Prince:
the title generally applied to the chief men of the state. The "princes of the provinces" (1Ki 20:14) were the governors or lord-lieutenants of the provinces. So also the "princes" mentioned in (Dan 6:1,3,4,6,7) were the officers who administered the affairs of the provinces; the "satraps" (as rendered in R.V.). These are also called "lieutenants" (Est 3:12; 8:9; R.V., "satraps"). The promised Saviour is called by Daniel (Dan 9:25) "Messiah the Prince" (Heb. nagid); compare (Act 3:15; 5:31). The angel Michael is called (Dan 12:1) a "prince" (Heb. sar, whence "Sarah," the "princes").
Prince:
prins: This word occurs quite frequently in our English Bible, mostly in the Old Testament. While it is never used to denote royal parentage (compare 1Ch 29:24), it often indicates actual royal or ruling power, together with royal dignity and authority. As a rule, the name is given to human beings; in a few instances it is applied to God and Christ, the angels and the devil.
In Mt 2:6 the word rendered "princes" might be translated "princely cities"; at least, this seems to be implied. Here the term hegemon, "leader," "ruler," "prince," is used, undoubtedly to hint at the fact that Bethlehem was the native city of a great prince. In the other New Testament passages the word archon, "a potentate," "a person in authority," "a magistrate," occurs most frequently (compare Mt 9:34; 12:24; 20:25 (the Revised Version (British and American) "ruler"); Mr 3:22; Joh 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 1Co 2:6,8 the King James Version; Eph 2:2; Re 1:5 (the Revised Version (British and American) "ruler")). In most of these instances the term "prince" refers to the devil.
In Ac 3:15; 5:31, the word archegos, "leader," is employed referring to Christ as the author of life and salvation (compare Heb 12:2, where the term archegos is rendered "author" (Revised Version) or "captain" (Revised Version margin)).
The Old Testament contains a number of different words mostly rendered "prince" or "princes" in the English Versions of the Bible.
(1) sar: In Jos 5:14 the mysterious armed stranger seen by Joshua near Jericho calls himself the "prince of the host of Yahweh": a high military title applied to a superhuman being. In Isa 9:6, the name is given to the child representing the future Messiah. The term "Prince of Peace" denotes the eminent position and the peaceful reign of the Messianic king: the highest human title in its most ideal sense. Da 8:11: here, again, as in Jos 5:14, occurs the phrase "prince of the host." In Da 8:25 "the prince of princes" refers to God Himself: the highest human title in its absolute sense applied to God. Da 10:21: "Michael your prince." Michael the archangel is here called the prince of the Jewish people. He is the princely representative of God's people in the sight of God, a royal title suggesting high power and alliance with God in the great struggle going on between Him and the powers of darkness. Da 12:1: here Michael is called "the great prince" who standeth for the children of Israel; supplementing Da 10:21. In Da 10:13: "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" (compare 10:20, "the prince of Persia," "the prince of Greece"), the expression is used in the same general sense as in Da 10:21. Each individual nation is represented as guided by a spiritual being that may or may not be an ally of God in His combat with the devil. In the majority of cases, though, the term sar is applied
(a) to men exercising royal or ruling power: Pr 8:16: "By me princes (margin "or rulers") rule" Isa 32:1: "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice." Judicial power is included (compare Ex 2:14: "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?" and Ps 148:11: "princes and all judges of the earth"). In some passages the word sar, having been rendered "prince," stands for "chief"; so Jud 7:25: "They took the two princes of Midian" (compare Jud 8:14; 1Sa 29:4; 2Sa 10:3, etc.).
(b) To royal officers of a high rank: Ge 12:15: "the princes of Pharaoh" (compare 2Ki 24:14: "Jerus and all the princes"; 1Ch 29:24; 2Ch 24:23; Jer 36:21; 52:10; Ho 5:10, etc.). "Ambassadors" (Jer 36:14); "governors" (1Ki 20:14 "By the young men (margin "or, servants") of the princes of the provinces"; compare Es 1:3,14, "the seven princes"); "the chief of the eunuchs" (Da 1:7); a "quartermaster" (Jer 51:59 "Seraiah was chief chamberlain" (margin "or, quartermaster")). The King James Version renders it "a quiet prince," i.e. a prince having rest, instead of procuring rest (sar menuchah, "a sar of rest"). In post-exilic times: Ezr 9:1: "The princes drew near unto me." They were the political leaders of the people (compare Ezr 10:8: "the princes and the elders"; Ne 9:38: "our princes, our Levites, and our priests"; Ne 11:1: "The princes of the people dwelt in Jerus"; Ne 12:31: "the princes of Judah"). Of course, they were all subject to the authority of the Persian kings.
