stoicheion · elements, basic principles

What it means

stoicheion (στοιχεῖον) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “elements, basic principles”.

Elements: the first and basic things of something; also the powers that people believed ruled the world.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. The elements the world is made of.
2. The first basics of a teaching; the world's enslaving powers.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• elements ×6
• first principles ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Galatians×2
• Colossians×2
• Hebrews×1
• 2 Peter×2

• Galatians 4:3

  So we also, when we were children, were enslaved under the elements of the world.

• Galatians 4:9

  But now, having come to know God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and poor elements, to which you want to be slaves all over again?

• Colossians 2:8

  Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of human beings, according to the elements of the world and not according to the Messiah;

• Colossians 2:20

  If you died with the Messiah to the elements of the world, why, as if living in the world, do you submit to decrees,

• Hebrews 5:12

  For indeed, though you ought to be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and you have become people needing milk, not solid food.

• 2 Peter 3:10

  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements, burning, will be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it will be laid bare.

• 2 Peter 3:12

  waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens, set on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements, burning, will melt?