Patriarch

Patriarch refers to an ancestral figure who stands at the beginning of a family line or tradition and through whom identity, inheritance, and memory are organized. In biblical contexts, patriarchs are presented as early ancestors, such as Abraham, whose lives shape lineage, land claims, and covenant relationships for later generations. While the word itself refers to male figures, the category commonly includes the matriarchs as part of the same foundational family unit. As a result, “patriarchal” language in these contexts often reflects genealogical and narrative structure rather than the exclusion of female figures, even though authority is framed through male lineage.