Lexical Summary megistan: Noble, Magnate, Chief Original Word: μεγιστάν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance great men, lords. Plural from megistos; grandees -- great men, lords. see GREEK megistos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom megistos Definition the chief men NASB Translation great men (2), lords (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3175: μεγιστάνμεγιστάν, μεγιστανος, ὁ (from μέγιστος, as νέαν from νέος, ξυνάν from ξυνός), a later Greek word (see Lob. ad Phryn., p. 196), once in singular Sir. 4:7; commonly in plural οἱ μεγιστᾶνες, the grandees, magnates, nobles, chief men of a city or a people, the associates or courtiers of a king (Vulg.principes): Revelation 6:15; τῆς γῆς, Topical Lexicon Scope and Sense of the TermStrong’s 3175 designates the social elite—men of rank, wealth, and influence who stand just below kings in the hierarchy of the ancient world. Whether translated “nobles,” “great men,” or “magnates,” the word gathers into one idea the highest strata of civil authority and economic power. Its appearance in the New Testament therefore serves as a theological indicator of how the gospel confronts human prestige. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Mark 6:21 – Herod Antipas assembles “his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee” for a birthday banquet. Historical and Cultural Background In the Hellenistic and Roman worlds μεγιστᾶνες often identified courtiers or provincial aristocracy who held delegated power from the monarch. They commanded military units, presided over tax farming, and sponsored public works. Their visibility at festivals and banquets (Mark 6:21) highlighted a patronage system that bound cities to their overlord through gifts and favors. Revelation transfers the same title to the empire-wide plutocracy that profited from commerce and idolatry (Revelation 18:23), reinforcing the global reach of the biblical Babylon. Theological Emphases • Human Rank under Divine Judgment Revelation 6:15 deliberately pairs μεγιστᾶνες with “kings,” “rich,” and “mighty,” showing that no social buffer can shield sinners from the wrath of the Lamb. Nobility, which seemed impregnable in Mark’s palace scene, proves useless in the eschatological earthquake. • The Seduction of Power Revelation 18:23 links the “great men of the earth” to economic domination and spiritual deception. Their wealth becomes a conduit for sorcery—an accusation that unmasks materialism as a form of idolatry. • Gospel Penetration of Social Strata Though the word itself never depicts conversion, its placement in Mark situates the coming martyrdom of John the Baptist within elite society’s festivities, revealing that prophetic witness must reach even the highest circles. The subsequent silence of the nobles during John’s execution foreshadows later opposition to Jesus, anticipating Acts’ narrative where some officials believe (Acts 17:34) but many resist (Acts 4:26). Intertextual Echoes The Septuagint employs cognate terms for Persian court officials (e.g., Esther 1:3) and for Babylonian dignitaries (Daniel 1:3). John’s Apocalypse draws on these royal-court settings to portray Rome as the latest embodiment of oppressive empire. The judgment pronounced on Babylon therefore resonates with earlier divine actions against proud rulers. Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching must address the conscience of every social tier. Mark shows that God sends His messengers into palaces as well as deserts. Contemporary Application Modern counterparts to the ancient μεγιστᾶνες include corporate magnates, political elites, and cultural icons. Revelation’s scenes remind the church to avoid both envy of their privileges and fear of their power. Instead, Christians are to pray for those in high positions (1 Timothy 2:2) while proclaiming the unchanging message that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Forms and Transliterations μεγιστάνας μεγιστανες μεγιστάνες μεγιστᾶνες μεγιστάνων μεγιστασιν μεγιστάσιν μεγιστᾶσιν megistanes megistânes megistasin megistâsinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 6:21 N-DMPGRK: ἐποίησεν τοῖς μεγιστᾶσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ NAS: a banquet for his lords and military commanders KJV: a supper to his lords, high captains, INT: made the to great men his and Revelation 6:15 N-NMP Revelation 18:23 N-NMP Strong's Greek 3175 |
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