Governor

In the Authorized Version this one English word is the representative of no less than ten Hebrew and four Greek words.

1. The chief of a tribe or family.
2. A ruler in his capacity of lawgiver and dispenser of justice.
3. A ruler consider especially as having power over the property and persons of his subjects. (Genesis 24:2; Joshua 12:2; Psalms 100:20) The "governors of the people," in (2 Chronicles 23:20) appear to have been the king's body-guard; cf. (2 Kings 11:19)
4. A prominent personage, whatever his capacity. It is applied to a king as the military and civil chief of his people, (2 Samuel 5:2; 6:21; 1 Chronicles 29:22) to the general of an army, (2 Chronicles 32:21) and to the head of a tribe. (2 Chronicles 19:11) It denotes an officer of high rank in the palace, the lord high chamberlain. (2 Chronicles 28:7) It is applied in (1 Kings 10:15) to the petty chieftains who were tributary to Solomon, (2 Chronicles 9:14) to the military commander of the Syrians, (1 Kings 20:24) the Assyrians, (2 Kings 18:24; 23:8) the Chaldeans, (Jeremiah 51:23) and the Medes. (Jeremiah 51:38) Under the Persian viceroys, during the Babylonian captivity, the land of the Hebrews appears to have been portioned out among "governors" (pachoth) inferior in rank to the satraps, (Ezra 8:30) like the other provinces which were under the dominion of the Persian king. (Nehemiah 2:7,9) It is impossible to determine the precise limits of their authority or the functions which they had to perform. It appears from (Ezra 6:8) that these governors were intrusted with the collection of the king's taxes; and from (Nehemiah 5:18; 12:26) that they were supported by a contribution levied upon the people, which was technically termed "the bread of the governor" comp. (Ezra 4:14) They were probably assisted in discharging their official duties by A council. (Ezra 4:7; 6:6) The "governor" beyond the river had a judgment-seat beyond Jerusalem, from which probably he administered justice when making a progress through his province. (Nehemiah 3:7) At the time of Christ Judea was a Roman province, governed by a procurator (governor) appointed by Rome.

(1.) Hebrews nagid, a prominent, conspicuous person, whatever his capacity: as, chief of the royal palace (2 Chronicles 28:7; Comp. 1 Kings 4:6), chief of the temple (1 Chronicles 9:11; Jeremiah 20:1), the leader of the Aaronites (1 Chronicles 12:27), keeper of the sacred treasury (26:24), captain of the army (13:1), the king (1 Samuel 9:16), the Messiah (Dan. 9:25).

(2.) Hebrews nasi, raised; exalted. Used to denote the chiefs of families (Numbers 3:24, 30, 32, 35); also of tribes (2:3; 7:2; 3:32). These dignities appear to have been elective, not hereditary.

(3.) Hebrews pakid, an officer or magistrate. It is used of the delegate of the high priest (2 Chronicles 24:11), the Levites (Nehemiah 11:22), a military commander (2 Kings 25:19), Joseph's officers in Egypt (Genesis 41:34).

(4.) Hebrews shallit, one who has power, who rules (Genesis 42:6; Ezra 4:20; Ecclesiastes 8:8; Dan. 2:15; 5:29).

(5.) Hebrews aluph, literally one put over a thousand, i.e., a clan or a subdivision of a tribe. Used of the "dukes" of Edom (Genesis 36), and of the Jewish chiefs (Zechariah 9:7).

(6.) Hebrews moshel, one who rules, holds dominion. Used of many classes of rulers (Genesis 3:16; 24:2; 45:8; Psalm 105:20); of the Messiah (Micah 5:2); of God (1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalm 103:19).

(7.) Hebrews sar, a ruler or chief; a word of very general use. It is used of the chief baker of Pharaoh (Genesis 40:16); of the chief butler (40:2, etc. See also Genesis 47:6; Exodus 1:11; Dan. 1:7; Judges 10:18; 1 Kings 22:26; 20:15; 2 Kings 1:9; 2 Samuel 24:2). It is used also of angels, guardian angels (Dan. 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1; 10:13; 8:25).

