patriarchs
Male family heads
Patriarchs are male heads of families, clans, or tribes—figures of authority in traditional kinship structures.
In biblical usage, the patriarchs are the founding fathers of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The term extends to venerable old men or senior figures in any hierarchy: the patriarchs of the civil rights movement.
In Eastern Orthodox and some other Christian churches, a patriarch is a bishop of the highest rank.
Ancestor from generations past
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- forebearAncestral family member
- primogenitorEarliest ancestor of lineage
- sireMale animal parent
begetter · originator · predecessor · lineage · bloodline · genealogy · ancestry · descent
Higher in rank
- venerableDeserving honor for dignity
- agedAdvanced in years
- grey-hairedHaving silver locks
- sageWisdom keeper or seasoning
wise man · grandfather · great-grandfather · elder statesman · old guard · doyen · respected elder · tribal elder
Family's chief decision-maker
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- controlAuthority to direct
leadership · governance · power · sovereignty · supremacy · hierarchy · paternalism · headship
Senior prelate over province
- metropolitanOf a major city
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- pontiffSupreme Catholic leader
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
hierarch · prelate · primate · Constantinople · Alexandria · Antioch · Jerusalem · ecumenical
forefather
Ancestor from generations past
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- forebearAncestral family member
- primogenitorEarliest ancestor of lineage
sire · begetter · originator · predecessor · lineage · bloodline · genealogy · ancestry · descent · dynasty
Abraham
First Hebrew patriarch
Adam · Moses · Seth · Enoch · Methuselah · Joseph · David · Solomon · Job · covenant
senior
Higher in rank
- venerableDeserving honor for dignity
- agedAdvanced in years
- grey-hairedHaving silver locks
sage · wise man · grandfather · great-grandfather · elder statesman · old guard · doyen · respected elder · tribal elder · council of elders
head of household
Family's chief decision-maker
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
control · leadership · governance · power · sovereignty · supremacy · hierarchy · paternalism · headship · eldership
archbishop
Senior prelate over province
- metropolitanOf a major city
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- pontiffSupreme Catholic leader
pope · hierarch · prelate · primate · Constantinople · Alexandria · Antioch · Jerusalem · ecumenical · ecclesiastical
- ChristianityJesus, Bible, Christ, God, Jesus Christ
- ancestorsancestor, ancestors, forebears, forebear, forbear
- Ancient IsraelIsraelites, Jerusalem, Israel, twelve tribes, Judea
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- Hebrew BibleTanakh, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers
- Orthodox ChristianityOrthodox Church, Nicene Creed, Hagia Sophia, Greek Orthodox, patriarchate
patriarchsmatriarchs
Female family rulers
clan mothers · grandmothers · ancestresses · foremothers · founding mothers
patriarchsmatriarchs
Female family rulers
priestesses · abbesses · laity · congregants · followers
- patriarchal societySocial order favoring men
- patriarchal traditionsCustoms centered on male authority
- family patriarchMale head of household
- patriarchal valuesBeliefs privileging male dominance
- patriarchal societiesCommunities where men dominate
- patriarchal structureSystem favoring male authority