Prince

VIEW:27 DATA:01-04-2020

PRINCE.—This is the tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of a considerable number of Heb. and Gr. words, expressing different shades of meaning, e.g. ‘chieftain,’ ‘ruler,’ ‘king,’ ‘governor,’ ‘noble,’ ‘deputy.’ The main terms are 1. sar, ‘one who has authority or bears rule.’ It is used of rulers (Isa_21:6, Num_21:18 etc.), of royal officials (Gen_12:15, 2Ki_24:12 etc.), of leaders in war (1Sa_22:2), of tribal chieftains (e.g. Philistines, 1Sa_18:30), of the chief butler and baker (Gen_40:2; Gen_40:16), of the keeper of prison (Gen_39:21), of the taskmaster (Exo_1:11), of the prince of the eunuchs (Dan_1:7). It came later to be applied to the guardian angels of the nations (Dan_10:13; Dan_10:20-21), to Michael the archangel (Dan_12:1). It is the most general term for prince, and occurs in the fem, form sârâh, ‘princess,’ used of the wives of Solomon (1Ki_11:3), and also of Jerusalem ‘princess among the provinces’ (Lam_1:1), and it is translated ‘ladies’ in Jdg_5:29 and ‘queens’ in Isa_49:23.
2. nâgîd, ‘one who is high, conspicuous, outstanding.’ It is applied to the governor of the palace (2Ch_28:7), the keeper of the treasury (1Ch_26:24), the chief of the Temple (1Ch_9:11, 2Ch_31:13); also to the chief of a tribe (2Ch_19:11), the son of a king (2Ch_11:22), the king himself (1Sa_25:30), the high priest (Dan_9:25), and is occasionally in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] translated ‘captain.’
3. nâsî’, ‘one lifted up,’ is applied to chiefs of tribes, princes of Ishmael (Gen_17:20), to Abraham (Gen_23:6), to Shechem (Gen_34:2), to Sheshbazzar (Ezr_1:8). It is often used of the heads of the Israelitic tribes, and translated ‘ruler’ in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] . The word is frequently in Ezekiel used of kings of Judah and foreign princes, and is also applied to the future head of the ideal State (Gen_34:24 etc.).
4. nâdîb, ‘willing,’ ‘a volunteer,’ ‘generous,’ ‘noble,’ generally found in plur. and often translated ‘nobles,’ used of those of noble or princely birth (1Sa_2:8, Psa_47:9; Psa_107:40 etc.).
Other less frequent terms are nâsîk ‘installed,’ partĕmîm ‘leading men,’ qâtsîn ‘judge,’ shâlîsh ‘officer,’ ‘captain,’ sĕgânîm ‘deputies.’ In Dan_3:2-3; Dan_3:27; Dan_6:2; Dan_6:4; Dan_6:7, the ‘princes’ of AV [Note: Authorized Version.] are Persian satraps, while in the names Rabshakeh, Rabsaris the prefix rab signifies ‘chief,’ as also the proper name Rezon (1Ki_11:23), which occurs as a common noun (râzôn) in Pro_14:28. We may also note that in Job_12:19 the word ‘priests’ (kôhănîm) is wrongly rendered ‘princes,’ and in Psa_68:31 the word translated ‘princes’ is not found in any other passage, the text being likely corrupt.
The NT terms are 1. archçgos, applied to Christ ‘the Prince (author) of life’ (Act_3:15), ‘Prince and Saviour’ (Act_5:31); so in Heb_2:10 Jesus is ‘the author (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘captain’) of salvation’ and in Heb_12:2 the ‘author and finisher of our faith.’ 2. archôn, used of Beelzebub (Mat_9:34; Mat_12:24, Mar_3:22), of the princes of the Gentiles (Mat_20:25), the princes of this world (1Co_2:6; 1Co_2:8), prince of the power of the air (Eph_2:2), the Prince of the kings of the earth (Rev_1:5). 3. hçgemôn, used of Bethlehem, ‘not least among the princes of Judah’ (Mat_2:6).
W. F. Boyd.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909

Prince. The only special uses of the word "prince" are ? "Princes of provinces," 1Ki_20:14, who were probably local governors or magistrates. The "princes" mentioned in Dan_6:1, (see Est_1:1, were the predecessors of the satraps of Darius Hystaspes. The word "princess" is seldom used in the Bible, but the persons to which it alludes ? "daughters of kings" are frequently mentioned.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863

prins: This word occurs quite frequently in our English Bible, mostly in the Old Testament. While it is never used to denote royal parentage (compare 1Ch_29:24), it often indicates actual royal or ruling power, together with royal dignity and authority. As a rule, the name is given to human beings; in a few instances it is applied to God and Christ, the angels and the devil.
