Quick Definition
ἡλικία, ας, ἡ n.f. age, stature
Strong's Definition
from the same as 2245; maturity (in years or size)
KJV Usage: age, stature
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ας | ἡλίκος
67.151 · Time · Indefinite Units of Time: Age, Lifetime, Interval, Period
span of life, lifetime, age the period of time when a person is alive In MAT 6:27 ἡλικία may also denote height (see 81.4). If one understands ἡλικία in MAT 6:27 as time, then obviously some adjustment needs to be made to the meaning of πῆχυς ‘cubit’ (81.25). For many languages the most appropriate term is one which means ‘day,’ but it would also be possible to use some other unit of length if this would clearly imply an impossibility.
67.156 · Time · Indefinite Units of Time: Age, Lifetime, Interval, Period
prime, of age, mature the period of life when one is mature and at one’s prime Normally the phrase παρὰ καιρὸν ἡλικίας (HEB 11:11) would refer to a woman beyond menopause.
1 The meanings of terms in 67.152-67.158 could almost be treated equally well in Domain 23 Physiological Processes and States, since these could be regarded as simply derivatives of physiological states. However, the focus of meaning in the respective contexts seems to be more upon a particular period of time rather than upon a physiological state or condition.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἡλικία, -as, ἡ, (ἧλιξ mature, of full age, Hom. Od. 18, 373 [al. of the same age; cf. Ebeling, Lex. Hom. s. v.; Pape, Lex. 8. v.]); fr. Hom. down; 1. age, time of life; a. univ.: Mt. vi. 27; Lk. xii. 25, [in these pass. ‘term or length of life’; but others refer them to 2 below; see Field, Otium Norv. Pars iii. p. 4; Jas. Morison, Com. on Mt. 1. c.] cf. πῆχυς, and De Wette, Meyer, Bleek on Mt. 1. c.; παρὰ καιρὸν ἡλικίας, beyond the proper stage of life [A. V. past age], Heb. xi. 11 (2 Mace. iv. 40; 4 Mace. v. 4). b. adult age, maturity: ἔχειν mre ciav[ A. V. to be of age], Jn. ix. 21,23. ο. suitable age for anything; with gen. of the thing for which it is fit: τοῦ γάμου, Dem.; τοῦ ἤδη φρονεῖν, Plat. Eryx. p. 396 b.: metaph. of an attained state of mind fit for a thing: τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ, the age in which we are fitted to receive the fulness (see πλήρωμα, 1) of Christ, Eph. iv. 13 [al. refer this to 2; ef. Ellic. in loc.]. 2. stature (Dem., Plut., al.): τῇ ἡλικίᾳ μικρός, Lk. xix. 3; προκόπτειν ἡλικίᾳ, i. 6. in height and comeliness of stature ἡμέρα (Bengel, justam proceritatem nactus est et decoram), Lk. ii. 52; cf. Meyer, Bleek, ad loc.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἡλικία hēlikia 8x
a particular period of life; the period fitted for a particular function, prime, Heb. 11:11; full age, years of discretion, Jn. 9:21, 23; perhaps, the whole duration of life, Mt. 6:27; Lk. 12:25; otherwise, stature, Lk. 2:52; 19:3; Eph. 4:13*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἡλικία, -ας, ἡ
(< ἧλιξ, of the same age, mature), [in LXX: Ez 13:18 (קוֹמָה), Jb 29:18, Wi 4:9, Si 26:17, freq. in II-IV Mac;]
always of age or maturity; "a stage of growth whether measured by age or stature";
age: Mt 6:27, Lk 12:25 (R, mg.), He 11:11;
full age, maturity: Jo 9:21, 23, Eph 4:13.
stature: Lk 19:3 (Mt 6:27, Lk 12:25, AV, R, txt.; but the prevailing usage in LXX and π. favours the former meaning in these doubtful passages; cf., Ellic., ICC, AR, on Eph 4:13; Milligan, NTD, 74 f., and esp., MM, Exp., xv; e contra, Field, Notes, 6).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἡλικία. Lk τοῦ is the only NT passage where the word must mean ‘‘stature”; apart from it (and the rather different Eph 438) the NT represents the general zsws /oguendi of our vernacular sources. We are indeed unable to quote any example from these (for the word in a theological fragment see below) in which ‘‘stature’’ is the natural meaning, and hardly any in which it is possible ; while for ‘‘age’’ we can present a long list. Thus the word is very common in connexion with being ‘‘ under age” or coming ‘‘ of age,’’ which in Egypt took place at the age of 14 years: see e.g. P Ryl II. 2564 (late i/B.c.) νυὶ (Δ νυνὶ) δ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐν ἡλικίᾳ γεγονότος, P Oxy 11. 24713 (A.D. 90) ἀπογράφομ[αι τῷ ὁμογν]ησίῳ μου ἀδελ[φῷ].. . . προστρέχοντι τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἡλικίᾳ, ““ἀρproaching the legal age,” 20. 27318 (A.D. 95) συνκεχωρηκέναι τῇ ἑαυτῆς θυγατρὶ. . . οὐδέπω οὔσῃ ἐν ἡλικίᾳ, 72. IIT. 496" (A.D. 127) τέκνων παρὰ τῇ μητρὶ διαιτ[ο]υμένων ἕως ἡλικίας γέ[ν]ωντία]ι, P Ryl II. 1531} (Α.