To be first (in political rank or power)
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Archo means to begin, to rule, to govern, or to be first, with context determining whether the focus is commencement or authority. In Mark, Jesus speaks of those recognized as rulers of the Gentiles who lord authority over others, then denies that pattern to His disciples and defines greatness through service.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἄρχω (G757) · Open the biblical lexicon
Archo means to begin, to rule, to govern, or to be first, with context determining whether the focus is commencement or authority. In Mark, Jesus speaks of those recognized as rulers of the Gentiles who lord authority over others, then denies that pattern to His disciples and defines greatness through service.
The BSB source-word alignment has 2 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include rulers (1), to rule over (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Mark 10:42. Its strongest book concentrations include Mark (1), Romans (1).
Archo means to begin, to rule, to govern, or to be first, with context determining whether the focus is commencement or authority. In Mark, Jesus speaks of those recognized as rulers of the Gentiles who lord authority over others, then denies that pattern to His disciples and defines greatness through service. Romans cites Isaiah's promised root of Jesse who rises to rule the nations, in whom the nations hope.
The verb does not make all government oppressive or all leadership messianic. Human rule remains accountable to Christ, ordered toward justice and service, and limited by the good of those governed. Jesus' royal authority is unique: the crucified and risen Davidic Lord gathers nations' hope rather than exploiting them for status.
Archo can name beginning or ruling. The selected witnesses contrast domineering human government with the promised Davidic ruler whose reign becomes hope for the nations.
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
Mark 10:42 says those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones exercise authority. Jesus immediately contrasts this with servant greatness among His disciples.
And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”
Romans 15:12 cites Isaiah: the root of Jesse will arise to rule the nations, and in Him the nations will hope. Christ's reign secures multiethnic worship and mutual welcome.
But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’
Luke 14:18 uses the verb for beginning: the invited guests start making excuses. This occurrence keeps the commencement sense distinct from ruling.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. To rule or govern; in NT often means to begin an action or process (especially with infinitive).
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
2 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I reign, rule
Read verseI reign, rule
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
How this verb appears across 5 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 86 lexical occurrence verses.
ἄρχω is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Archo places rule under a decisive contrast. Mark does not deny that Gentile rulers possess power; Jesus exposes a recognizable manner of using it, domination and status, then tells His followers greatness must take the shape of service and the Son of Man's self-giving ransom. Romans presents rule at its highest: the root of Jesse rises over the nations and becomes their hope.
Christian authority therefore cannot be measured by control alone. Churches should establish accountable roles, protect appeal and dissent, and judge leadership by truth, service, justice, and the treatment of those with less power. Christ's unique messianic reign prevents leaders from making themselves saviors while giving every nation a righteous King in whom to hope.
Mark.10.42
Archo has two major senses: to begin and to rule or govern. Its forms can also participate in words for rulers and authorities; grammar and context prevent the senses from being merged casually.
Israel's kings are judged as shepherds under God's law, and Isaiah promises a Davidic ruler who judges with righteousness and becomes a signal for the nations.
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain