Pronunciation Guide: pah-lah-ee-OH-oh
Quick Answer: παλαιόω means “to make old, wear out, or declare obsolete.” In Scripture, it describes both physical deterioration (like worn clothing) and spiritual transition (the old covenant becoming obsolete through the Messiah’s new covenant), emphasizing God’s pattern of renewal where the old gives way to the new.
What Does παλαιόω Mean?
Strong’s G3822: παλαιόω represents the divine process of making something old, worn out, or obsolete—not through destruction, but through replacement with something infinitely better. This powerful Greek verb captures both the natural aging process of physical things and the supernatural transition where יהוה (Yahweh) establishes new spiritual realities. In Luke 12:33, the Messiah uses παλαιόω to describe purses that don’t wear out, contrasting earthly treasures that deteriorate with heavenly ones that endure. In Hebrews 8:13, the writer employs this same word to explain how the new covenant has rendered the old covenant obsolete—not by destroying it, but by fulfilling and transcending it. The word suggests that when God introduces something new, the old naturally becomes παλαιόω, preparing hearts for greater revelation and deeper relationship with Him.
Key Insight: God doesn’t discard the old destructively but lovingly replaces it with something better suited for our eternal destiny.
Where Does παλαιόω Come From?
- Part of Speech: Verb (transitive and intransitive)
- Root Words: From παλαιός (palaios, “old, ancient”) + verbal suffix -όω (-oo)
- Language Origin: Classical Greek, derived from πάλαι (palai, “long ago”)
- Primary Usage: Active voice: “to make old”; Passive voice: “to become old, wear out”
- Hebrew Equivalents: בָּלָה (balah, “to wear out”) and עָתַק (athaq, “to become old”)
What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of παλαιόω?
The etymology of παλαιόω traces back to πάλαι, meaning “long ago” or “formerly,” revealing ancient Greek understanding of temporal progression and change. In classical Greek literature, particularly in Plato’s writings, παλαιόω described the natural process by which things become antiquated or outdated, whether through physical deterioration or conceptual obsolescence. The Symposium and Timaeus employ this term to discuss how earthly forms fade while eternal realities endure.
Hebrew Background and Septuagint Usage
When the Jewish translators of the Septuagint (LXX) encountered Hebrew words like בָּלָה (balah) and עָתַק (athaq), they chose παλαιόω to convey the concept of wearing out through time and use. This translation choice reveals profound theological insight: the Hebrew mindset understood that physical deterioration and spiritual obsolescence follow divine patterns of renewal. In passages like Isaiah 50:9 and Isaiah 51:6, the LXX uses παλαιόω to describe how garments and heavens will grow old, emphasizing the temporal nature of creation versus the eternal nature of God’s salvation.
Cultural Significance in First-Century Judaism
For first-century Jewish readers familiar with both Greek philosophical thought and Hebrew scriptural tradition, παλαιόω carried powerful theological implications. The word bridged Hellenistic concepts of temporal change with Jewish covenant theology, suggesting that God’s progressive revelation naturally causes earlier forms to become παλαιόω—not through rejection, but through fulfillment and transcendence.
Historical Summary: παλαιόω evolved from describing physical aging to expressing theological transition, perfectly capturing God’s pattern of renewal through replacement.
How Is παλαιόω Used in the Bible?
παλαιόω appears only four times in the New Testament, but each occurrence carries profound theological weight that illuminates God’s character and His progressive revelation to humanity. The word consistently emphasizes transition rather than destruction, renewal rather than abandonment.
In the Gospels, Jesus uses παλαιόω to contrast earthly and heavenly treasures, teaching that material possessions naturally deteriorate while spiritual investments endure eternally. The book of Hebrews employs this same word to explain the covenantal transition from the Mosaic system to the new covenant established through the Messiah’s sacrifice. This usage demonstrates that God doesn’t violently overthrow the old but lovingly fulfills it, causing it to naturally become obsolete as believers embrace superior spiritual realities.
The Septuagint usage of παλαιόω in passages like Nehemiah 9:21 (describing clothes that didn’t wear out during Israel’s wilderness wandering) creates powerful typological connections, showing that God’s miraculous preservation power transcends natural processes of deterioration and aging.
Usage Summary: παλαιόω appears in contexts of divine provision, covenantal transition, and eternal versus temporal realities, emphasizing God’s renewing power.
- Luke 12:33 – “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out [παλαιόω], a treasure in heaven that will never fail”
- Hebrews 1:11 – “They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out [παλαιόω] like a garment”
- Hebrews 8:13 – “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete [παλαιόω]; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear”
How Should παλαιόω Be Translated?