(8.) Pehah, whence pasha, i.e., friend of the king; adjutant; governor of a province (2 Kings 18:24; Isaiah 36:9; Jeremiah 51: 57; Ezek. 23:6, 23; Dan. 3:2; Esther 3:12), or a perfect (Nehemiah 3:7; 5:14; Ezra 5:3; Haggai 1:1). This is a foreign word, Assyrian, which was early adopted into the Hebrew idiom (1 Kings 10:15).

(9.) The Chaldean word segan is applied to the governors of the Babylonian satrapies (Dan. 3:2, 27; 6:7); the prefects over the Magi (2:48). The corresponding Hebrew word segan is used of provincial rulers (Jeremiah 51:23, 28, 57); also of chiefs and rulers of the people of Jerusalem (Ezra 9:2; Nehemiah 2:16; 4:14, 19; 5:7, 17; 7:5; 12:40).

In the New Testament there are also different Greek words rendered thus.

(1.) Meaning an ethnarch (2 Corinthians 11:32), which was an office distinct from military command, with considerable latitude of application.

(2.) The procurator of Judea under the Romans (Matthew 27:2). (Comp. Luke 2:2, where the verb from which the Greek word so rendered is derived is used.)

(3.) Steward (Galatians 4:2).

(4.) Governor of the feast (John 2:9), who appears here to have been merely an intimate friend of the bridegroom, and to have presided at the marriage banquet in his stead.

(5.) A director, i.e., helmsman; Lat. gubernator, (James 3:4).

1. (n.) One who governs; especially, one who is invested with the supreme executive authority in a State; a chief ruler or magistrate; as, the governor of Pennsylvania.

2. (n.) One who has the care or guardianship of a young man; a tutor; a guardian.

3. (n.) A pilot; a steersman.

4. (n.) A contrivance applied to steam engines, water wheels, and other machinery, to maintain nearly uniform speed when the resistances and motive force are variable.

GOVERNOR

guv'-er-ner: The word "governor" is employed in English Versions of the Bible in rendering a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. In certain cases strict consistency is neither observed nor possible.

1. In the Old Testament:

In the rendering of Hebrew terms account has naturally been taken of the translations offered in Septuagint, which, being the work of different hands, is both uneven in quality and inconsistent. But there are inherent difficulties which can never be entirely overcome. First and most important, there is the difficulty arising from our ignorance of many details of the government of the oriental nations to which the terms apply. Hardly less is the embarrassment occasioned by the vague employment of words in indiscriminate reference to persons of superior rank and somehow exercising authority. There is consequently much confusion in the use of titles such as "deputy," "duke," "judge," "lawgiver," "overseer" "prince" "ruler" etc. for which the student may consult the special articles.

(1) alluwph or `alluph, "governor" (the Revised Version (British and American) "chieftain") in Judah (Zechariah 9:7; Zechariah 12:5 f).

(2) choqeq (Judges 5:9; Judges 5:14, the King James Version margin"or lawgivers"). The word is variously rendered with "ruler" or "lawgiver" in English Versions of the Bible of Genesis 49:10 Deuteronomy 33:21 Isaiah 33:22.

(3) moshel, participle of mashal, "to be master," "to rule" (Genesis 45:26, the Revised Version (British and American) "ruler").

(4) nasi' (2 Chronicles 1:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "prince").

(5) caghan (Daniel 3:2 Jeremiah 51:23, the Revised Version, margin "or lieutenants"; Jeremiah 51:28, 57 Ezekiel 23:6, 12, 23). The same word is rendered "rulers" or "deputies" (Isaiah 41:25 Ezra 9:2 Nehemiah 2:16; Nehemiah 5:7; Nehemiah 7:5; Nehemiah 12:40).

(6) pechah, is variously used:

(a) of the military governor of a province among the Assyrians (Isaiah 36:9);

(b) among the Chaldees (Ezekiel 23:6, 23 Jeremiah 51:23, 18, 57);

(c) among the Persians (Esther 3:12; Esther 8:9; Esther 9:3);

(d) of the governor-general of the province beyond the River (Euphrates) (Ezra 8:36 Nehemiah 2:7:9);

(e) of Nehemiah as subordinate "governor in the land of Judah" under him (Nehemiah 5:14);

(f) of Zerubbabel as "governor of Judah" (Haggai 1:1, 14; Haggai 2:2, 21); (g) of Solomon's governors (1 Kings 10:15; 1 Kings 20:24 (in Syria)).

