This name is not of the Hebrew, but Greek language. The title is chiefly confined to the heads of families before the law; for when we speak of the patriarchs without particularizing by name it is generally understood of those before the flood, and afterwards confined to the persons and families of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and their tribe. The Hebrews rather call them princes than patriarchs, and distinguish all of this description by the general appellation Roshe Aboth. As to the name of patriarch given to the Greek church in modern times, this is altogether fanciful, and not derived from any authority in Scripture.