A first (in rank or power)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Ἄρχων names a ruler, leader, official, magistrate, or person holding recognized authority. A synagogue ruler kneels before Jesus for his dying daughter, while a leading Pharisee hosts a Sabbath meal where Jesus is closely watched.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἄρχων (G758) · Open the biblical lexicon
Ἄρχων names a ruler, leader, official, magistrate, or person holding recognized authority. A synagogue ruler kneels before Jesus for his dying daughter, while a leading Pharisee hosts a Sabbath meal where Jesus is closely watched.
The BSB source-word alignment has 37 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include rulers (14), prince (6), ruler (5), leaders (2), synagogue leader (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 9:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (11), Luke (8), John (7), Matthew (5).
Ἄρχων names a ruler, leader, official, magistrate, or person holding recognized authority. A synagogue ruler kneels before Jesus for his dying daughter, while a leading Pharisee hosts a Sabbath meal where Jesus is closely watched. John reports rulers who believe in Jesus but fear public confession because institutional exclusion threatens them. Acts says Jerusalem's rulers condemn the One they failed to recognize, fulfilling prophetic words they heard regularly.
Revelation names Jesus the ruler of the kings of the earth, placing every human authority beneath His faithful witness, resurrection victory, and redeeming love. Office creates real influence and accountability, but neither status nor fear determines truth; rulers must themselves respond to Christ.
Ἄρχων identifies recognized authority. Leaders may kneel in need, scrutinize Jesus, hide belief, condemn unknowingly, or stand beneath Christ, the ruler of earthly kings.
While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
The synagogue ruler uses his social standing neither as leverage nor shield but kneels and pleads for Jesus to restore his daughter to life.
One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.
A leading Pharisee receives Jesus at table while guests watch closely, creating a setting where Sabbath healing exposes distorted honor and exclusion.
Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
Many rulers believe yet refuse confession because love of human glory and fear of synagogue expulsion overpower public allegiance.
The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
Jerusalem's rulers fail to recognize Jesus and condemn Him, while their act unknowingly fulfills prophetic testimony read every Sabbath.
And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
Jesus is the ruler of earth's kings because He is the faithful witness and risen firstborn who frees His people by His blood, not a mirror of coercive rule.
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. A ruler exercising authority; in NT theology, includes demonic powers opposing God's kingdom.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 37 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
a ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
Read versea ruler, prince, leader
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 this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 9 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 37 lexical occurrence verses.
ἄρχων is built from this root:
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Authority does not remove dependence or guarantee discernment. A synagogue ruler kneels before Jesus because death has exposed the limits of his office. A leading Pharisee's table becomes a place where watchful scrutiny fails to recognize merciful Sabbath purpose. John describes rulers whose real belief remains captive to fear and love of human glory. Acts shows official ignorance becoming condemnation despite regular exposure to Scripture.
Revelation supplies the final horizon: Jesus rules the kings of the earth through faithful witness, death, resurrection, and redeeming love. Churches should pray for rulers, tell them truth, honor lawful responsibility, resist coercion and favoritism, and refuse to let institutional cost silence confession of the Lord above every authority.
Matt.9.18
Ἄρχων is an agent noun from the verb to rule or begin and can designate civic, religious, synagogue, demonic, or general leadership according to context.
Israel's rulers are charged to judge justly and shepherd the vulnerable, while prophets expose leaders who resist God. Jesus is the promised ruler whose reign redefines authority.