In Mat_2:6 the word rendered ?princes? might be translated ?princely cities?; at least, this seems to be implied. Here the term ἡγεμών, hēgemṓn, ?leader,? ?ruler,? ?prince,? is used, undoubtedly to hint at the fact that Bethlehem was the native city of a great prince. In the other New Testament passages the word ἄρχων, árchōn, ?a potentate,? ?a person in authority,? ?a magistrate,? occurs most frequently (compare Mat_9:34; Mat_12:24; Mat_20:25 (the Revised Version (British and American) ?ruler?); Mar_3:22; Joh_12:31; Joh_14:30; Joh_16:11; 1Co_2:6, 1Co_2:8 the King James Version; Eph_2:2; Rev_1:5 (the Revised Version (British and American) ?ruler?)). In most of these instances the term ?prince? refers to the devil.
In Act_3:15; Act_5:31, the word ἀρχηγός, archēgós, ?leader,? is employed referring to Christ as the author of life and salvation (compare Heb_12:2, where the term archēgos is rendered ?author? (Revised Version) or ?captain? (Revised Version margin)).
The Old Testament contains a number of different words mostly rendered ?prince? or ?princes? in the English Versions of the Bible.
(1) שׂר, sar: In Jos_5:14 the mysterious armed stranger seen by Joshua near Jericho calls himself the ?prince of the host of Yahweh?: a high military title applied to a superhuman being. In Isa_9:6, the name is given to the child representing the future Messiah. The term ?Prince of Peace? denotes the eminent position and the peaceful reign of the Messianic king: the highest human title in its most ideal sense. Dan_8:11 : here, again, as in Jos_5:14, occurs the phrase ?prince of the host.? In Dan_8:25 ?the prince of princes? refers to God Himself: the highest human title in its absolute sense applied to God. Dan_10:21 : ?Michael your prince.? Michael the archangel is here called the prince of the Jewish people. He is the princely representative of God's people in the sight of God, a royal title suggesting high power and alliance with God in the great struggle going on between Him and the powers of darkness. Dan_12:1 : here Michael is called ?the great prince? who standeth for the children of Israel; supplementing Dan_10:21. In Dan_10:13 : ?the prince of the kingdom of Persia? (compare Dan_10:20, ?the prince of Persia,? ?the prince of Greece?), the expression is used in the same general sense as in Dan_10:21. Each individual nation is represented as guided by a spiritual being that may or may not be an ally of God in His combat with the devil. In the majority of cases, though, the term sar is applied (a) to men exercising royal or ruling power: Pro_8:16 : ?By me princes (margin ?or rulers?) rule? Isa_32:1 : ?Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.? Judicial power is included (compare Exo_2:14 : ?Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?? and Psa_148:11 : ?princes and all judges of the earth?). In some passages the word sar, having been rendered ?prince,? stands for ?chief?; so Jdg_7:25 : ?They took the two princes of Midian? (compare Jdg_8:14; 1Sa_29:4; 2Sa_10:3, etc.). (b) To royal officers of a high rank: Gen_12:15 : ?the princes of Pharaoh? (compare 2Ki_24:14 : ?Jerus and all the princes?; 1Ch_29:24; 2Ch_24:23; Jer_36:21; Jer_52:10; Hos_5:10, etc.). ?Ambassadors? (Jer_36:14); ?governors? (1Ki_20:14 : ?By the young men (margin ?or, servants?) of the princes of the provinces?; compare Est_1:3, Est_1:14, ?the seven princes?); ?the chief of the eunuchs? (Dan_1:7); a ?quartermaster? (Jer_51:59 : ?Seraiah was chief chamberlain? (margin ?or, quartermaster?)). The King James Version renders it ?a quiet prince,? i.e. a prince having rest, instead of procuring rest (מנוּחה שׂר, sar menūḥāh, ?a sar of rest?). In post-exilic times: Ezr_9:1 : ?The princes drew near unto me.? They were the political leaders of the people (compare Ezr_10:8 : ?the princes and the elders?; Neh_9:38 : ?our princes, our Levites, and our priests?; Neh_11:1 : ?The princes of the people dwelt in Jerus?; Neh_12:31 : ?the princes of Judah?). Of course, they were all subject to the authority of the Persian kings. (c) To the priesthood: 1Ch_24:5 : ?princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God? (of Isa_43:28). (d) On account of great achievements: 2Sa_3:38 : ?Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?? - an honorary title. Generally speaking, a prince is a wealthy man (compare Job_34:19 : ?That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor?), and he is a prominent man embodying true, although mortal, manhood (compare Psa_82:7 : ?Nevertheless ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes).
