patriarchs

Patriarch is a term derived from Greek patriarkhēs, meaning "father ruler." It designates a male leader who heads a family, clan, tribe, or religious jurisdiction. The plural patriarchs is used for both founding paternal figures and senior male leaders across religious and secular contexts.

In the Hebrew Bible, the term commonly refers to the three patriarchs of the Israelites—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—considered founding fathers of the Israelite people. The title is also used in Jewish and Christian traditions to reference revered male ancestors who forged the ancestral line.

In Christian tradition, "patriarch" denotes senior bishops who govern major sees or patriarchates. Historically, the five ancient patriarchates were Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Rome; later, other churches have designated additional sees as patriarchates, including Moscow. The term indicates ecclesiastical authority rather than civil power.

In secular discourse, "patriarch" can refer to the male head of a family or lineage or to male leaders who wield traditional authority in patriarchal social systems. In sociology and anthropology, patriarchy denotes a system in which men hold primary power and decision-making roles, a topic of ongoing scholarly discussion.