(7) paqidh (Jeremiah 20:1, the Revised Version (British and American) "chief officer"). Elsewhere it is rendered "overseer" or "officer" (compare Genesis 41:34 2 Kings 25:19; Nehemiah 11:9, 22).

(8) sar "governor of the city" (1 Kings 22:26). Elsewhere commonly rendered "prince."

(9) shalliT (Genesis 42:6). Elsewhere rendered "ruler" or "captain."

(10) tirshatha' the Revised Version (British and American) "the governor," the King James Version "the Tirshatha" (Ezra 2:63 Nehemiah 7:70).

See TIRSHATHA.

2. In the New Testament:

The word "governor" in English Versions of the Bible represents an almost equal variety of Greek words. Here again the usage is for the most part lax and untechnical; but since reference is chiefly had to officers of the Roman imperial administration, concerning which we possess ample information, no embarrassment is thereby occasioned. The words chiefly in use for "governor" are derived from root ag-, "drive," "lead":

(1) hegeomai, "lead" (Matthew 2:6; of Joseph as grand vizier of Egypt, Acts 7:10).

(2) hegemon, "leader" (Matthew 10:18 1 Peter 2:14; of Pilate, Matthew 27:2, 11, 14, 15, 21, 27; of Felix, Acts 23:24, 26, 33; of Festus, Acts 24:1, 10; Acts 26:30).

(3) hegemoneuo, "function as leader" (Luke 2:2; of Pilate, Luke 3:1).

To these are added terms of more specific meaning:

(4) ethnarches, "ethnarch" or "ruler of a nation" (2 Corinthians 11:32).

See GOVERNMENT, 6, 7.

(5) euthuno "direct," "guide" (James 3:4). Here the Revised Version (British and American) properly render it "steersman."

(6) architriklinos, "president of a banquet" (John 2:8, the American Standard Revised Version "ruler of the feast ").

(7) oikonomos, "steward," "manager of a household or estate" (Galatians 4:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "stewards").

It is thus seen that in the New Testament "governor" in the political sense occurs chiefly in reference to the Roman procurators of Judea-Pilate, Felix, and Festus. See PILATE; FELIX; FESTUS. It remains for us here to speak briefly of the government of Roman provinces.

Latin provincia signifies a magistrate's sphere of duty or authority, either

(a) judicially or legally, defining the scope of his competence, or

(b) geographically, designating the territorial limits within which he may exercise authority.

It is in the latter sense that we are now considering the word. When, in the 3rd century B.C., Rome began to rule conquered lands outside Italy, each territory was set under the authority of a single magistrate, and hence came to be called a "province." Conquered territories left under the rule of native princes or kings were not so designated, although their government was practically directed by Rome. At first provinces were governed by proconsuls or proprietors (i.e. ex-consuls or ex-praetors); but with the steady multiplication of provinces various expedients became necessary in order to provide governors of suitable rank and dignity. Thus, the number of praetors was largely augmented, and the term of possible service as governor was extended. Under Augustus the provinces were parceled out between the emperor and the senate, the former reserving for himself such as seemed to require the maintenance of a considerable armed force. In these the emperor was himself proconsul. Early in the Empire imperial provinces of a different type appear, in which the emperor, regarded as sovereign proprietor, governs by a viceroy (praefectus) or steward (procurator). In some of these, tributary kings or princes ruled with the emperor's representative-a legatus or a procurator-by their side, much as England now rules Egypt. Among the provinces so ruled were Egypt and Judea, partly, no doubt, because of their strategic position, partly because of the temper of their inhabitants.

William Arthur Heidel

2232. hegemon -- a leader, governor
... a leader, governor. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: hegemon Phonetic
Spelling: (hayg-em-ohn') Short Definition: a governor Definition: a leader ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2232.htm - 6k

4232. praitorion -- Praetorium (official residence of a governor) ...
... Praetorium (official residence of a governor), praetorian guard. Part of Speech:
Noun, Neuter Transliteration: praitorion Phonetic Spelling: (prahee-to'-ree-on ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4232.htm - 7k

4755. strategos -- a general, governor
... a general, governor. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: strategos
Phonetic Spelling: (strat-ay-gos') Short Definition: a general, magistrate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4755.htm - 7k