(2) נשׂיא, nāsı̄': usually derived from נשׂא, nāsā', ?to lift,? hence, ?exalted?; otherwise: a ?speaker.? (a) An honorary title (compare Gen_23:6 : ?Thou art a prince of God among us.? The distinction is conferred upon Abraham by the children of Heth). (b) A name given to the heads of the Israelite tribes, families and fathers' houses: Num_3:24 : ?the prince of the fathers' house of the Gershonites? (compare Num_3:30, Num_3:35); Num_3:32 : ?Eleazar ... shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary?; Num_4:34 : ?the princes of the congregation.? They seem to be identical with the ?rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens? (compare Exo_18:21; Num_16:2). Num_7:2 : ?the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses ... the princes of the tribes? (compare Num_17:2, Num_17:6; Num_34:18; Jos_22:14; 1Ch_4:38). (c) Equivalent to chief or king: Gen_17:20 : ?Twelve princes shall he beget? (compare Gen_25:16); Gen_34:2 : ?Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land?; Num_25:18 : ?Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian? (compare Jos_13:21); 1Ki_11:34 : ?I will make him prince all the days of his life.? This was said of Solomon, which shows the term equivalent to king. Of special interest is the use of the word nāsı̄' in Ezekiel. The name is given to the Jewish king (compare Eze_12:10 : ?This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem?). Then, again, it is applied to the future theocratic king (compare Eze_34:24; Eze_37:25, etc., and especially chapters 45; 46). It is also used of foreign potentates and high officers (compare Eze_26:16 : ?the princes of the sea?; Eze_28:2 : ?the prince of Tyre?; Eze_30:13 : ?a prince from the land of Egypt?); Eze_32:29 : ?Edom, her kings and all her princes?; and, likewise, of high Jewish officers (Eze_21:12). (d) A title bestowed upon Sheshbazzar (Ezr_1:8).
(3) נדיב, nādhı̄bh: 1Sa_2:8 : ?To make them sit with princes? (compare Psa_113:8). The original meaning of the term is willing or obliging; then generous (?liberal?; compare Pro_19:6 : ?Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man?; yet, it might safely be rendered here ?prince?, margin) or noble-minded; a gentleman, a nobleman, a person of rank, a prince. Job_12:21 : ?He poureth contempt upon princes? (compare Psa_107:40); Job_21:28 : ?Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?? The context here suggests the thought of a wicked prince, a tyrant. Psa_47:9 : ?The princes of the peoples are gathered together? (compare Psa_118:9; Psa_146:3; Pro_17:7; Pro_25:7; Son_7:1).
(4) נגיד, nāghı̄dh: According to Gesenius, this term denotes originally either a high-minded person (compare the preceding word, nādhı̄bh) or a speaker, a spokesman; then a prince, a king. 1Sa_13:14 : ?Yahweh hath appointed him to be prince over his people? (compare 2Sa_5:2 : ?Thou shalt be prince (the Revised Version margin ?leader?) over Israel?; 2Sa_6:21; 2Sa_7:8; 1Ki_1:35; 1Ki_14:7; 1Ki_16:2; Job_29:9; Job_31:37; Psa_76:12; Pro_28:16; Eze_28:2 : ?prince of Tyre?; Dan_9:25 : ?the anointed one, the prince,? the King James Version the ?Messiah the Prince?; Dan_9:26 : ?the prince that shall come? (the Roman emperor?); Dan_11:22 : ?the prince of the covenant? (either a high priest or some Egyptian king, Ptolemeus Philometor?).
(5), (6) רזון, rāzōn, and רוזן, rōzēn, ?a high official,? ?a prince,? usually associated with the word ?king? or ?judge.? Pro_14:28 : ?In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince? (rāzōn); Jdg_5:3 : ?Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes? (rōzenı̄m); Pro_8:15 : ?By me kings reign, and princes (rōzenı̄m) decree justice? (compare Pro_31:4; Hab_1:10); Isa_40:23 : ?that bringeth princes (rōzenı̄m) to nothing; that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.?
