Lexical Summary basileuó: To reign, to rule, to be king Original Word: βασιλεύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance king, reign. From basileus; to rule (literally or figuratively) -- king, reign. see GREEK basileus HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 936 basileúō (from 935 /basileús, "king") – to reign as king, i.e. exercise dominion (rule). See 932 (basileia). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom basileus Definition to be king, reign NASB Translation become kings (2), kings (1), reign (12), reigned (4), reigning (1), reigns (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 936: βασιλεύωβασιλεύω; future βασιλεύσω; 1 aorist ἐβασίλευσα; βασιλεύς); — in Greek writings (from Homer down) with the genitive or dative, in the sacred writings, after the Hebrew (עַל מָשַׁל), followed by ἐπί with the genitive of place, Matthew 2:22 (where L T WH omit; Tr brackets ἐπί); Revelation 5:10; followed by ἐπί with the accusative of the person, Luke 1:33; Luke 19:14, 27; Romans 5:14; (cf. Winers Grammar, 206 (193f); Buttmann, 169 (147)) — to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign: universally, 1 Timothy 6:15; Luke 19:14, 27; of the governor of a country, although not possessing kingly rank, Matthew 2:22; of God, Revelation 11:15, 17; Revelation 19:6; of the rule of Jesus, the Messiah, Luke 1:33; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 11:15; of the reign of Christians in the millennium, Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4, 6; Revelation 22:5; hence, Paul transfers the word to denote the supreme moral dignity, liberty, blessedness, which will be enjoyed by Christ's redeemed ones: Romans 5:17 (cf. DeWette and Thol. at the passage); 1 Corinthians 4:8. Metaphorically, to exercise the highest influence, to control: Romans 5:14, 17, 21; Romans 6:12. The aorist βασίλευσα denotes I obtained royal power, became king, have come to reign, in 1 Corinthians 4:8 (cf. Winers Grammar, 302 (283); Buttmann, 215 (185)); Revelation 11:17; Revelation 19:6 (as often in the Sept. and secular writings; cf. Grimm on 1 Macc., p. 11; Breitenbach or Kühner, on Xenophon, mem. 1, 1, 18; on the aorist to express entrance into a state, see Bernhardy (1829), p. 382; Krüger, § 53, 5, 1; (Kühner, § 386, 5; Goodwin § 19 N. 1)). (Compare: συμβασιλεύω.) Topical Lexicon Essence of the Verb At its heart Strong’s Greek 936 pictures the exercise of royal authority—someone “reigns,” “rules,” or “acts as king.” Scripture uses the term to describe three chief spheres of government: the rule of earthly monarchs, the present rule of sin or grace within humanity, and, supremely, the eternal reign of God’s Messiah. Historical-Narrative Usage: Earthly Kingship The first New-Testament occurrence appears in the infancy narrative: “But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there” (Matthew 2:22). Here βασιλεύω functions in the straightforward sense of civil government. In Luke’s parable of the minas the citizens cry, “We do not want this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14), illustrating political rejection; their execution in verse 27 foreshadows the eschatological fate of those who refuse Christ’s authority. These texts reveal that temporal reign can be precarious, opposed, and short-lived—a foil for the everlasting reign of God. The Messianic Kingship of Jesus Luke 1:33 declares of the promised Son, “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will never end.” Revelation echoes this: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). The verb underscores the continuous, unassailable dominion of Jesus. His reign is not merely future; 1 Corinthians 15:25 affirms, “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet,” describing a present, active subjugation of hostile powers that continues until the final resurrection. Contrasting Reigns: Sin, Death, and Grace Paul’s Roman correspondence employs βασιλεύω metaphorically. “Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires” (Romans 