Prince

"prince; chief; leader." This noun appears 129 times in biblical Hebrew. An early occurrence of nasî’ is in Gen 23:6: "Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us…." The books of Numbers and Ezekiel use the word most frequently. Elsewhere it rarely occurs.

Though the origin and meaning of nasî’ are controversial, it is clearly associated with leadership, both Israelite and non-Israelite. M. Noth proposed the idea that the nasî’ was originally a tribal representative or a "deputy, chief." Ishmael was promised to give rise to twelve "princes" (Gen 17:20; cf. Gen 25:16); the Midianites had "princes" (Num 25:18), as well as the Amorites (Josh 13:21), the peoples of the sea (Ezek 26:16), Kedar (Ezek 27:21), Egypt (Ezek 30:13), and Edom (Ezek 32:29). Also Israel had her "princes" ("rulers"): "… on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses" (Exod 16:22). The "princes" ("leaders") of Israel did not only participate in the civil leadership; they were also regarded as pillars in Israelite religious life, the upholders of the covenantal way of life: "And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them" (Exod 34:31; cf. Josh 22:30). Hence, Israel was to obey her "leaders": "Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people" (Exod 22:28).

The Septuagint translation is archon ("ruler; lord; prince; authority; official"), and the kjv has these translations: "prince; captain; chief; ruler."

Another noun, nesî’îm, is related to nasî’. The word, which is found 4 times, means "clouds": "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain" (Prov 25:14; cf. Psa 135:7; Jer 10:13; Jer 51:16).

"to lift up, carry." This verb appears 654 times in the Old Testament; once in Gen 44:1: "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry…."

primarily an adjective signifying "originating, beginning," is used as a noun, denoting "a founder, author, prince or leader," Act 3:15, "Prince" (marg., "Author"); Act 5:31; see AUTHOR, No. 2.

the present participle of the verb archo, "to rule;" denotes "a ruler, a prince." It is used as follows ("p" denoting "prince," or "princes;" "r," "ruler" or "rulers"): (a) of Christ, as "the Ruler (AV, Prince) of the kings of the earth," Rev 1:5; (b) of rulers of nations, Mat 20:25, RV, "r," AV, "p;" Act 4:26, "r;" Act 7:27, "r;" Act 7:35, "r" (twice); (c) of judges and magistrates, Act 16:19, "r;" Rom 13:3, "r;" (d) of members of the Sanhedrin, Luk 14:1, RV, "r" (AV, "chief"); Luk 23:13, Luk 23:35, "r;" so Luk 24:20, Joh 3:1, Joh 7:26, Joh 7:48, Joh 12:42, RV, "r" (AV, "chief r."); "r" in Act 3:17, Act 4:5, Act 4:8, Act 13:27, Act 14:5; (e) of rulers of synagogues, Mat 9:18, Mat 9:23, "r;" so Luk 8:41, Luk 18:18; (f) of the Devil, as "prince" of this world, Joh 12:31, Joh 14:30, Joh 16:11; of the power of the air, Eph 2:2, "the air" being that sphere in which the inhabitants of the world live and which, through the rebellious and godless condition of humanity, constitutes the seat of his authority; (g) of Beelzebub, the "prince" of the demons, Mat 9:24, Mat 12:24, Mar 3:22, Luk 11:15. See CHIEF, B, No. 10.

"a leader, ruler," is translated "princes" (i.e., leaders) in Mat 2:6, see GOVERNOR, A, No. 1.

Note: For megistan, Rev 6:15, Rev 18:23, RV, "princes," see LORD, No. 3.