2888. kosmokratór

Lexicon

kosmokratór: World ruler, ruler of this world

Original Word: κοσμοκράτωρ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: kosmokratór
Pronunciation: kos-mo-kra'-tor
Phonetic Spelling: (kos-mok-fat'-ore)
Definition: World ruler, ruler of this world
Meaning: ruler of this world, that is, of the world as asserting its independence of God; used of the angelic or demonic powers controlling the sublunary world.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

ruler.

From kosmos and krateo; a world-ruler, an epithet of Satan -- ruler.

see GREEK kosmos

see GREEK krateo

HELPS Word-studies

2888 kosmokrátōr (from 2889 /kósmos, "world" and 2902 /kratéō, "to rule") – properly, world-ruler, referring to Satan (demons) influencing the lives of worldly people (used only in Eph 6:12).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kosmos and krateó
Definition
a ruler of this world
NASB Translation
world forces (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2888: κοσμοκράτωρ

κοσμοκράτωρ, κοσμοκρατορος, ὁ (κόσμος and κρατέω), lord of the world, prince of this age: the devil and demons are called in plural οἱ κοσμοκρατορες τοῦ σκότους τοῦ αἰῶνος (but critical editions omit τοῦ αἰῶνος) τούτου (R. V. the world-rulers of this darkness), Ephesians 6:12; cf. 11; John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; see ἄρχων. (The word occurs in the Orphica, 8, 11; 11, 11; in ecclesiastical writings of Satan; in rabbinical writings כּוזְמוקְרָטור is used both of human rulers and of the angel of death; cf. Buxtorf, Lex. talm. et rabb., p. 2006 (p. 996, Fischer edition).)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from two Greek words: κόσμος (kosmos), meaning "world" or "universe," and κράτωρ (kratōr), meaning "ruler" or "lord."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for κοσμοκράτωρ, similar concepts can be found in the Old Testament, where terms like שַׂר (sar, Strong's Hebrew 8269) meaning "prince" or "ruler," and רָשָׁע (rasha, Strong's Hebrew 7563) meaning "wicked" or "evil," are used to describe spiritual and earthly powers opposed to God. These terms reflect the ongoing biblical narrative of conflict between divine authority and rebellious forces.

Usage: The term is used in the New Testament to describe spiritual forces of evil that have dominion over the present world system. It appears in the context of spiritual warfare, emphasizing the struggle against these powerful entities.

Context: The term κοσμοκράτωρ is found in the New Testament in Ephesians 6:12, where the Apostle Paul writes about the spiritual battle faced by believers: "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" (BSB). Here, κοσμοκράτωρ is translated as "powers of this world's darkness," indicating the malevolent spiritual forces that influence the world.

In the context of Ephesians 6, Paul exhorts believers to put on the full armor of God to stand firm against these spiritual adversaries. The use of κοσμοκράτωρ underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for divine strength and protection. The term suggests a hierarchy of evil forces, with κοσμοκράτωρ representing those with significant authority and influence over the world's spiritual and moral order.

The concept of κοσμοκράτωρ aligns with the broader biblical theme of the cosmic struggle between good and evil, where Satan and his minions are depicted as having temporary dominion over the world. However, their power is ultimately limited by God's sovereignty, and their defeat is assured through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

κοσμοκρατορας κοσμοκράτορας kosmokratoras kosmokrátoras

Englishman's Concordance

Ephesians 6:12 N-AMP
GRK: πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους
NAS: against the world forces of this
KJV: against the rulers of the darkness
INT: against the world's rulers of the darkness

Strong's Greek 2888
1 Occurrence

κοσμοκράτορας — 1 Occ.