“Governors” in the Bible

Various words are sometimes translated in the Bible as “governor.”

In the Old Testament

1. Hebrew: נָגִיד —transliteration: nagid —meaning: a leader, ruler, prince

   This indicates a prominent, conspicuous person, whatever his capacity: as…

   • chief of the royal palace (2 Chronicles 28:7; compare 1 Kings 4:6)
   • chief of the temple (1 Chronicles 9:11; Jeremiah 20:1)
   • the leader of the Aaronites (1 Chronicles 12:27)
   • keeper of the sacred treasury (1 Chr. 26:24)
   • captain of the army (2 Chr. 13:1)
   • the king (1 Samuel 9:16)
   • the Messiah (Dan. 9:25)

2. Hebrew: נָשִׂיא —transliteration: nasiy' or nasi —meaning: one lifted up; raised; exalted —occurrences: 134 (in the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers)

   This Hebrew word was used to denote…

   • the chiefs of families (Numbers 3:24, 30, 32, 35)
   • the chiefs of tribes (2:3; 7:2; 3:32)

   These dignities appear to have been elective, not hereditary.

3. Hebrew: פֶקִיד —transliteration: pakid or paqid —meaning: an officer or magistrate, commissioner, deputy or overseer —occurrences: 13 (in Genesis, Judges, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Esther, Jeremiah)

   This Hebrew word is used of…

   • the delegate of the high priest (2 Chronicles 24:11)
   • the Levites (Neh. 11:22)
   • a military commander (2 Kings 25:19)
   • Joseph’s officers in Egypt (Genesis 41:34)

4. Hebrew: שַׁלִּיט —transliteration: shallit —meaning: one who has power, who rules; having mastery; domineering

   This word appears in Genesis 42:6; Ezra 4:20; Eccl. 8:8; Dan. 2:15; 5:29, and other verses.

   It is used of…

   • God (Daniel 4:14; 4:22; 4:29; 5:21)
   • Kings (Ezra 4:20)
   • Ruler (Daniel 2:10)
   • Captain (Daniel 2:15)
   • Impersonal It is authorized; It shall be lawful (Ezra 7:24)

5. Hebrew: אַלּוּף —transliteration: alluwph or aluph

   Used of the “dukes” of Edom (Genesis 36), and of the Jewish chiefs (Zechariah 9:7)

6. Hebrew: מָשַׁל —transliteration: mashal or moshel —meaning: one who rules, holds dominion, reigns —occurrences: 81

   Used of…

   • many classes of rulers (Genesis 3:16; 24:2; 45:8; Psalm 105:20)
   • the Messiah (Micah 5:2)
   • God (1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalm 103:19)

7. Hebrew: שַׂר —transliteration: sar —meaning: chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince —occurrences: 421

   It is used of…

   • the chief baker of Pharaoh (Genesis 40:16)
   • the chief butler (40:2, etc. See also: Genesis 47:6; Exodus 1:11; Dan. 1:7; Judges 10:18; 1 Kings 22:26; 20:15; 2 Kings 1:9; 2 Samuel 24:2)
   • angels, guardian angels (Dan. 10:13, 20-21; 12:1; 10:13; 8:25)

8. Hebrew: Pehah, whence pasha, i.e., friend of the king; adjutant; governor of a province (2 Kings 18:24; Isaiah 36:9; Jeremiah 51:57; Ezek. 23:6, 23; Dan. 3:2; Esther 3:12), or a prefect (Neh. 3:7; 5:14; Ezra 5:3; Hag. 1:1). This is a foreign word, Assyrian, which was early adopted into the Hebrew idiom (1 Kings 10:15).

9. Hebrew: סְגַן —transliteration: segan —meaning: a prefect (an apppointed chief officer, magistrate, or regional governor) —occurrences: 5

   This word is applied to the…

   • governors of the Babylonian satrapies (Dan. 3:2, 27; 6:7)
   • prefects over the Magi (2:48)
   • Provincial rulers (Jeremiah 51:23, 28, 57)
   • chiefs and rulers of the people of Jerusalem (Ezra 9:2; Neh. 2:16; 4:14, 19; 5:7, 17; 7:5; 12:40)

In the New Testament there are various Greek words sometimes translated as “governor”.

1. Greek: ἐθνάρχης —transliteration: ethnarchés or ethnarch —occurrences: 1

   This was an office distinct from military command, with considerable latitude of application (2 Corinthians 11:32).

2. Greek: ἡγεμών —transliteration: hégemón —meaning: a leader, governor —occurrences: 20

   It is used of the procurator of Judea under the Romans (Matthew 27:2).

   Compare Luke 2:2, where the verb from which the Greek word so rendered is derived is used.)

   See: Quirinius/Cyrenius—When did the Luke 2 census occur?

3. Greek: ἐπίτροπος —transliteration: epitropos —meaning: an administrator (one having authority); a steward; an appointed tutor or guardian —occurrences: 3

   So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. —Matthew 20:8 KJV

   But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. —Galatians 4:2 KJV

   And Joanna the href="/dictionary/wife.html">wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. —Luke 8:3 KJV

4. Greek: ἀρχιτρίκλινος —transliteration: architriklinos —meaning: the superintendent of a banquet; master of ceremonies at a dinner; master of the feast; headwaiter —occurrences: 3

   This is probably an intimate friend of the bridegroom who presided at the marriage banquet/feast (John 2:8-9).

5. Greek: euthunó —meaning: to make straight; guide; steer —occurrences: 2

   Latin: gubernator —meaning: a director; governor; i.e., helmsman

   Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. —James 3:4 KJV

   Compare the Legacy Standard Bible translation…

   Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills. —James 3:4 LSB

More information

• What is a Tirshatha?
• About the kings in the Bible