(c) To the priesthood: 1Ch 24:5: "princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God" (of Isa 43:28).
(d) On account of great achievements: 2Sa 3:38: "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"-an honorary title. Generally speaking, a prince is a wealthy man (compare Job 34:19: "That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor"), and he is a prominent man embodying true, although mortal, manhood (compare Ps 82:7: "Nevertheless ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes).
(2) nasi':usually derived from nasa'," to lift," hence, "exalted"; otherwise: a "speaker."
(a) An honorary title (compare Ge 23:6: "Thou art a prince of God among us." The distinction is conferred upon Abraham by the children of Heth).
(b) A name given to the heads of the Israelite tribes, families and fathers' houses: Nu 3:24: "the prince of the fathers' house of the Gershonites" (compare 3:30,35); 3:32: "Eleazar.... shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary"; Nu 4:34: "the princes of the congregation." They seem to be identical with the "rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens" (compare Ex 18:21; Nu 16:2). Nu 7:2: "the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses.... the princes of the tribes" (compare 17:2,6; 34:18; Jos 22:14; 1Ch 4:38).
(c) Equivalent to chief or king: Ge 17:20: "Twelve princes shall he beget" (compare 25:16); Ge 34:2: "Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land"; Nu 25:18: "Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian" (compare Jos 13:21); 1Ki 11:34: "I will make him prince all the days of his life." This was said of Solomon, which shows the term equivalent to king. Of special interest is the use of the word nasi' in Ezekiel. The name is given to the Jewish king (compare 12:10: "This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem"). Then, again, it is applied to the future theocratic king (compare 34:24; 37:25, etc., and especially chapters 45; 46). It is also used of foreign potentates and high officers (compare 26:16: "the princes of the sea"; 28:2: "the prince of Tyre"; 30:13: "a prince from the land of Egypt"); 32:29: "Edom, her kings and all her princes"; and, likewise, of high Jewish officers (21:12).
(d) A title bestowed upon Sheshbazzar (Ezr 1:8).
(3) nadhibh: 1Sa 2:8: "To make them sit with princes" (compare Ps 113:8). The original meaning of the term is willing or obliging; then generous ("liberal"; compare Pr 19:6: "Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man"; yet, it might safely be rendered here "prince", margin) or noble-minded; a gentleman, a nobleman, a person of rank, a prince. Job 12:21: "He poureth contempt upon princes" (compare Ps 107:40); Job 21:28: "Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?" The context here suggests the thought of a wicked prince, a tyrant. Ps 47:9: "The princes of the peoples are gathered together" (compare Ps 118:9; 146:3; Pr 17:7; 25:7; So 7:1).
(4) naghidh: According to Gesenius, this term denotes originally either a high-minded person (compare the preceding word, nadhibh) or a speaker, a spokesman; then a prince, a king. 1Sa 13:14: "Yahweh hath appointed him to be prince over his people" (compare 2Sa 5:2: "Thou shalt be prince (the Revised Version margin "leader") over Israel"; 6:21; 7:8; 1Ki 1:35; 14:7; 16:2; Job 29:9; 31:37; Ps 76:12; Pr 28:16; Eze 28:2: "prince of Tyre"; Da 9:25: "the anointed one, the prince," the King James Version the "Messiah the Prince"; Da 9:26: "the prince that shall come" (the Roman emperor?); 11:22: "the prince of the covenant" (either a high priest or some Egyptian king, Ptolemeus Philometor?).
(5), (6) razon, and rozen, "a high official," "a prince," usually associated with the word "king" or "judge." Pr 14:28: "In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince" (razon); Jud 5:3: "Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes" (rozenim); Pr 8:15: "By me kings reign, and princes (rozenim) decree justice" (compare 31:4; Hab 1:10); Isa 40:23: "that bringeth princes (rozenim) to nothing; that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity."
