rule, reign, ruler, prefect, official, leader

Definition

The term “ruler” is a general reference to a person who has authority over other people, such as a leader of a country, kingdom, or religious group. A ruler is one who “rules,” and his authority is his “rule.”

• In the Old Testament, a king was sometimes referred to generally as a “ruler,” as in the phrase “appointed him ruler over Israel.”
• God was referred to as the ultimate ruler, who rules over all other rulers.
• In the New Testament, the leader of a synagogue was called a “ruler.”
• Another type of ruler in the New Testament was a “governor.”
• Depending on the context, “ruler” could be translated as “leader” or “person who has authority over.”
• The action to “rule” means to “lead” to “have authority over.” It means the same thing as “reign” when it refers to the ruling of a king.

(See also: authority, governor, king, synagogue)

Bible References

• Acts 3:17-18
• Acts 7:35-37
• Luke 12:11
• Luke 23:35
• Mark 10:42
• Matthew 9:32-34
• Matthew 20:25
• Titus 3:1

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0995, H1166, H1167, H1404, H2708, H2710, H3027, H3548, H3920, H4043, H4410, H4427, H4428, H4438, H4467, H4474, H4475, H4623, H4910, H4941, H5057, H5065, H5387, H5401, H5461, H5715, H6113, H6213, H6485, H6957, H7101, H7218, H7287, H7300, H7336, H7786, H7860, H7980, H7981, H7985, H7989, H7990, H8199, H8269, H8323, H8451, G07460, G07520, G07550, G07570, G07580, G09320, G09360, G10180, G12030, G12990, G17780, G17850, G18490, G22320, G22330, G25250, G25830, G28880, G29610, G35450, G38410, G41650, G41730, G42910