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