noun · neuter

stoicheiem

Greekστοιχεῖον (stoicheion)

Strong’sG4747

a heavenly body, an element

stem stoichei-6 times in the New Testamentin 4 of 27 books2 of 6 forms occur

Translated as

elemental spirits3×elements2×principles1×

What it means

** στοιχεῖον, -ου, τό

[in LXX: Wi 7:17 19:18, IV Mac 12:13 *;]

prop., one of a row (στοῖχος) or series, hence,

1. the shadow-line of a dial (Aristoph.).

2. an elementary sound or letter of the alphabet (Anth., Plut., π.).

3. the elements or rudiments of knowledge (Arist., al.) He 5:12; πτωχὰ σ., Ga 4:9; σ. τοῦ κόσμου, ib. 3, Col 2:8, 20 (but v. infr.).

4. The material elements of the universe (Plat.; LXX, ll. c.): II Pe 3:10, 12.

5. The heavenly bodies (Diog. Laert.).

6. The demons or tutelary spirits of nature (Enoch., Test., Sol., al.; for this sense in Ga, Col, ll. c., v. ICC on Col 2:8; Enc. Bibl., s.v. " Elements ").†

G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.

Strong’s G4747 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from

Saidstoy-khi'-on

something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively)

Fromneuter of a presumed derivative of the base of G4748;

King Jameselement, principle, rudiment.

James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.

Every form

Job in the sentence case	one singular	more than one plural
subject or object direct	stoicheiem	stoicheieim2×στοιχεῖα
of, belonging to genitive	stoicheieu	stoicheieiu1×στοιχείων
to, for dative	stoicheie	stoicheiei

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

stoicheistem+egender+mu—its job in the sentence case+—ione · more than one number

stoicheie 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

Words built on the same stem

stoicheiem — στοιχεῖα, a heavenly body, an element

Where it appears

6 occurrences, every one of them listed

stoicheieim“elements”subject or objectdirect plural2×

2 Peter 3:10“elements”hēkati de hēmeras kuriou hōs kleptos, en ha tois ouranois roizēdon parercheli, stoicheieim de kausirōteim luiti, kai gēas kai teim en auta ergeim heuriskiti.But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

2 Peter 3:12“elements”prosdokarōtoin kai speudarōtoin tan parousian tau tou theou hēmerau, dia han ouranois purirōtois luili kai stoicheieim kausirōteim tēkitō;as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

stoicheieiu“elemental spirits”of, belonging togenitive plural1×

Colossians 2:20“elemental spirits”Ei apothnēskava sun Christo apo teiu stoicheieiu tou kosmou, tinem hōs zōarōtois en kosmo dogmatizivō;If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:

stoicheieim3×

Galatians 4:9“elemental spirits”nun de gnōskaratois theon, mallon de gnōskiratois hupo theou, pōs epistrefavō palin epi teim astheneim kai ptōcheim stoicheieim, hei palin anōthen douleuarō thelavō?But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Colossians 2:8“elemental spirits”Blepavōr mē tinos vin eti tos sulagōgarōtos dia tau filosofiau kai kenau apatau kata tan paradosian toiu anthrōpoiu, kata teim stoicheieim tou kosmou kai ouk kata Christon;See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

Hebrews 5:12“principles”kai gar ofeilarōtois arō didaskalois dia ton chronon, palin chreian echavō teu didaskarō vin tinon teim stoicheieim tau archau teiu logieiu tou theou, kai ginavē chreian echarōtois galeu, ouk stereau trofēau.Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!