(7) nacikh, derived from nacakh, "to install a king" (compare Ps 2:6); hence, a prince: Jos 13:21: "the princes of Sihon" (compare Ps 83:11); Eze 32:30: "the princes of the north"; Mic 5:5: the Revised Version (British and American) "principal men," the Revised Version margin "princes among men"; Da 11:8: the Revised Version (British and American) "molten images," the Revised Version margin "princes."
(8) qatsin, "a judge," "a military leader," "a prince"; Da 11:18: "A prince (the Revised Version margin "captain") shall cause the reproach.... to cease" (probably a Roman consul; a Roman general?).
(9) shalish: The usual explanation, "one of the three men on a war-chariot" is highly improbable; Gesenius suggests that it is a loan-word, and renders it "hero." Eze 23:15: "All of them princes to look upon" ("picked men," Gesenius).
(10) chashmannim: Ps 68:31: "Princes shall come out of Egypt." Septuagint renders it presbeis, "ambassadors," Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) legati. But the meaning is uncertain.
Written by William Baur
Prince:
primarily an adjective signifying "originating, beginning," is used as a noun, denoting "a founder, author, prince or leader," Act 3:15, "Prince" (marg., "Author"); Act 5:31; see AUTHOR, No. 2.
2Strong's Number: g758Greek: archonPrince:
the present participle of the verb archo, "to rule;" denotes "a ruler, a prince." It is used as follows ("p" denoting "prince," or "princes;" "r," "ruler" or "rulers"):
(a) of Christ, as "the Ruler (AV, Prince) of the kings of the earth," Rev 1:5;
(b) of rulers of nations, Mat 20:25, RV, "r," AV, "p;" Act 4:26, "r;" Act 7:27, "r;" Act 7:35, "r" (twice);
(c) of judges and magistrates, Act 16:19, "r;" Rom 13:3, "r;"
(d) of members of the Sanhedrin, Luk 14:1, RV, "r" (AV, "chief"); Luk 23:13, 35, "r;" so Luk 24:20; Jhn 3:1; 7:26, 48; 12:42, RV, "r" (AV, "chief r."); "r" in Act 3:17; 4:5, 8; 13:27; 14:5;
(e) of rulers of synagogues, Mat 9:18, 23, "r;" so Luk 8:41; 18:18;
(f) of the Devil, as "prince" of this world, Jhn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; of the power of the air, Eph 2:2, "the air" being that sphere in which the inhabitants of the world live and which, through the rebellious and godless condition of humanity, constitutes the seat of his authority;
(g) of Beelzebub, the "prince" of the demons, Mat 9:34 [1]; 12:24; Mar 3:22; Luk 11:15.
See CHIEF, B, No. 10.
1. Edited by BLB [An error was made in the original document incorrectly quoting Mat 9:24]
3Strong's Number: g2232Greek: hegemonPrince:
"a leader, ruler," is translated "princes" (i.e., leaders) in Mat 2:6: see GOVERNOR, A, No. 1.
Note: For megistan, Rev 6:15; 18:23, RV, "princes," see LORD, No. 3.
Governor:
guv'-er-ner: The word "governor" is employed in English Versions of the Bible in rendering a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. In certain cases strict consistency is neither observed nor possible.
1. In the Old Testament:
In the rendering of Hebrew terms account has naturally been taken of the translations offered in Septuagint, which, being the work of different hands, is both uneven in quality and inconsistent. But there are inherent difficulties which can never be entirely overcome. First and most important, there is the difficulty arising from our ignorance of many details of the government of the oriental nations to which the terms apply. Hardly less is the embarrassment occasioned by the vague employment of words in indiscriminate reference to persons of superior rank and somehow exercising authority. There is consequently much confusion in the use of titles such as "deputy," "duke," "judge," "lawgiver," "overseer" "prince" "ruler" etc. for which the student may consult the special articles.
(1) alluwph or ‘alluph, "governor" (the Revised Version (British and American) "chieftain") in Judah (Zec 9:7; 12:5 f).
(2) choqeq (Jud 5:9; 5:14, the King James Version margin"or lawgivers"). The word is variously rendered with "ruler" or "lawgiver" in English Versions of the Bible of Ge 49:10; De 33:21; Isa 33:22.
(3) moshel, participle of mashal, "to be master," "to rule" (Ge 45:26, the Revised Version (British and American) "ruler").
(4) nasi' (2Ch 1:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "prince").