Primary Meanings:
- To make old or worn out
- To declare obsolete or outdated
- To cause to become antiquated
- To wear out through time and use
- To supersede with something better
Translation Tip: Context determines whether παλαιόω emphasizes physical deterioration, conceptual obsolescence, or divine covenantal transition.
παλαιόω Translation Options:
| Translation | Context | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| “wear out” | Physical objects (Luke 12:33, Heb 1:11) | Emphasizes natural deterioration through time and use |
| “make obsolete” | Covenantal theology (Heb 8:13) | Stresses replacement by something superior, not destruction |
| “grow old” | General aging process | Focuses on temporal progression and change |
| “declare outdated” | Theological transition | Highlights authoritative pronouncement of supersession |
| “cause to become antiquated” | Progressive revelation | Emphasizes the process of being surpassed by newer revelation |
What Does παλαιόω Teach Us About God?
παλαιόω reveals יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) heart as the God of progressive revelation and merciful renewal. When Scripture describes the old covenant as παλαιόω, it doesn’t suggest that God’s earlier revelation was flawed or rejected, but rather that His love compelled Him to provide something infinitely better. This word demonstrates that our God is not static but dynamically working throughout history to bring His people into deeper relationship and greater freedom.
Divine Patterns of Renewal
The theological use of παλαιόω shows that God’s pattern involves preparation, fulfillment, and transition. The Mosaic covenant prepared hearts for the Messiah; the Messiah’s sacrifice fulfilled the law’s requirements; and now the old system naturally becomes παλαιόω as believers embrace the new covenant’s superior promises. This reveals God’s wisdom in leading His people progressively rather than overwhelming them with immediate perfection.
Theological Core: παλαιόω demonstrates that God’s love motivates Him to replace the good with the infinitely better, always moving His people toward greater glory.
How Can I Apply παλαιόω to My Life?
Understanding παλαιόω invites you to embrace God’s ongoing work of renewal in your life with joy rather than resistance. Just as the Messiah didn’t come to destroy the law but to fulfill it, God isn’t trying to destroy your past but to fulfill His purposes through it as He leads you into something better. When old patterns, relationships, or ways of thinking become παλαιόω in your spiritual journey, this isn’t cause for grief but for gratitude—it means God is preparing you for greater intimacy with Him and more effective service in His kingdom.
Allow the Holy Spirit to show you what in your life has become παλαιόω—not to condemn you, but to free you for the new things He wants to accomplish through you. Sometimes we cling to the old covenant of performance and works when God is calling us into the new covenant of grace and relationship. Let παλαιόω remind you that God’s renewals are always motivated by love and directed toward your ultimate flourishing in His presence.
Self-Examination Questions: What “old wineskins” in my thinking or living might be preventing me from receiving God’s new wine? How can I cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work of making outdated patterns παλαιόω in my life? What new covenant realities am I being invited to embrace more fully?
What Words Are Similar to παλαιόω?
- γηράσκω (gerasko) – “to grow old, age” – Emphasizes natural aging process rather than replacement – See G1095
- καταργέω (katargeo) – “to nullify, abolish” – Suggests complete cancellation rather than natural obsolescence – See G2673
- φθείρω (phtheiro) – “to corrupt, destroy” – Focuses on destruction rather than replacement – See G5351
- παλαιός (palaios) – “old, ancient” – The adjective form describing something already old – See G3820
- ἀρχαῖος (archaios) – “ancient, original” – Emphasizes antiquity without implication of obsolescence – See G744
Did You Know?
- What does παλαιόω mean in modern Greek? In contemporary Greek, the word continues to mean “to age” or “make old,” often used for antique furniture or vintage items.
- How did Plato use παλαιόω? The philosopher employed this term in his Timaeus to describe how earthly forms become worn and outdated compared to eternal, perfect forms.
- What’s the difference between παλαιόω and γηράσκω? While both mean “to grow old,” παλαιόω emphasizes replacement or obsolescence, while γηράσκω focuses on natural aging.
- Why does the Bible use παλαιόω in Hebrews 8:13? The author chose this word to show that the old covenant wasn’t destroyed but superseded—fulfilled and transcended by something better.
- How does παλαιόω relate to covenant theology? It demonstrates God’s progressive revelation pattern: preparation, fulfillment, and gracious transition to superior spiritual realities.
- What causes spiritual obsolescence today? Clinging to legalistic performance instead of embracing grace, or preferring religious traditions over vibrant relationship with the living God.
- The Hebrew wilderness connection – When Israel’s clothes didn’t παλαιόω during forty years of wandering (Nehemiah 9:21), it foreshadowed how God’s people would receive imperishable spiritual garments through the Messiah.
Remember This
παλαιόω reminds us that our God is always moving His people from glory to glory, causing the old to become obsolete not through destruction but through the overwhelming beauty of His new creations.
