In the context of the Bible, "rank" can refer to the hierarchical structure within society, religious institutions, or even the spiritual realm. The concept of rank is evident throughout Scripture, where it often denotes authority, order, and responsibility.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, rank is frequently associated with social and religious order. The Israelites were organized into tribes, each with its own leaders and elders. For example, Moses appointed leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to help govern the people (Exodus 18:21). This system of rank ensured that justice and order were maintained among the Israelites.

The priesthood also had a clear hierarchy. Aaron and his descendants were appointed as high priests, with specific duties and privileges (Exodus 28:1). The Levites, a tribe set apart for religious duties, had their own ranks and responsibilities within the tabernacle and later the temple (Numbers 3:6-10).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, rank is addressed in both spiritual and social contexts. Jesus Christ taught about the nature of true greatness and rank in the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus contrasts worldly notions of rank with the servant leadership expected in His followers: "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.'"

The early church also recognized a form of rank in its leadership structure. The apostles appointed elders and deacons to oversee the spiritual and practical needs of the church (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13). These roles were not about exerting power but about serving the community and maintaining order.

Spiritual Realm

The Bible also speaks of rank in the spiritual realm, particularly among angels and demons. Angels are described as having different ranks and roles, such as archangels and cherubim (Jude 1:9; Ezekiel 10:1-22). Similarly, the demonic realm is depicted as having a hierarchy, with Satan as the leader of fallen angels (Ephesians 6:12).

Moral and Ethical Implications

The concept of rank in the Bible carries moral and ethical implications. Believers are called to respect and submit to authority, as long as it aligns with God's commandments (Romans 13:1-7). However, the ultimate rank and authority belong to God, who is sovereign over all creation. Jesus Christ, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, exemplifies the perfect balance of authority and servanthood (Revelation 19:16).

In summary, rank in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing social, religious, and spiritual dimensions. It serves to establish order and responsibility while emphasizing the importance of humility and service in positions of authority.1. (superl.) Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.

2. (superl.) Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy.

3. (superl.) Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land.

4. (superl.) Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue.

5. (superl.) Strong to the taste.

6. (superl.) Inflamed with venereal appetite.

7. (adv.) Rankly; stoutly; violently.

8. (n. & v.) A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.

9. (n. & v.) A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a).

10. (n. & v.) Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.

11. (n. & v.) An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.

12. (n. & v.) Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.

13. (n. & v.) Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank.

14. (v. t.) To place abreast, or in a line.

15. (v. t.) To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify.

16. (v. t.) To take rank of; to outrank.

17. (v. i.) To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.

18. (v. i.) To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.

RANK

rank:

(1) 'orach, used in Joel 2:7 of the advance of the locust army which marched in perfect order and in straight lines, none crossing the other's track.

(2) ma`arakhah, "battle array" (1 Chronicles 12:38 the King James Version; compare 1 Samuel 4:16; 1 Samuel 17:22, 48).

See ARMY.

5001. tagma -- that which has been arranged in order, spec. a ...
... a division, rank. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: tagma Phonetic Spelling:
(tag'-mah) Short Definition: rank, division Definition: rank, division ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5001.htm - 7k

1642. elattoo -- to make less (in rank or influence)
... to make less (in rank or influence). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: elattoo
Phonetic Spelling: (el-at-to'-o) Short Definition: I make less, make inferior ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1642.htm - 6k

4960. sustoicheo -- to stand in the same rank, fig. correspond to
... 4959, 4960. sustoicheo. 4961 . to stand in the same rank, fig. ... Word Origin
from sun and stoicheo Definition to stand in the same rank, fig. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4960.htm - 6k

5293. hupotasso -- to place or rank under, to subject, mid. to ...
... 5292, 5293. hupotasso. 5294 . to place or rank under, to subject, mid. ... Word
Origin from hupo and tasso Definition to place or rank under, to subject, mid. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5293.htm - 9k

5010. taxis -- an arranging, order
... an arranging, order. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: taxis Phonetic
Spelling: (tax'-is) Short Definition: order, position, rank Definition: order ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5010.htm - 7k

2903. kratistos -- strongest, noblest
... Spelling: (krat'-is-tos) Short Definition: most excellent Definition: most excellent,
an official epithet, used in addressing a Roman of high rank, and in the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2903.htm - 6k

5247. huperoche -- a projection, eminence
... authority, excellency. From huperecho; prominence, ie (figuratively) superiority
(in rank or character) -- authority, excellency. see GREEK huperecho. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5247.htm - 7k

1715. emprosthen -- before, in front of (in place or time)
... Word Origin from en and pros Definition before, in front of (in place or time) NASB
Word Usage ahead (5), before (28), front (4), higher rank (2), presence (4 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1715.htm - 6k

4748. stoicheo -- to be in rows, fig. to walk by rule
... From a derivative of steicho (to range in regular line); to march in (military)
rank (keep step), ie (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety -- walk ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4748.htm - 7k

4291. proistemi -- early
... maintain, be over, rule. From pro and histemi; to stand before, ie (in rank) to
preside, or (by implication) to practise -- maintain, be over, rule. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4291.htm - 7k

4634. maarakah -- row, rank, battle line
... 4633, 4634. maarakah. 4635 . row, rank, battle line. Transliteration: maarakah
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-ar-aw-kaw') Short Definition: line. ...
/hebrew/4634.htm - 6k

7713. sederah -- row, rank (of soldiers)
... 7712, 7713. sederah. 7714 . row, rank (of soldiers). Transliteration: sederah
Phonetic Spelling: (sed-ay-raw') Short Definition: ranks. ...
/hebrew/7713.htm - 6k

