Greek · G932 · unreviewed

βασιλεία

Kingdom

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βασιλεία G932

Pronunciation basileía

What does βασιλεία (basileía) mean in the Bible?

βασιλεία (basileía) is a Greek word meaning "kingdom". βασιλεία, -ας, ἡ (βασιλεύω), [in LXX chiefly for מַמְלָכָה ,מַלְכוּת ;] __1. Central theme describing God’s sovereign rule revealed in Christ. This term runs through the canonical themes of Kingdom, Messiah.

Full entry for βασιλεία (G932) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

kingdom

Extended definition

God's sovereign rule breaking into history now yet awaiting future consummation; both present reality and eschatological hope.

(βασιλεύω), [in LXX chiefly for מַמְלָכָה ,מַלְכוּת ;]

1prop. abstract, sovereignty, royal power, dominion: Luk.1:33 22:29, Jhn.18:36, Act.1:6, Heb.1:8, 1Co.15:24; λαβεῖν β., Luk.19:12, 15 Rev.17:12; δοῦναι τὴν, ib. 17; ἔχειν β., ib. 18; ἔρχεσθαι ἐν τ. (εἰς τὴν) β., Mat.16:28, Luk.23:42; β. τ. θεοῦ, Rev.12:10.

2By meton., concrete (MM, Exp., x),

aa kingdom, the territory or people over whom the king rules (Est.5:3, al.): Mat.4:8 12:25, 26 24:7, Mrk.3:24 6:23, Luk.4:5, Heb.11:33, al.;

bthe royal majesty (cf. our phrase His Majesty), the king himself (τ. σπέρμα τῆς β., 4Ki.11:1).

3In LXX (Wis.6:5, Tob.13:1, al.), Targ. and NT, of the Messianic rule and kingdom, ἡ β. τ. θεοῦ, τ. οὐρανῶν (Heb. מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם, Aram. מַלְכוּתָא דִשׁמַיָּא; see Dalman, Words, 91-147; Cremer, 132, 658), the kingdom of God (on the equivalence of the two phrases, see Dalman, op. cit., 93, 218f.); τ. θεοῦ, Mat.6:33 12:28, al.; τ. οὐρανῶν, Mat.3:2 4:17, al.; τ. Χριστοῦ (מַלִכוּת דִמְשִׁיחא, Targ. Jon. on Isa.53:10), Eph.5:5; τ. κυρίου, 2Pe.1:11, Rev.11:15; τ. Δαυείδ, Mrk.11:10; absol., ἡ β., Mat.4:23, Jas.2:5, al. The kingdom is regarded as present: Mat.11:12, Luk.17:21, Rom.14:17, al.; as that which is to be consummated in the future, Mat.6:10, Mrk.9:1, Jhn.3:5, 2Pe.1:11, al. Noteworthy phrases are: ζητεῖν τὴν β., Mat.6:33; δέχεσθαι, Mrk.10:15; κλρονομεῖν, Mat.25:34; διδόναι, Lk 12:32; παραλαμβάνειν, Heb.12:28; αὐτῶν (τοιούτων) εστὶν ἡ β., Mat.5:3, 10 19:14, Mrk.10:14, Luk.18:16; διὰ τὴν β., Mat.19:12; ἕνεκεν τῆς β., Luk.18:29; εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, κηρύσσειν, διαγγέλλειν τὴν β., Luk.4:43 9:2, 60; ἤγγικεν ἡ β., Mat.3:2, Mrk.1:15; κλεῖς τῆς β., Mat.16:10; κλείειν τὴν β., Mat.23:14; υἱοὶ τῆς β., Mat.8:12 13:38 (cf. Cremer, 132, 658).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Central theme describing God’s sovereign rule revealed in Christ. Matthew 10:5–15

Central theme defining Jesus’ message. Matthew 4:12–17

Frames prayer within the redemptive reign inaugurated by Christ. Matthew 6:5–15

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Matt 3:2 · Matt 4:17 · Matt 5:3 · Matt 5:10 · Matt 6:10 · Matt 10:7 · Matt 11:12 · Matt 12:25 · Matt 12:26 · Matt 12:28 · Matt 13:24 · Matt 13:31 · Matt 13:33 · Matt 13:44 · Matt 13:45 · Matt 13:47 55×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Matt 4:23 · Matt 8:12 · Matt 9:35 · Matt 13:11 · Matt 13:19 · Matt 13:38 · Matt 13:41 · Matt 16:19 · Matt 24:14 · Mark 4:11 · Mark 6:23 · Mark 12:34 · Luke 1:33 · Luke 8:10 · Luke 9:11 · Luke 18:29 22×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Matt 5:19 · Matt 8:11 · Matt 11:11 · Matt 13:43 · Matt 13:52 · Matt 16:28 · Matt 18:1 · Matt 18:4 · Matt 20:21 · Matt 26:29 · Mark 14:25 · Luke 7:28 · Luke 9:62 · Luke 13:28 · Luke 13:29 · Luke 14:15 22×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 5:20 · Matt 6:33 · Matt 7:21 · Matt 18:3 · Matt 19:12 · Matt 19:23 · Matt 19:24 · Matt 21:31 · Matt 23:13 · Matt 24:7 · Matt 25:34 · Mark 4:30 · Mark 9:1 · Mark 9:47 · Mark 10:15 · Mark 10:23 60×

Accusative · Plural · Feminine Matt 4:8 · Luke 4:5 · Heb 11:33 3×

Canonical Themes

Kingdom Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

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

New Testament Witnesses

Matthew 10:5–15 βασιλεία basileía Nominative · Singular · Feminine

kingdom, reign

Matthew 4:12–17 βασιλεία basileía Nominative · Singular · Feminine

kingdom, reign

Matthew 6:5–15 βασιλεία basileía Nominative · Singular · Feminine

kingdom or reign

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.

Acts 1 — The Risen Christ Commissions His Waiting Witnesses Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Colossians 4 — Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World Luke 1 — The Promised Savior Announced in the Fullness of Time Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 13 — Repentance, Kingdom Reversal, and the Urgent Narrow Door Luke 16 — Faithful Stewardship, the Danger of Wealth, and the Finality of Judgment Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Luke 19 — The Son of Man Seeks the Lost, Receives the Kingly Kingdom, and Weeps over Jerusalem Luke 21 — The Widow’s Gift, Jerusalem’s Fall, and Watchfulness before the Son of Man Luke 22 — The Passover Betrayal, the New Covenant Meal, and the Suffering Servant King Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Luke 4 — The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom Luke 6 — The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed 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 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 3 — The Forerunner, the Kingdom, and the Beloved Son Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 6 — Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom 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 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience

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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