patria denotes a line of descent, whether an individual household connection or groups spread across the earth.

The attested uses refer to lines of descent: Joseph’s connection with David in Luke 2:4, every such line in the heavens and on earth in Ephesians 3:15, and the lines of the earth connected with Abraham’s seed in Acts 3:25.

1. Line of descent or household affiliation · dominant

   In Luke 2:4, the genitive singular form occurs in the statement that Joseph was from David’s house and family line; the APB renders the clause "because he was from the house and family line of David." In Ephesians 3:15 the nominative singular occurs in "every family line in the heavens and on earth," while Acts 3:25 uses the nominative plural in the promise that "all the family lines of the earth" will be blessed.

   Luke 2:4Ephesians 3:15Acts 3:25

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the term with "family line" in Luke 2:4 and Ephesians 3:15 and "family lines" in Acts 3:25. These renderings confirm the clauses' descent-group context rather than establish separate meanings.