Greek · G1849 · unreviewed

ἐξουσία

Authority

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ἐξουσία G1849

Pronunciation exousía

What does ἐξουσία (exousía) mean in the Bible?

ἐξουσία (exousía) is a Greek word meaning "authority". ἐξουσία, -ας, ἡ (ἔξεστι), [in LXX: 4Ki. Affirms that governing power is derived and accountable to God. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah, Revelation.

Full entry for ἐξουσία (G1849) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

authority

Extended definition

Liberty or power to act; authority as rightful power, especially judicial and governmental authority

(ἔξεστι), [in LXX: 4Ki.20:13, Psa.113 (114):2 135 (136)8, 9, Isa.39:2, Jer.28 (51):28 (מֶמְשָׁלָה), frequently in Da for Aram. שָׁלְטָן, etc., Wis.10:14, Sir.9:13, al. ;]

1prop., liberty or power to act, freedom to exercise the inward force or faculty expressed by δύναμις (which see): 1Co.9:12; ἐ. ἔχειν, 2Th.3:9; id. before inf., Jhn.10:18, 1Co.9:4, 5; with genitive obj., Rom.9:21; before ἐπί, with accusative, Rev.22:14; περί, 1Co.7:37.

2Later (cf. Milligan, Th., 114; MM, Exp., xiv), of the power of right, authority: Mat.21:33, Mrk.11:28, Luk.20:2; of Messianic authority, Mat.9:6, Mrk.2:10, al.; of apostolic authority, 2Co.10:8 13:10; of the authority of government: Mat.8:9 28:18, Ju 25, Rev.12:10, al.; esp. of judicial authority, Luk.20:20, Jhn.19:10, 11.

3Meton.,

ajurisdiction: Luk.23:7 (cf. 1Ma.6:11, Isa.39:2);

ba ruler or magistrate: Rom.13:1-3; pl., Luk.12:11, Rom.13:1, Tit.3:1; __(with) of supramundane powers (syn. with ἀρχή, δύναμις, θρόνος, κυριότης): 1Co.15:24, Eph.1:21 3:10, Col.2:10, 1Pe.3:22, al. (Cremer. 236).

Synonymssee: δύναμις.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Affirms that governing power is derived and accountable to God.

Affirms Christ’s divine authority over revelation.

Defines Jesus’ sovereign and intrinsic authority.

Central to the identity and mission of Christ.

Authority flows from Christ’s sovereign lordship.

Delegated power originates in Christ’s sovereignty. Luke 10:17–20

Authority over Satan is delegated from Christ. Luke 20:1–8

Centers the confrontation on the source of Christ’s divine commission. Luke 22:47–53

Shows darkness operates under limited, permitted power.

Highlights the false shortcut offered by Satan.

Defines the intrinsic power of Christ’s word.

Expresses Christ’s delegated and divine power.

Represents delegated authority from Christ.

Sovereign authority to grant eternal life.

Earthly authority derived from divine sovereignty.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Matt 28:18 · Luke 22:53 · Rom 13:1 · 1 Cor 8:9 · Jude 1:25 · Rev 6:8 · Rev 9:3 · Rev 9:10 · Rev 9:19 · Rev 12:10 · Rev 13:5 · Rev 13:7 · Rev 22:14 13×

Nominative · Plural · Feminine Col 1:16 1×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Luke 23:7 · Acts 26:12 · Acts 26:18 · 1 Cor 9:12 · 2 Cor 10:8 · Eph 1:21 · Eph 2:2 · Col 1:13 · Col 2:10 9×

Genitive · Plural · Feminine 1 Pet 3:22 1×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Matt 21:23 · Matt 21:24 · Matt 21:27 · Mark 11:28 · Mark 11:29 · Mark 11:33 · Luke 4:32 · Luke 4:36 · Luke 20:2 · Luke 20:8 · Luke 20:20 · Acts 1:7 · Acts 5:4 · Rom 13:2 · 1 Cor 9:12 · 1 Cor 9:18 16×

Dative · Plural · Feminine Rom 13:1 · Eph 3:10 · Titus 3:1 3×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 7:29 · Matt 8:9 · Matt 9:6 · Matt 9:8 · Matt 10:1 · Matt 21:23 · Mark 1:22 · Mark 1:27 · Mark 2:10 · Mark 3:15 · Mark 6:7 · Mark 11:28 · Mark 13:34 · Luke 4:6 · Luke 5:24 · Luke 7:8 56×

Accusative · Plural · Feminine Luke 12:11 · Eph 6:12 · Col 2:15 3×

Canonical Themes

MessiahRevelation

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences

John 17:1-5 ξο...ϒία exousía

authority, right

John 19:1-16 ξο...ϒία exousía

authority

Luke 10:17–20 ἐξουσίαν exousía

Authority

Luke 12:4–7 ἐξουσίαν exousía

Authority

Luke 20:1–8 ἐξουσία exousía

Authority, delegated power

New Testament Witnesses

Luke 10:17–20 ἐξουσία exousía

authority

Luke 20:1–8 ἐξουσία exousía Dative · Singular · Feminine

authority

Luke 22:47–53 ἐξουσία exousía Nominative · Singular · Feminine

authority

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 11 — Honor, Worship Order, and the Lord’s Supper Under the Lordship of Christ 1 Corinthians 9 — Rights Surrendered, the Gospel Advanced, and Discipline for the Prize Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Colossians 2 — Fullness in Christ and Freedom from Christ-Plus Religion John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 4 — The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom Luke 5 — The Authority of Jesus to Call, Cleanse, Forgive, and Make New Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Luke 9 — The Christ Revealed, the Cross Announced, and the Jerusalem Road Begun Mark 1 — The Beginning of the Gospel: The Servant-King Appears with Authority Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 2 — The Son of Man Has Authority: Forgiveness, Fellowship, and Lordship Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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