937. basilikos
Lexical Summary
basilikos: Royal, noble, belonging to a king

Original Word: βασιλικός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: basilikos
Pronunciation: bah-see-lee-KOS
Phonetic Spelling: (bas-il-ee-kos')
KJV: king's, nobleman, royal
NASB: royal, royal official, king's
Word Origin: [from G935 (βασιλεύς - king)]

1. regal (in relation)
2. (literally) belonging to (or befitting) the sovereign (as land, dress, or a courtier)
3. (figuratively) preeminent

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
king's, nobleman, royal.

From basileus; regal (in relation), i.e. (literally) belonging to (or befitting) the sovereign (as land, dress, or a courtier), or (figuratively) preeminent -- king's, nobleman, royal.

see GREEK basileus

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 937 basilikós – kingly (royal), befitting a king; kingly dignity, belonging to a king. See 932 (basileus).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from basileus
Definition
royal
NASB Translation
king's (1), royal (2), royal official (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 937: βασιλικός

βασιλικός, βασιλικῇ, βασιλικόν, of or belonging to a king, kingly, royal, regal; of a man, the officer or minister of a prince, a courtier: John 4:46, 49 (Polybius 4, 76, 2; Plutarch, Sol. 27; often in Josephus). subject to a king: of a country, Acts 12:20. befitting or worthy of a king, royal: ἐσθής, Acts 12:21. Hence, metaphorically, principal, chief: νόμος, James 2:8 (Plato, Min., p. 317 c. τό ὀρθόν νόμος ἐστι βασιλικός, Xenophon, symp. 1, 8 βασιλικόν κάλλος; 4 Macc. 14:2).

STRONGS NT 937a: βασιλίσκος [βασιλίσκος, βασιλισκου, (diminutive of βασιλεύς), a petty king; a reading noted by WH in their (rejected) margin of John 4:46, 49. (Polybius, others.)]

Topical Lexicon
Overview

The adjective βασιλικός (basilikos) carries the idea of something belonging to, issued by, or characteristic of a king. Its five New Testament appearances illuminate how the Holy Spirit employs regal imagery to point simultaneously to earthly authority and, ultimately, to the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

Royal Identity in John 4:46 – 49

In Galilee “there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum” (John 4:46). Twice John identifies the man with βασιλικός, highlighting his direct connection to the Herodian court. Although accustomed to political power, the official discovers a greater sovereignty in Jesus, who heals his son from a distance. The passage showcases:
• Authority beyond geography – “Go; your son will live” (John 4:50).
• Faith forged through crisis – the official moves from courtly status to personal belief (John 4:53).
• A sign that anticipates the messianic kingship of Christ, contrasting the temporary rule of Herod Antipas with the eternal rule of the Son of God.

Royal Provision and Pageantry in Acts 12:20 – 21

Luke uses βασιλικός twice in describing Herod Agrippa I:

1. Diplomatic leverage – “their country depended on the king’s country for food” (Acts 12:20). The term underscores the material reach of royal policy and sets the stage for Herod’s self-exaltation.
2. Regal display – “Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and addressed them” (Acts 12:21). Josephus records that the garments were woven with silver threads that caught the morning sun. The crowd’s flattery—calling him a god—proves fatal; the same chapter records his immediate judgment (Acts 12:23). The chosen adjective heightens the irony: royal garments cannot shield a ruler who refuses to honor the true King.

The Royal Law in James 2:8

James exhorts believers: “If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” The command from Leviticus 19:18 is labeled βασιλικός because:
• It originates from God, the ultimate King.
• It governs every interpersonal relationship, like a monarch’s decree over all subjects.
• It finds perfect embodiment in Jesus Christ (John 13:34) and thus forms the ethic of His kingdom. Showing favoritism (James 2:1–7) violates this royal charter and denies the equal honor God bestows on each person.

Biblical Theology of Royalty

Across the canon, βασιλικός accents the tension between earthly and heavenly rule:
• Earthly royalty can acknowledge Christ (John 4) or oppose Him (Acts 12).
• Kingdom provision—whether bread from Herod’s domain or manna from heaven—ultimately traces back to God.
• The royal law crystallizes God’s character; loving one’s neighbor reflects the King who “is love” (1 John 4:8). Every appearance of βασιλικός therefore pushes readers toward the coronation scene of Revelation 19:16, where Christ bears the title “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Evangelism: Earthly status is no barrier to saving faith; the royal official’s journey offers a paradigm for reaching those in positions of influence.
2. Worship: Guard against self-exaltation. Herod’s fate warns leaders not to accept glory that belongs to God.
3. Discipleship: Center ethical instruction on the royal law. Love across social strata authenticates kingdom citizenship.
4. Stewardship: Recognize that all resources—even “the king’s country for food”—are under divine sovereignty; use them for compassionate outreach.

Thus Strong’s 937 paints a unified portrait: genuine royalty is measured not by robes, courts, or commerce, but by submission to the King whose word heals, whose judgments stand, and whose law of love reigns forever.

Forms and Transliterations
βασιλική βασιλικην βασιλικήν βασιλικὴν βασιλικης βασιλικής βασιλικῆς βασιλικοί βασιλικοίς βασιλικον βασιλικόν βασιλικὸν βασιλικος βασιλικός βασιλικὸς βασιλικού βασιλικώ βασιλίσκον basiliken basilikēn basilikḕn basilikes basilikês basilikēs basilikē̂s basilikon basilikòn basilikos basilikós basilikòs
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Englishman's Concordance
John 4:46 Adj-NMS
GRK: ἦν τις βασιλικὸς οὗ ὁ
NAS: wine. And there was a royal official whose
KJV: a certain nobleman, whose
INT: there was a certain royal official whose

John 4:49 Adj-NMS
GRK: αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλικός Κύριε κατάβηθι
NAS: The royal official said to Him, Sir,
KJV: The nobleman saith unto
INT: him the royal official Sir come down

Acts 12:20 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλικῆς
NAS: was fed by the king's country.
KJV: was nourished by the king's [country].
INT: by the king's

Acts 12:21 Adj-AFS
GRK: ἐνδυσάμενος ἐσθῆτα βασιλικὴν καὶ καθίσας
NAS: having put on his royal apparel,
KJV: Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat
INT: having put on apparel royal and having sat

James 2:8 Adj-AMS
GRK: νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικὸν κατὰ τὴν
NAS: you are fulfilling the royal law
KJV: ye fulfil the royal law
INT: [the] law you keep royal according to the

Strong's Greek 937
5 Occurrences


βασιλικὴν — 1 Occ.
βασιλικῆς — 1 Occ.
βασιλικὸν — 1 Occ.
βασιλικὸς — 2 Occ.

936
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