1481. ethnarches -- an ethnarch, a governor (not king) of a ...
... an ethnarch, a governor (not king) of a province. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: ethnarches Phonetic Spelling: (eth-nar'-khace) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1481.htm - 6k

5344. Phelix -- "fortunate," Felix, a governor of Judea
... "fortunate," Felix, a governor of Judea. Part ... Word Origin of Latin origin Definition
"fortunate," Felix, a governor of Judea NASB Word Usage Felix (9). Felix. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5344.htm - 7k

3078. Lusanias -- "ending sorrow," Lysanias, a governor of Abilene
... "ending sorrow," Lysanias, a governor of Abilene. Part ... Lysanias. From lusis and ania
(trouble); grief-dispelling; Lysanias, a governor of Abilene -- Lysanias. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3078.htm - 6k

2958. Kurenios -- Quirinius, a governor of Syria
... Quirinius, a governor of Syria. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Kurenios Phonetic Spelling: (koo-ray'-nee-os) Short Definition: Quirinius ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2958.htm - 6k

4194. Pontios -- Pontius (Pilate), a governor of Judea
... Pontius (Pilate), a governor of Judea. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Pontios Phonetic Spelling: (pon'-tee-os) Short Definition: Pontius ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4194.htm - 6k

5068a. tetraarches -- a tetrarch (the governor of a fourth part of ...
... 5068, 5068a. tetraarches. 5068b . a tetrarch (the governor of a fourth part
of a region). Transliteration: tetraarches Short Definition: tetrarch. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5068a.htm - 5k

4201. Porkios -- Porcius (Festus), a governor of Judea
... Porcius (Festus), a governor of Judea. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Porkios Phonetic Spelling: (por'-kee-os) Short Definition: Porcius ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4201.htm - 6k

6347. pechah -- a governor
... 6346, 6347. pechah. 6348 . a governor. Transliteration: pechah Phonetic
Spelling: (peh-khaw') Short Definition: governor. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6347.htm - 6k

6346. pechah -- a governor
... 6345, 6346. pechah. 6347 . a governor. Transliteration: pechah Phonetic
Spelling: (peh-khaw') Short Definition: governors. Word ...
/hebrew/6346.htm - 6k

8660. tirshatha -- (a Pers. title) governor
... title) governor. Transliteration: tirshatha Phonetic Spelling: (teer-shaw-thaw')
Short Definition: governor. ... title) governor NASB Word Usage governor (5). ...
/hebrew/8660.htm - 6k

7984. shilton -- governor
... 7983, 7984. shilton or shilton. 7985 . governor. Transliteration: shilton or
shilton Phonetic Spelling: (shil-tone') Short Definition: rulers. ...
/hebrew/7984.htm - 6k

8269. sar -- chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
... NASB Word Usage captain (22), captains (39), charge (1), chief (24), chief and
commanders (1), chiefs (1), commander (40), commanders (49), governor (3), heads ...
/hebrew/8269.htm - 6k

5387. nasiy' -- one lifted up, a chief, prince
... Spelling: (naw-see') Short Definition: captain. captain, chief, cloud, governor,
prince, ruler, vapor Or nasi' {naw-see'}; from nasa ...
/hebrew/5387.htm - 5k

6496. paqid -- commissioner, deputy, overseer
... overseers (3). which had the charge, governor, office, overseer, that was set.
From paqad; a superintendent (civil, military or religious ...
/hebrew/6496.htm - 6k

7989. shallit -- having mastery, domineering
... governor, mighty, that hath power, ruler. From shalat; potent; concretely, a prince
or warrior -- governor, mighty, that hath power, ruler. see HEBREW shalat. ...
/hebrew/7989.htm - 6k

5460. segan -- a prefect
... prefects (4). governor. (Aramaic) corresponding to cagan -- governor. see HEBREW
cagan. 5459, 5460. segan. 5461 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5460.htm - 6k

2710. chaqaq -- to cut in, inscribe, decree
... appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver, note, portray, print,. A primitive
root; properly, to hack, ie Engrave (Judges 5:14, to ...
/hebrew/2710.htm - 6k

To Salustius the Governor.
... Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, XXXVII. To Salustius the Governor. When
rulers keep the scales of justice true, and let them hang ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/xxxvii to salustius the governor.htm

