiōnon, alla enochos atō aiōnieu hamartēmeu.… be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
Hebrews 6:2… cheiraiu, anastasiau tē nekroiu kai krimeu aiōnieu.… the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
Hebrews 9:14… haimem tou Christou, hos dia pneumeu aiōnieu heauton prosferata amōmon to theo, katharizati …… blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God …
Jude 1:7… opisō sarkau heterau, prokeiolō deigmem pureu aiōnieu dikan hupecharōntais.… those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.
aiōnioiu“eternal”of, belonging togenitive plural2×
2 Timothy 1:9“eternal”… ni en Christo Iēso pro chronoiu aiōnioiu,… He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Titus 1:2“eternal”… epangeleta tos apseudos theos pro chronoiu aiōnioiu… life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
aiōniain“eternal”objectaccusative plural1×
Luke 16:9… hotan eklipateia decheleia vin eis tain aiōniain skēnain.… gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.
aiōnieim“eternal”subject or objectdirect plural1×
2 Corinthians 4:18… bleporōnteim proskaireim, teim de mē bleporōnteim aiōnieim.… temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.