Ὁ. 138-61) ἄχ]ρι οὗ yevn[ rat Tals ἐννό[μο]υ [ἡ]λικίας, BGU I. 86! (a.p. 155) μέχρι ἐὰν ἐν τῇ νόμῳ ἡλικείᾳ γένοϊνται, and P Flor III. 3821} (A.D. 222--3) where a man who has reached the age of 70 petitions to be freed from certain public duties (ἀπὸ τῶν λειτουργιῶν ἐλευθερωθῆναι) διὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν. Other miscellaneous examples of the word are BGU I. 168° (ii/iii A.D.) τοῖς ἀτελέσι ἔχουσι τὴν ἡλικίαν, P Oxy VII. 1020° (A.D. 198-201) el τὴν ἐκ τῆς ἡλικίας ἔχεις β[οήθιαν,] ὃ ἡγούμ[ενος) τοῦ ἔθνους τὸν ἀγῶνα τῆς ἀφέσεως ἐκδικ[ήσει, ‘if you can claim the assistance due to immature age, the praefect of the province shall decide the suit for release” (Ed.), P Tebt 11. 326° (c. A.D. 266) ὑπὲρ θυγατρὸς ὀρφανῆς καὶ καταδεοῦς τὴν ἡλικίαν. .. ἱκετηρίαν τιθεμένη, ‘making supplication for my orphan daughter who is under age.” ‘The list of citations might be almost indefinitely increased, but it must be sufficient to summarize by stating that no one who reads the papyri can have any doubt that the word meant ‘‘age”’ in ordinary parlance. In the fragment of a lost Gospel referred to above, P Oxy IV. 65514 (not later than A.D. 250) tis ἂν mpoo On (/. προσθείη) ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν ὑμῶν ; δηώσει ὑμῖν τὸ ἔνδυμα ὑμῶν, the editors translate could add to your stature? He himself will give you your garment.” “ ce avto|s who The descrip- | 279 ἧλος We must not yield to the temptation of discussing the meaning of the word in ‘‘Q”; but we cannot resist expressing amazement that anyone could call it ἐλάχιστον (Lk 1255) to add half a yard to one’s height! The Zzwenstieth Century translators boldly render, ‘‘ Which of you, by being anxious, can prolong his life a moment?’’—and we cannot but applaud them. That worry shortens life is the fact which adds pint to the irony. The desire to turn a sixfooter into a Goliath is rather a bizarre ambition. See the admirable argument and citations in Wetstein ad Mt 677. A quotation from an inscription in honour of a wealthy young citizen of Istropolis, near the mouth of the Danube, should be given, as a most interesting parallel to Lk 2°: Sylf 32518 (i/B.c.) ὑπεστήσατό te ἡλικίᾳ προκόπτων Kal προαγόμενος εἰς τὸ θεοσεβεῖν ws ἔπρεπεν αὐτῷ πρῶτον μὲν ἐτείμησεν τοὺς θεούς κτλ.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἡλικία (hēlikia) — age/height. ἡλῐκί-α, Ionic dialect ἡλικίη, Doric dialect ἁλικία, ἡ, (ἧλιξ) time of life, age, ἤν πως ἡλικίην αἰδέσσεται ἠδ᾽ ἐλεήσῃ γῆρας [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τήνδ᾽ ἡ. ἀστῶν, i.e. their old age, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: accusative used adverbially, in age, νέος ἡλικίην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: so in dative, ἡλικίᾳ ἔτι τότε ὢν νέος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; προεληλυθότες ταῖς ἡ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ὑπὸ τῆς ἡ. from our age, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἐν τῇ αὐτῆ ἡ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ἀχρεῖον τῆς ἡ. [Refs]; ὅταν.. τοῦ γεννᾶν ἐκβῶσι τὴν ἡ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πόρρω τῆς ἡ. to an advanced age, [Refs]; προήκων ἐς βαθὺ τῆς ἡ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; προϊούσης τῆς ἡ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ παρ᾽ ἡλικίαν νοῦς beyond one's age, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. prime of life, manhood, ἐν ἁλικίᾳ πρώτᾳ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡλικίαν ἔχειν, εἰς ἡ. ἐλθεῖν, ἀφικέσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡλικίην ἔχειν with infinitive, to be of fit age for doing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἐν τῇ ἡλικίᾳ men of military age, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ καθεστηκυῖα ἡ. maturity, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of women, womanhood, marriageable age, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. youthful passion, ἡλικίῃ καὶ θυμῷ ἐπιτρέπειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
4. maidenhood, τὴν ἡ. οὐ καλῶς διαφυλάξασαν [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. as collective Noun,= οἱ ἥλικες, those of the same age, comrades, ὃς ἡλικίην ἐκέκαστο ἔγχεϊ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially those of military age, τῆς ἡ. ἀπούσης ἐν ταῖς ναυσί [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, men of any age, παίδων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν καὶ πάσης ἡ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. time, ταῦτα ἡλικίην ἂν εἴη κατὰ Λάϊον about the time of Laius, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
IV. age, generation, ἐπὶ τῆς νῦν ἡ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸ τῆς ἡμετέρας ἡ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; εἰς τὴν νῦν ζῶσαν ἡ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; πολλαῖς ἔμπροσθεν ἡ. [Refs 1st c.AD+]
V. of the body, stature, as a sign of age, [NT+5th c.BC+] add a cubit to one's age (compare πήχυιος), [NT]; ἄνδρας ἡμισταδιαίους τὰς ἡ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; height of a pillar, [Refs]