At the Governor's House
... Wesley Collects Money for the Poor; Visits the House of Lords; His Reasons for his
Long Life; "How is the Tide Turned;" Last Entries At the Governor's House. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/at the governors house.htm

To Uranius, Governor of Cyprus.
... Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, LXXVI. To Uranius, Governor of Cyprus. True
friendship is strengthened by intercourse, but separation ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/lxxvi to uranius governor of.htm

Letter Lxxxvi. To the Governor.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter LXXXVI. To the
Governor. I know that a first and foremost object of your ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter lxxxvi to the governor.htm

Preached Before the Governor, and Council, and the House of ...
... Preached Before the Governor, and Council, and the House of Assembly, in
Georgia, on January 28, 1770. Zech.4:10 " "For who hath ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/preached before the governor and.htm

Quirinius the Governor of Syria
... CHAPTER 11 QUIRINIUS THE GOVERNOR OF SYRIA. WE come now to the last serious
difficulty in Luke's account of the "First Enrollment". ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 11 quirinius the governor.htm

Then Affrodosius, that Governor of the City, when News of this was ...
... Chapter 24. Then Affrodosius, that governor of the city, when news of
this was brought to him? Then Affrodosius, that governor ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 24 then affrodosius that.htm

Letter clxxxvi. To Antipater, the Governor.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CLXXXVI. To Antipater,
the governor. Philosophy is an excellent thing, if ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter clxxxvi to antipater the.htm

Letter cccvi. To the Governor of Sebasteia.
... Letter CCCVI. To the Governor of Sebasteia. ... The Ben. Ed. think that here and in Letter
lxiii. hegeuon means not governor but Head of the Senate. cf. Cod. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cccvi to the governor.htm

Letter Lxiii. To the Governor of Neoc??sarea.
... Letter LXIII. To the Governor of Neoc??sarea. The wise man, even if he dwells
far away, even if I never set eyes on him, I count a friend. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter lxiii to the governor.htm

Governor (78 Occurrences)
... (8.) Pehah, whence pasha, ie, friend of the king; adjutant; governor of a province
(2 Kings 18:24; Isaiah 36:9; Jeremiah 51: 57; Ezek. 23:6, 23; Dan. ...GOVERNOR. ...
/g/governor.htm - 48k

Governor's (6 Occurrences)
...Governor's (6 Occurrences). ... Matthew 27:27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus
into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him. ...
/g/governor's.htm - 8k

Johanan (31 Occurrences)
... (3.) Son of Careah, one of the Jewish chiefs who rallied round Gedaliah, whom
Nebuchadnezzar had made governor in Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:23; Jeremiah 40:8). He ...
/j/johanan.htm - 21k

Tattenai (4 Occurrences)
... tat'-e-ni (tattenay, various forms in the Septuagint; the King James Version Tatnai,
tat'ni, tat'na-i'): A Persian governor, who was the successor of Rehum in ...
/t/tattenai.htm - 8k

Tatnai (4 Occurrences)
... Gift, a Persian governor (Hebrews pehah, ie, "satrap;" modern "pasha") "on this
side the river", ie, of the whole tract on the west of the Euphrates. ...
/t/tatnai.htm - 8k

Tirshatha (5 Occurrences)
... denoting a high civil dignity. The Persian governor of Judea is so called
(Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65, 70). Nehemiah is called by ...
/t/tirshatha.htm - 10k

Deputy (7 Occurrences)
... In Esther 8:9; 9:3 (RV, "governor") it denotes a Persian prefect "on this side"
ie, in the region west of the Euphrates. It is the modern word pasha. ...
/d/deputy.htm - 11k

Pashur (12 Occurrences)
... Release. (1.) The son of Immer (probably the same as Amariah, Nehemiah 10:3;
12:2), the head of one of the priestly courses, was "chief governor [Hebrews paqid ...
/p/pashur.htm - 14k

Apollonius
... his narrative of the year 148 BC to give an account of the different persons who
bore this name (1) Son of Thrasaeus (2 Maccabees 3:5) who was governor of Coele ...
/a/apollonius.htm - 8k

Praetorium (8 Occurrences)
... The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered "common hall"
(Matthew 27:27, marg., "governor's house"), "judgment hall," (John 18:28, 33 ...
/p/praetorium.htm - 14k

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