6:12). Apart from Christ, “death reigned from Adam to Moses” (Romans 5:14), and “death reigned through one man” (Romans 5:17). Yet, through the Second Adam, “those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). Finally, “so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness” (Romans 5:21). The verb frames redemption as a transfer of government—from the tyrannical rule of sin and death to the liberating sovereignty of grace. The Believer’s Future Participation Revelation repeatedly promises shared rule for the redeemed: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Those who partake in the first resurrection “will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6), culminating in the eternal state where “they will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). The verb thus grounds Christian hope in concrete royal privilege and responsibility. Apostolic Exhortation and Irony Paul reproves Corinthian triumphalism: “Already you have all you want… Without us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish you really were kings, so that we might also reign with you” (1 Corinthians 4:8). His ironic use of βασιλεύω exposes premature claims to glory and redirects believers to servant-hearted ministry until the appointed time of shared reign. Worship and Doxology Heaven’s chorus declares, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns” (Revelation 19:6). The verb fuels praise, anchoring worship in the certainty of God’s uncontested sovereignty. The doxological context reminds the church that proclamation of divine reign is itself an act of homage and encouragement amid persecution. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications 1. Allegiance: Since Christ reigns now and forever, disciples owe undivided loyalty. Summary Strong’s 936 weaves a golden thread from the fragile thrones of Herodian Judea to the indestructible throne of the Lamb. It confronts humanity with a choice of masters, assures the church of present grace and future glory, and summons every reader to bow willingly before the One who “must reign” until every enemy, including death itself, lies subdued beneath His feet. Forms and Transliterations βασίλευε βασιλευει βασιλεύει βασιλευειν βασιλεύειν βασιλευετω βασιλευέτω βασιλευομένη βασιλεύοντα βασιλεύοντος βασιλευοντων βασιλευόντων βασιλεύουσι βασιλευουσιν βασιλευσαι βασιλεύσαι βασιλεῦσαι βασιλεύσαντας βασιλεύσαντες βασιλεύσαντος βασιλευσάτω βασιλευσει βασιλεύσει βασιλεύσειν βασιλεύσεις βασιλευση βασιλεύση βασιλεύσῃ βασιλεύσης βασιλεύσομεν βασίλευσον βασιλεύσουσι βασιλευσουσιν βασιλεύσουσιν βασιλεύσω βασιλεύω βασιλεύων βασίλευων βεβασίλευκεν εβασιλεύειν εβασίλευκε εβασίλευσα εβασίλευσά εβασιλευσαν εβασίλευσαν ἐβασίλευσαν εβασιλευσας εβασίλευσας εβασίλευσάς ἐβασίλευσας εβασιλευσατε εβασιλεύσατε ἐβασιλεύσατε εβασίλευσε εβασιλευσεν εβασίλευσεν ἐβασίλευσεν basileuei basileúei basileuein basileúein basileueto basileuetō basileuéto basileuétō basileuonton basileuontōn basileuónton basileuóntōn basileusai basileûsai basileuse basileusē basileusei basileúsei basileúsēi basileusousin basileúsousin ebasileusan ebasíleusan ebasileusas ebasíleusas ebasileusate ebasileúsate ebasileusen ebasíleusenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 2:22 V-PIA-3SGRK: ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει τῆς Ἰουδαίας NAS: that Archelaus was reigning over Judea KJV: that Archelaus did reign in Judaea INT: that Archelaus reigns over Judea Luke 1:33 V-FIA-3S Luke 19:14 V-ANA Luke 19:27 V-ANA Romans 5:14 V-AIA-3S Romans 5:17 V-AIA-3S Romans 5:17 V-FIA-3P Romans 5:21 V-AIA-3S Romans 5:21 V-ASA-3S Romans 6:12 V-PMA-3S 1 Corinthians 4:8 V-AIA-2P 1 Corinthians 4:8 V-AIA-2P 1 Corinthians 15:25 V-PNA 1 Timothy 6:15 V-PPA-GMP Revelation 5:10 V-PIA-3P Revelation 11:15 V-FIA-3S Revelation 11:17 V-AIA-2S Revelation 19:6 V-AIA-3S Revelation 20:4 V-AIA-3P Revelation 20:6 V-FIA-3P Revelation 22:5 V-FIA-3P Strong's Greek 936 |
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