stoicheion (principle)

Meaning

Usually translated “principles”, “elements” and “basic principles”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

principles 4
elements 2
basic principles 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Galatians 2
Colossians 2
2 Peter 2
Hebrews 1

4 books in all.

Explore in Scripture

2 Peter 3:12In contextLooking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Galatians 4:3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Galatians 4:9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Hebrews 5:12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Greek dictionary

στοιχεῖον stoicheion · principle

στοιχεῖον, -ου, τό [in LXX: Wis.7:17 19:18, 4Ma.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.) Heb.5:12; πτωχὰ σ., Gal.4:9; σ. τοῦ κόσμου, Gal.4:3, Col.2:8, 20 (but see infr.). 4. The material elements of the universe (Plat.; LXX, ll. with): 2Pe.3:10 3:12. 5. The heavenly bodies (Ding. Laert.). …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “principle” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

PRIN'CIPLE, noun

[Latin principium, beginning.]

In a general sense, the cause, source or origin of any thing; that from which a thing proceeds; as the principle of motion; the principles of action.
Element; constituent part; primordial substance.
Being that produces any thing; operative cause.
In science, a truth admitted either without proof, or considered as having been before proved.

All definitions and other forms of “principle”

Ground; foundation; that which supports an assertion, an action, or a series of actions or of reasoning.
A general truth; a law comprehending many subordinate truths; as the principles of morality, of law, of government, etc.
Tenet; that which is believed, whether truth or not, but which serves as a rule of action or the basis of a system; as the principles of the Stoics, or of the Epicureans.
A principle of human nature, is a law of action in human beings; a constitutional propensity common to the human species.

PRIN'CIPLE, verb transitive

To establish or fix in tenets; to impress with any tenet, good or ill; chiefly used in the participle.

To establish firmly in the mind.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.