Ancient of Days

proper noun

God, as the One who existed before the beginning of time.

OriginBiblical Hebrew עַתִּ֤יק יֽוֹמַיָּא֙ →
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Meanings

proper nounthe Ancient of Days
  1. ChristianityGod, as the One who existed before the beginning of time.

    shall wee then receiue an accusation against the Ancient of daies, the Lord himselfe vpon Sathans word, a knowne and detected deceiuer?

    1618, Daniel Dyke, “Michael and the dragon, or Christ tempted and Sathan foyled”, in Two Treatises. The one, Of Repentance: the other, Of Christs Temptations, London: Edward Griffin, page 242
    2 more examples

    I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the sonne of man, came with the clouds of heauen, and came to the Ancient of daies, and they brought him neere before him. And there was giuen him dominion and glory, and a kingdome, that all people, nations, and languages should serue him: his dominion is an euerlasting dominion, which shall not passe away; and his kingdome that, which shall not be destroyed.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 7:13-14

    The first is true: all under the first is obnoxious to error; the puisne posthumous antiquity hath been a refuge for falsehood: the primigenous antiquity, which proceeded from the Ancient of Days, is certain.

    1641, Joseph Hall, A Short Answer to the Vindication of Smectymnuus

Origin

  1. Biblical Hebrewעַתִּ֤יק יֽוֹמַיָּא֙
  2. EnglishAncient of Days

Calque of Biblical Hebrew עַתִּ֤יק יֽוֹמַיָּא֙.

More words from Biblical Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek Παλαιὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν
  • Παλαιὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν (Palaiòs tôn hēmerôn)God
Chinese Mandarin 亙古常在者 /亘古常在者
  • 亙古常在者 /亘古常在者 (gèngǔ chángzài zhě)God
French Ancien des jours
  • Ancien des joursGod
Greek Παλαιός των Ημερών
  • Παλαιός των Ημερών (Palaiós ton Imerón)God
Hebrew עַתִּיק יֹומִין
  • עַתִּיק יֹומִין (ʿatīq yōmīn)God
Hindi अतिप्राचीन
  • अतिप्राचीन (atiprācīn)God
Italian Antico dei giorni
  • Antico dei giorniGod
Korean 옛적부터 항상 계신 이
  • 옛적부터 항상 계신 이 (yetjeokbuteo hangsang gyesin i)God
Latin Antiquus dierum
  • Antiquus dierumGod
Russian Ве́тхий де́нми
  • Ве́тхий де́нми (Vétxij dénmi)God
Swedish den Gamle av dagar
  • den Gamle av dagarGod
Cite this entry
APA

Ancient of Days. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ancient%20of%20Days

MLA

“Ancient of Days.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ancient%20of%20Days. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ancient of Days,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ancient%20of%20Days.

Source: Ancient of Days on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.