A person's seniority and/or status, especially in military, government or priestly positions. Christians should not be concerned about rank or status.

Luke 2:1; 3:1

Differences in rank amongst those in charge of both military and civil affairs

Emperor

2 Samuel 5:3-5
1 Kings 4:1

King

Judges 2:16-19

Judge

Judges 5:15

The book of Judges calls individual judges "deliverers" e.g., 3:9, 15.

2 Samuel 3:38

Prince

Numbers 2:3-7,10-12
Judges 4:4

Leader

1 Samuel 10:1
2 Samuel 2:8

Military ranks

Acts 24:22

Commander

Genesis 39:1
Judges 5:14

Captain

2 Kings 1:9-13
Isaiah 3:3
1 Kings 4:5; 9:22
1 Chronicles 27:1

Officer

Acts 25:23
Matthew 8:5
Acts 27:43

Centurion

Esther 1:3; 2:18

Civil ranks

Noble

1 Chronicles 28:1
Jeremiah 52:10

Official

1 Kings 4:7-19
Haggai 1:1

Governor

Acts 23:24
Luke 3:1

Tetrarch

Joshua 14:1
1 Kings 8:1

Heads of clans/tribes

Numbers 7:2
Joshua 2:12-13

Heads of families

Exodus 18:20-23

Division of labour involving different degrees of responsibility

1 Samuel 18:5

Rank was conferred as a reward

Leviticus 21:10

Rank within the priesthood

Numbers 35:25,28,32

The high priest

Haggai 1:1
Zechariah 3:1
Luke 3:2
Exodus 28:1-2
Leviticus 8:5-12

Priests

Numbers 4:16
Joshua 22:31
2 Kings 11:9
Exodus 32:26
Numbers 1:50

Levites

Deuteronomy 12:18-19
2 Chronicles 11:13-14
Romans 12:4-8

Officers in the NT church

1 Corinthians 12:28-30

In contrast to the priesthood, offices within the NT Church are according to gifts; individuals with different gifts are listed but do not form a hierarchy:

Ephesians 4:11
Philippians 1:1
1 Timothy 3:1-13

Even where there is a hint of rank, the qualities of both classes are very similar:

1 Timothy 5:17

Some elders are worthy of double honour

1 Peter 2:5,9

Comparison between verses 17 and 28 of Acts 20 shows that the same individuals could be called "elders", "overseers" or "shepherds" (pastors).

Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6

All believers are called priests

Matthew 18:1-4

Jesus Christ taught his disciples not to seek rank or status

See also

pp Mk 9:33-37

pp Lk 9:46-48

5246 captivity
5251 chains
5257 civil authorities
5263 communication
5329 guarantee
5358 judges
5435 ovens
5509 rulers
5555 stealing
5724 offspring
7376 high priest
7766 priests