5509 rulers
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5509 rulers

Officials who, acting as God's servants, govern others and exercise authority over them. Also the originators of the laws of their realms. In the NT, rulers are also spiritual powers.

Officials exercising authority over people

Matthew 20:25 pp Mark 10:42 See also 2 Chronicles 23:20; Psalm 2:2; Proverbs 28:2; Isaiah 16:1; Daniel 5:7; Hosea 13:10; Luke 1:52; Luke 12:11; Acts 7:27; Exodus 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

Godly rulers in foreign lands

Psalm 105:16-22; Daniel 2:48

Importance of submitting to civil authorities

Romans 13:3; Titus 3:1

Examples of rulers

Rulers of areas apart from Israel

Genesis 25:16; Genesis 34:2; Genesis 41:41; Genesis 45:8; 2 Chronicles 32:31; Ezekiel 28:2; Ezekiel 31:11; Daniel 9:1; Acts 7:10,18

The five Philistine rulers

Joshua 13:3 The Hebrew word translated “rulers” is related to the word “tyrant” and is only used of Philistines rulers. See also Judges 3:3; Judges 15:11; Judges 16:18; 1 Samuel 5:8; Samuel 6:16; Samuel 29:2; 1 Chronicles 12:19

The king of Israel is referred to as a ruler

2 Samuel 5:1-2 pp 1 Chronicles 11:1-2 See also 1 Kings 1:34-35; Kings 11:34; 1 Chronicles 5:2; Micah 5:1

Other rulers of Israel (or parts of it)

1 Kings 22:26 pp 2 Chronicles 18:25; Nehemiah 3:9; Isaiah 1:23; Jeremiah 30:21; Micah 3:1; Matthew 2:6; Luke 18:18

One of three groups that made up the Sanhedrin

Acts 4:5 See also Luke 23:13; Luke 24:20; John 7:48; Acts 4:8; Acts 13:27

Jesus Christ is described as a ruler

Revelation 1:5 See also Matthew 2:6; Micah 5:2; Revelation 3:14

God the Father is also called a ruler

1 Timothy 6:15

A ruler as the originator of the laws of his realm

Proverbs 8:15

Rulers are appointed by God

Romans 13:1-2 See also 2 Samuel 6:21; Samuel 7:7-8 pp 1 Chronicles 17:6-7; 1 Kings 11:34; Psalm 2:7 fn; Isaiah 44:28; Jeremiah 27:6; Daniel 2:38; Daniel 4:17; John 19:11; Romans 9:17; Exodus 9:16

Rulers are God's servants

Romans 13:4 See also Isaiah 45:1; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 43:10

Rulers are God's representatives

Psalm 58:1 The Hebrew word translated “rulers” literally means “gods” a title given to those whose position called for them to act as earthly representatives of God's heavenly court. See also Psalm 82:1; John 10:34-35; Psalm 82:6; Acts 23:5; Exodus 22:28

Rulers as spiritual powers

Ephesians 3:10 See also Ephesians 1:21 In the NT, rulers are spiritual powers, some of whom exercise a Satanic authority; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16

Synagogue rulers

Mark 5:22 pp Matthew 9:18 pp Luke 8:41 The ruler of a synagogue looked after the building and supervised the worship in it. See also Mark 5:35-36 pp Luke 8:49-50; Mark 5:38; Luke 13:14; Acts 13:15; Acts 18:8,17

See also

5219  authority, human institutions
5257  civil authorities
5326  government
5361  justice, human
5366  king
5434  officer
5457  power, human
5459  prince
5464  proconsul
7456  synagogue
7733  leaders
8482  spiritual warfare



Top of Page
Top of Page






Topical Bible

Bible Hub