4932. mishneh -- a double, copy, second
... Definition a double, copy, second NASB Word Usage copy (2), double (6), doubly
(1), fatlings (1), next (1), Second (3), second (16), second rank (1), twice (1 ...
/hebrew/4932.htm - 6k

1277. bari -- fat
... fat fleshed fed, firm, plenteous, rank. From bara' (in the sense of barah); fatted
or plump -- fat ((fleshed), -ter), fed, firm, plenteous, rank. ...
/hebrew/1277.htm - 6k

7992. shelishi -- third (an ordinal number)
... 1), three (1). third part, rank, time, three years old. Ordinal from shalowsh;
third; feminine a third (part); by extension, a third ...
/hebrew/7992.htm - 6k

5737. adar -- to help
... 5736, 5737. adar. 5737a . to help. Transliteration: adar Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-dar') Short Definition: dig. dig, fail, keep rank, lack ...
/hebrew/5737.htm - 5k

7762. shuwm -- garlic
... garlic From an unused root meaning to exhale; garlic (from its rank odor) --
garlic. 7761, 7762. shuwm. 7762a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7762.htm - 5k

7223. rishon -- former, first, chief
... Or riishon {ree-shone'}; from ri'shah; first, in place, time or rank (as adjective
or noun) -- ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first ...
/hebrew/7223.htm - 6k

7225. reshith -- beginning, chief
... From the same as ro'sh; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically,
a firstfruit) -- beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal ...
/hebrew/7225.htm - 6k

7227. rab -- much, many, great
... By contracted from rabab; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) --
(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly ...
/hebrew/7227.htm - 6k

The Ideal of Rank. January 20.
... The Ideal of Rank. January 20. With Christianity ... virtue. The words which denoted
Rank came to denote, likewise, high moral excellencies. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /the ideal of rank january.htm

It is Sacrilege to Degrade a Bishop to the Rank of a Presbyter...
... Canon XXIX. It is sacrilege to degrade a bishop to the rank of a presbyter? ... He is
sacrilegious who degrades a bishop to the rank of a presbyter. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxix it is sacrilege.htm

Yet More Discrepancies Just Now the Sex of Bythus was an Object of ...
... Chapter XXXV."Yet More Discrepancies Just Now the Sex of Bythus Was an
Object of Dispute; Now His Rank Comes in Question. Absurd ...
/.../against the valentinians/chapter xxxv yet more discrepancies just.htm

There was a Certain Matron of High Rank who Already had ...
... Chap. XL. There was a certain matron of high rank who already had
grandchildren by more than? There was a certain matron of high ...
/.../lactantius/of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xl there was a.htm

Against those who Say that it is not Right to Rank the Holy Spirit ...
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Chapter X. Against those who say
that it is not right to rank the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/chapter x against those who.htm

Against those who Maintain that the Spirit is in the Rank Neither ...
... Chapter XX. Against those who maintain that the Spirit is in the rank neither
of a servant nor of a master, but in that of the free. 51. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/chapter xx against those who.htm

That in all Natures, of Every Kind and Rank, God is Glorified.
... Book XII. Chapter 5."That in All Natures, of Every Kind and Rank, God is
Glorified. All natures, then, inasmuch as they are, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 5 that in all natures.htm

If any Poor Cleric, no Matter what his Rank May Be, Shall Acquire ...
... Canon XXXII. (Greek xxxv.) If any poor cleric, no matter what his rank may be, shall
acquire any property, it shall be subject to the power of the bishop. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxxii greek xxxv if.htm

None of the Priesthood, nor Clerics of Lower Rank. ...
... The Canons of the Blessed and Holy Fathers Assembled at Antioch in Syria. Canon
XXX. None of the priesthood, nor clerics of lower rank.? ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxx none of the.htm

Those who are Ordained for Money, Whether Bishops or of any Rank ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon XXII. Those who are ordained for money,
whether bishops or of any rank whatever? Those who ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxii those who are.htm

Rank (42 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (superl.) Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth;
exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds. ...
/r/rank.htm - 21k

Degree (19 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) One of a series of progressive steps upward or downward, in quality, rank,
acquirement, and the like; a stage in progression; grade; gradation; as ...
/d/degree.htm - 16k

Range (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) To set in a row, or in rows; to place in a regular line or lines, or in
ranks; to dispose in the proper order; to rank; as, to range soldiers in line. ...
/r/range.htm - 13k

Order (809 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) A number of things or persons arranged in a fixed or suitable place, or
relative position; a rank; a row; a grade; especially, a rank or class in ...
/o/order.htm - 48k

Quality (14 Occurrences)
... n.) The condition of being of such and such a sort as distinguished from others;
nature or character relatively considered, as of goods; character; sort; rank. ...
/q/quality.htm - 11k

Generation (150 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A single step or stage in the succession of natural descent; a
rank or remove in genealogy. Hence: The body of those who ...
/g/generation.htm - 44k

Inferior (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Lower in place, rank, excellence, etc.; less
important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath. ...
/i/inferior.htm - 11k

Rate (23 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) That which is established as a measure or criterion; degree; standard; rank;
proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate of movement; rate of interest is the ...
/r/rate.htm - 15k

Equal (70 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) One not inferior or superior to another; one having the same or a similar
age, rank, station, office, talents, strength, or other quality or condition ...
/e/equal.htm - 30k

Dignity (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Elevation; grandeur. 3. (n.) Elevated rank; honorable station; high office,
political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation. ...
/d/dignity.htm - 11k

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