Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ANCIENTS an-shents: This word (except in one instance) renders the Hebrew word zeqenim, (pl of zaqen), which should always be translated "old men" or "elders." The Hebrew word never has the connotation which "ancients" has in modern English. The words "I understand more than the ancients" (Psalm 119:100 the King James Version) do not mean that the Psalmist claims greater wisdom than his distant forbears but than his contemporaries with all their age and experience. In the parallel clause "teachers" is the corresponding word. In such phrases as "ancients of the people" (Jeremiah 19:1 the King James Version), "ancients of the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 8:12), "elders" would obviously be the correct rendering, as in the Revised Version (British and American). Even in Isaiah 24:23 ("before his ancients gloriously" the English Revised Version) "elders" is the right translation (American Revised Version). The writer probably alludes to the Sinaitic; theophany witnessed by the "seventy. elders" (Exodus 24:9-18) Generally speaking the word suggests the experience, insight and practical acquaintance with life which age ought to bring with it (Psalm 119:100 Ezekiel 7:26). In one instance (1 Samuel 24:13) "ancients" is the right rendering for the Hebrew word qadhmonim, which means "men of former times." Thomas Lewis

Multi-Version Concordance Ancients (17 Occurrences) Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Thou shalt not commit murder', and whoever commits murder will be answerable to the magistrate. (WEY DBY YLT NAS) Matthew 5:27 Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not commit adultery; (YLT) Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress what has been delivered by the ancients? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. (DBY) Mark 7:3 (for the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands diligently, do not eat, holding what has been delivered by the ancients; (BBE) Mark 7:5 then the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why do thy disciples not walk according to what has been delivered by the ancients, but eat the bread with defiled hands? (DBY) Luke 9:8 and by certain, that Elijah did appear, and by others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, was risen; (YLT) Luke 9:19 And they answering said, 'John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, was risen;' (YLT) 1 Samuel 24:13 As the proverb of the ancients says,'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV) Psalms 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. (KJV WBS) Isaiah 3:14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. (KJV) Isaiah 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. (KJV DBY WBS) Isaiah 61:4 And they have built the wastes of old, The desolations of the ancients they raise up, And they have renewed waste cities, The desolations of generation and generation. (YLT) Jeremiah 19:1 Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests; (KJV WBS) Ezekiel 7:26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. (KJV) Ezekiel 8:11 And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. (KJV) Ezekiel 8:12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. (KJV) Ezekiel 27:9 The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise. (KJV WBS)