(7) נסך, nāṣı̄kh, derived from נסך, nāṣakh, ?to install a king? (compare Psa_2:6); hence, a prince: Jos_13:21 : ?the princes of Sihon? (compare Psa_83:11); Eze_32:30 : ?the princes of the north?; Mic_5:5 : the Revised Version (British and American) ?principal men,? the Revised Version margin ?princes among men?; Dan_11:8 : the Revised Version (British and American) ?molten images,? the Revised Version margin ?princes.?
(8) קצין, ḳācı̄n, ?a judge,? ?a military leader,? ?a prince?; Dan_11:18 : ?A prince (the Revised Version margin ?captain?) shall cause the reproach ... to cease? (probably a Roman consul; a Roman general?).
(9) שׁלישׁ, shālı̄sh: The usual explanation, ?one of the three men on a war-chariot? is highly improbable; Gesenius suggests that it is a loan-word, and renders it ?hero.? Eze_23:15 : ?All of them princes to look upon? (?picked men,? Gesenius).
(10) חשׁמנּים, ḥashmannı̄m: Psa_68:31 : ?Princes shall come out of Egypt.? Septuagint renders it πρέσβεις, présbeis, ?ambassadors,? Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) legati. But the meaning is uncertain. See also GOVERNOR, 1, (8).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.

Prince
is the rendering of several Heb. and Gr. words in the A. V. Sar, שִׂר (from שָׂרִר, to rule, to have dominion; Sept. ἄρχων; Vulg. princts), the chief of any class, the master of a company, a prince or noble; used of Pharaoh's chief butler and baker (Gen_40:2 sq.); of the taskmasters set over the Israelites in Egypt (Exo_1:11); even of chief herdsmen (Gen_47:6). It is frequently used for military commanders (Exo_18:21 [“rulers”]; 2Ki_1:9 [“captain”]; Isa_3:3, etc.), and or princes both supreme and subordinate (1Sa_29:3; Job_29:1; Job_29:9; Isa_49:7; Jer_51:59, etc.). In Dan_8:11 God is called שִׂר הִצָּבָ (Sar hatstaba), Prince of the host; and in Dan_8:25 the title שָׁרִים שָׂר(Sar sarim), Prince of princes, is applied to the Messiah. The “princes of the provinces” (הִמְּדִינוֹת שָׁרֵו, sarey ham-medinoth, 1Ki_20:14) were probably the district magistrates who had taken refire in Samaria during the invasion of Benhadad, and their “young men” were their attendants, παιδάρια, pedisseqiui (Thenius, Ewall. Gesch. 3, 495). Josephus savs, υἱοὶ τῶν ἡγεμόνων (Ant. 8:14, 2).
There is a peculiar sense in which the term “prince” is used by the prophet Daniel: thus, “Prince of the kingdom of Persia” (Dan_10:13), “Michael your prince” (Dan_10:21). In these passages the term probably means a tutelary angel; and the doctrine of tutelary angels of different countries seems to be countenanced by several passages of Scripture (Zec_3:1; Zec_6:5; Jud_1:9; Rev_12:7). Michael and Gabriel were probably the tutelary angels of the Jews. These names do not occur in any books of the Old Test. that were written before the captivity; and it is suggested by some that they were borrowed from the Chaldaeans, with whom and the Persians the doctrine of the general administration and superintendence of angels over empires and provinces was commonly received. SEE ANGEL.
2. Nagid, נָגִיד: (from, נָגִדto be in front, to precede; Sept. ἄρχων or ἡγούμενος; Vulg. dux), one who has the precedence, a leader, or chief, used of persons set over any undertaking, superintending any trust, or invested with supreme power (1Ki_14:7; Psalm 76:13; 1Ch_26:24 [“ruler”]; 1Sa_9:16 [“captain”], etc.). In Dan_9:25 it is applied to the Messiah; and in Dan_11:22 to Ptolemy Philometor, king of Egypt.
