The concept of "dominate" in the Bible is often associated with authority, control, and governance. It is important to understand this term within the context of biblical teachings on leadership, stewardship, and the exercise of power.

Creation Mandate

The idea of dominion is first introduced in the creation narrative. In Genesis 1:26-28 , God grants humanity dominion over the earth: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.'"

This passage establishes the foundational principle of human dominion as a stewardship responsibility. Humanity is called to govern the earth wisely and benevolently, reflecting God's own sovereign rule.

Leadership and Authority

Throughout the Bible, the concept of domination is closely linked to leadership and authority. Leaders are called to exercise their authority in a manner that aligns with God's will. In the New Testament, Jesus redefines leadership by emphasizing servanthood. In Matthew 20:25-28 , Jesus instructs His disciples: "But Jesus called them aside and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.'"

Here, Jesus contrasts worldly domination with the kingdom principle of servant leadership, where true greatness is found in humility and service to others.

Spiritual Warfare

The theme of domination also appears in the context of spiritual warfare. Believers are called to exercise authority over spiritual forces of evil. In Ephesians 6:12 , Paul writes, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

This passage highlights the believer's role in standing firm against spiritual opposition, using the authority granted by Christ to resist and overcome evil.

Warnings Against Misuse of Power

The Bible also warns against the misuse of power and domination. In Ezekiel 34:4 , God rebukes the leaders of Israel for their failure to care for the people: "You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty."

This admonition serves as a reminder that authority should not be wielded oppressively or selfishly but should be exercised with compassion and justice.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on domination encompasses a balance of authority, responsibility, and servanthood. It calls for leaders to reflect God's character in their governance, to serve others selflessly, and to engage in spiritual battles with the authority given by Christ.1. (v. t.) To exert a controlling influence.

2. (v. i.) To be dominant.

831. authenteo -- to govern, exercise authority
... govern, exercise authority. From a compound of autos and an obsolete hentes (a worker);
to act of oneself, ie (figuratively) dominate -- usurp authority over. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/831.htm - 6k

2715. katexousiazo -- to exercise authority over
... 2715 (from 2596 , ", according to," intensifying 1850 , "to exercise authority") --
properly, to authority (oppressively); to dominate (bring , note the force ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2715.htm - 7k

2616. katadunasteuo -- to exercise power over
... exercise rulership") -- properly, powerfully bringing someone (denying them the
higher position or blessing they should enjoy), ie ; to dominate (treat harshly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2616.htm - 6k

7287a. radah -- to have dominion, rule, dominate
... 7287, 7287a. radah. 7287b . to have dominion, rule, dominate.
Transliteration: radah Short Definition: rule. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7287a.htm - 5k

7287. radah -- to have dominion, rule, dominate
... 7286, 7287. radah. 7287a . to have dominion, rule, dominate. Transliteration:
radah Phonetic Spelling: (raw-daw') Short Definition: reign. ...
/hebrew/7287.htm - 5k

3532. kebes -- a lamb
... lamb, sheep. From an unused root meaning to dominate; a ram (just old enough to
butt) -- lamb, sheep. 3531, 3532. kebes. 3533 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3532.htm - 6k

7980. shalat -- to domineer, be master of
... A primitive root; to dominate, ie Govern; by implication, to permit -- (bear, have)
rule, have dominion, give (have) power. 7979, 7980. shalat. 7981 . ...
/hebrew/7980.htm - 6k

Evil Cannot be Suppressed by the Physical Force of the Government ...
... So it has always been from the beginning of the world, and so it is still. THE WICKED
WILL ALWAYS DOMINATE THE GOOD, AND WILL ALWAYS OPPRESS THEM. ...
/.../tolstoy/the kingdom of god is within you/chapter x evil cannot be.htm

Introductory Remarks on the Importance of Orthodoxy
... General ideals used to dominate literature. They have been driven out by the cry
of "art for art's sake." General ideals used to dominate politics. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/i introductory remarks on the.htm

The Realization of Selfless Love
... and calm, when your petulances, tempers, and irritabilities are passing away from
you, and the more powerful lusts and prejudices cease to dominate and enslave ...
/.../allen/the way of peace/the realization of selfless love.htm

Preface
... And it will be seen that in the many instances where the Christian doctrine was
not permitted to dominate the life, the dissimilarity of those women from their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brittain/women of early christianity/preface.htm

Emancipation --Black and White.
... may even have to do without cotton shirts; but all these evils must be faced, if
the moral law, that no human being can arbitrarily dominate over another ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/ii emancipationblack and white.htm

Cadman -- a New Day for Missions
... the kingdom of God, before we can dismiss the black death of apathy which rests
on so many professedly Christian communities, before we can dominate the social ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/cadman a new day.htm

The Second Division of Ancient Christianity: the Church under the ...
... are to be placed the beginnings of the Middle Ages, as the German invaders had long
before 500 established their kingdoms and had begun to dominate the affairs ...
/.../a source book for ancient church history/the second division of ancient.htm

The Evolution of a Father
... were physiological reasons why this well-mothered class should survive beyond all
others, and, by sheer physiological fitness, henceforth dominate the world. ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter ix the evolution of.htm

Method and Organization
... life. They seek to dominate the leisure time only, and to produce goodness
by affording no free time for positive wrong-doing. The ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/vii method and organization.htm

The Older Boys' Conference or Congress
... it a boys' conference. If men may dominate and intimidate the boy, better
settle the matter in an adult group. The officers of the ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xiii the older boys conference.htm

Dominate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To exert a controlling influence. 2. (vi) To
be dominant. Multi-Version Concordance Dominate (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/dominate.htm - 6k

Command (442 Occurrences)
... lead. 3. (vt) To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or
vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook. 4 ...
/c/command.htm - 36k

Dominant (1 Occurrence)

/d/dominant.htm - 6k

Domineered (1 Occurrence)

/d/domineered.htm - 6k

Divorce (18 Occurrences)
... be permitted under it. Thus the Old Testament is disposed of. Of course
what Jesus said will dominate the New. In fact, Jesus is ...
/d/divorce.htm - 41k

Cravings (17 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Peter 1:14 And, since you delight in obedience, do not shape your lives
by the cravings which used to dominate you in the time of your ignorance, (WEY) ...
/c/cravings.htm - 11k

Shape (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 1:14 And, since you delight in obedience, do not shape your lives by the
cravings which used to dominate you in the time of your ignorance, (WEY). ...
/s/shape.htm - 14k

Philosophy (1 Occurrence)
... During the last two centuries BC, Greek thought spread so widely that it came to
dominate the cultured thought of the world into which Christianity entered ...
/p/philosophy.htm - 27k

Delight (213 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 Peter 1:14 And, since you delight in obedience, do not shape your lives
by the cravings which used to dominate you in the time of your ignorance, (WEY) ...
/d/delight.htm - 40k

Virgin (62 Occurrences)
... of invention, what manner of men were they who fabricated these narratives and
succeeded in foisting them upon the church so early as to dominate its earliest ...
/v/virgin.htm - 64k

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