(5) caghan (Da 3:2; Jer 51:23, the Revised Version, margin "or lieutenants"; Jer 51:28,57; Eze 23:6,12,23). The same word is rendered "rulers" or "deputies" (Isa 41:25; Ezr 9:2; Ne 2:16; 5:7; 7:5; 12:40).
(6) pechah, is variously used:
(a) of the military governor of a province among the Assyrians (Isa 36:9);
(b) among the Chaldees (Eze 23:6,23; Jer 51:23,18,57);
(c) among the Persians (Es 3:12; 8:9; 9:3);
(d) of the governor-general of the province beyond the River (Euphrates) (Ezr 8:36; Ne 2:7:9);
(e) of Nehemiah as subordinate "governor in the land of Judah" under him (Ne 5:14 );
(f) of Zerubbabel as "governor of Judah" (Hag 1:1,14; 2:2,21); (g) of Solomon's governors (1Ki 10:15; 20:24 (in Syria)).
(7) paqidh (Jer 20:1, the Revised Version (British and American) "chief officer"). Elsewhere it is rendered "overseer" or "officer" (compare Ge 41:34; 2Ki 25:19; Ne 11:9,22).
(8) sar "governor of the city" (1Ki 22:26). Elsewhere commonly rendered "prince."
(9) shallit (Ge 42:6). Elsewhere rendered "ruler" or "captain."
(10) tirshatha' the Revised Version (British and American) "the governor," the King James Version "the Tirshatha" (Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:70).
See TIRSHATHA.
2. In the New Testament:
The word "governor" in English Versions of the Bible represents an almost equal variety of Greek words. Here again the usage is for the most part lax and untechnical; but since reference is chiefly had to officers of the Roman imperial administration, concerning which we possess ample information, no embarrassment is thereby occasioned. The words chiefly in use for "governor" are derived from root ag-," drive," "lead":
(1) hegeomai, "lead" (Mt 2:6; of Joseph as grand vizier of Egypt, Ac 7:10).
(2) hegemon, "leader" (Mt 10:18; 1Pe 2:14; of Pilate, Mt 27:2,11,14,15,21,27; of Felix, Ac 23:24,26,33; of Festus, Ac 24:1,10; 26:30).
(3) hegemoneuo, "function as leader" (Lu 2:2; of Pilate, Lu 3:1).
To these are added terms of more specific meaning:
(4) ethnarches, "ethnarch" or "ruler of a nation" (2Co 11:32).
See GOVERNMENT, 6, 7.
(5) euthuno "direct," "guide" (Jas 3:4). Here the Revised Version (British and American) properly render it "steersman."
(6) architriklinos, "president of a banquet" (Joh 2:8 f, the American Standard Revised Version "ruler of the feast ").
(7) oikonomos, "steward," "manager of a household or estate" (Ga 4:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "stewards").
It is thus seen that in the New Testament "governor" in the political sense occurs chiefly in reference to the Roman procurators of Judea-Pilate, Felix, and Festus. See PILATE; FELIX; FESTUS. It remains for us here to speak briefly of the government of Roman provinces.
Latin provincia signifies a magistrate's sphere of duty or authority, either
(a) judicially or legally, defining the scope of his competence, or
(b) geographically, designating the territorial limits within which he may exercise authority.
It is in the latter sense that we are now considering the word. When, in the 3rd century BC, Rome began to rule conquered lands outside Italy, each territory was set under the authority of a single magistrate, and hence came to be called a "province." Conquered territories left under the rule of native princes or kings were not so designated, although their government was practically directed by Rome. At first provinces were governed by proconsuls or proprietors (i.e. ex-consuls or ex- praetors); but with the steady multiplication of provinces various expedients became necessary in order to provide governors of suitable rank and dignity. Thus, the number of praetors was largely augmented, and the term of possible service as governor was extended. Under Augustus the provinces were parceled out between the emperor and the senate, the former reserving for himself such as seemed to require the maintenance of a considerable armed force. In these the emperor was himself proconsul. Early in the Empire imperial provinces of a different type appear, in which the emperor, regarded as sovereign proprietor, governs by a viceroy (praefectus) or steward (procurator). In some of these, tributary kings or princes ruled with the emperor's representative-a legatus or a procurator-by their side, much as England now rules Egypt. Among the provinces so ruled were Egypt and Judea, partly, no doubt, because of their strategic position, partly because of the temper of their inhabitants.
Written by William Arthur Heidel
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