1. an heir (in Greek writings from Plato down);

a. properly: Matthew 21:38; Mark 12:7; Luke 20:14; Galatians 4:1.

b. in Messianic usage, one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship: so of Christ, as κληρονόμος πάντων, all things being subjected to his sway, Hebrews 1:2; of Christians, as exalted by faith to the dignity of sons of Abraham and so of sons cf God, and hence, to receive the blessings of God's kingdom promised to Abraham: absolutely, Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; with τοῦ Θεοῦ added, i. e. of God's possessions, equivalent to τῆς δόξης (see δόξα, III. 4 b.), Romans 8:17; Θεοῦ διά Χριστοῦ, by the favor of Christ (inasmuch as through him we have obtained ἡ υἱοθεσία), Galatians 4:7 Rec., for which L T Tr WH read διά Θεοῦ (see διά, A. III. 1) (cf. C. F. A. Fritzsche in Fritzschiorum opuscc., p. 148 (who advocates the Rec. as that reading in which the others probably originated (but cf. Meyer, in the place cited; WH in loc.))); τοῦ κόσμου, of government over the world, Romans 4:13f; ζωῆς: αἰωνίου, Titus 3:7; τῆς βασιλείας, James 2:5.

2. the idea of inheritance having disappeared, one who has acquired or obtained the portion allotted him: with the genitive of the tiring, Hebrews 6:17; Hebrews 11:7; τοῦ σκότους, used of the devil, Ev. Nicod. c. 20 (or Descens. Chr. ad Inferos 4,1). (The Sept. four times for יורֵשׁ: Judges 18:7; 2 Samuel 14:7; Jeremiah 8:10; Micah 1:15.)