3. Nadib, נָדִיב(from נָדִב, which in Hithp. signifies to volunteer, to offer voluntarily or spontaneously; chiefly in poetry; Sept. ἄρχων; Vulg. princeps), generous, noble-minded, noble by birth (1Sa_2:8; Psa_107:40; Psa_113:8; Psa_118:9; Pro_27:7, etc.). This word is the converse of the preceding; נָגִיד means primarily a chief, and derivatively what is morally noble, excellent (Pro_8:6); נדיב means primarily what is morally noble, and derivatively one who is noble by birth or position.
4. Nasi, נָשִׂיץ(from נָשָׂץ, to lift up, Niph. to be elevated; Sept. ἄρχων, ἡγούμενος, ἡγεμών, βασιλεύς Vulg. princeps, dux), one exalted; used as a general term for princes, including kings (1Ki_11:24; Eze_12:10, etc.), heads of tribes or families (Num_1:44; Num_3:24 [A. V. “chief”]; Num_7:10; Num_34:18; Gen_17:20; 1Ch_7:40, etc.). In the A.V. it is often rendered “ruler” or “captain.” In Gen_23:6 Abraham is addressed by the sons of Heth as נָשִׂיץ אֵֹלהִים(nasi Elohim), a prince of God, i.e. constituted, and consequently protected, by God [A.V. “mighty prince”]. This word appears on the coins of Judas Maccableus (Gesenius, Thesaur. p. 917).
5. Nasik, נָסִיךְ(from נָסִךְ, to pour out, anoint; Sept. ἄρχων; Vulg.princeps; Psa_83:11; Eze_32:30; Dan_11:5; “duke,” Jos_13:8; “principal,” Mic_5:5).
6. Katsin, קָצִין(from קָצָה, to cut, to decide; Sept. ἀρχηγός, ἄρχων; Vulg. princeps; Pro_25:15; Dan_11:18; Mic_3:1; Mic_3:9; elsewhere “captain,” “guide,” “ruler”).
7. Rab, רִב(usually an adj. great; Sept. ἄρχων, ἡγεμών; Vulg. optimus); only occasional; but used in compounds, e.g. Rab-mag, Rab-saris (q.v.). So its Chald. reduplicature Rabreban, רִבְרְבָן, in the plur. (Dan_5:2-3; elsewhere “lords”).
8. Rozen, רֹזֵן(participle of רָזִן, to rule; Sept. (σατράπης, δυνάστης; Vulg. princeps, legum conditor), a poetical word (Jdg_5:3; Pro_8:15; Pro_31:4; Isa_40:23; Hab_1:10 “ruller,” Psa_2:2).
9. Shalish, שָׁלִישׁ(apparently from שָלוֹשׁ, three; only Eze_23:13; elsewhere “captain” [q.v.]).
10. Achashdarpenaya (Chald. plur. אֲחִשְׁדִּרְפְּנִיָּ‹, Dan_3:2; Dan_3:27; Dan_6:1-7; Sept.; ὕρατοι), a Persian word. Those mentioned in Dan_6:1 (see Esther 1, 1) were the predecessors, either in fact or in place, of the satraps of Darius Hystaspis (Herod. 3, 89). SEE SATRAP.
11. Chashmannim, חִשְׁמִנִּים(plur. literally rich, only in Psa_68:13).
12. Segen, סֶגֶן(a Persian word, used only in the plur. Isaiah 11:25; elsewhere “rulers”).
13. Partemim, only in the plur. פִּרְתְּמִים(another Persian word, Dan_1:3; elsewhere “rulers”).
14. ῎Αρχων, which in the Sept. appears as the rendering of all the Hebrew words above cited, in the New Test. is used of earthly princes (Mat_20:25; 1Co_2:6), of Jesus Christ (Rev_1:5), and of Satan (Mat_9:34; Mat_12:24; Mark 3, 22; Joh_12:31; Joh_14:30; Joh_16:11; Eph_2:2). On the phrase “prince of the power of the air” in this last passage, see AIR.
15. Α᾿ρχηγός, which in Theodotion is the rendering of נָשִׂיא(Num_13:3; Num_16:2); and in the Sept. is the rendering of שִׂר(Judges 5, 15; Nehemiah 2, 9; Isa_30:4), in the New Test. is applied only to our Lord (Act_3:15; Act_5:31; Heb_2:10 [A. V. “captain”]; Heb_12:2 [A. V. “author”]).
16. ῾Ηγεμών is used (Mat_2:6) in a general sense for a chief or ruler. SEE GOVERNOR; SEE KING; SEE RULER.

CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.

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