Authority

1. exousia
2. epitage
3. huperoche
4. dunastes

1. exousiazo
2. katexousiazo
3. authenteo

exousia denotes "authority" (from the impersonal verb exesti, "it is lawful"). From the meaning of "leave or permission," or liberty of doing as one pleases, it passed to that of "the ability or strength with which one is endued," then to that of the "power of authority," the right to exercise power, e.g., Matt_9:6; Matt_21:23; 2_Cor_10:8; or "the power of rule or government," the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others, e.g., Matt_28:18; John_17:2; Jude_1:25; Rev_12:10; Rev_17:13; more specifically of apostolic "authority," 2_Cor_10:8; 2_Cor_13:10; the "power" of judicial decision, John_19:10; of "managing domestic affairs," Mark_13:34. By metonymy, or name-change (the substitution of a suggestive word for the name of the thing meant), it stands for "that which is subject to authority or rule," Luke_4:6 (RV, "authority," for the AV "power"); or, as with the English "authority," "one who possesses authority, a ruler, magistrate," Rom_13:1-3; Luke_12:11; Titus_3:1; or "a spiritual potentate," e.g., Eph_3:10; Eph_6:12; Col_1:16; Col_2:10,15; 1_Pet_3:22. The RV usually translates it "authority."

In 1_Cor_11:10 it is used of the veil with which a woman is required to cover herself in an assembly or church, as a sign of the Lord's "authority" over the church. See JURISDICTION, LIBERTY, POWER, RIGHT, STRENGTH.

See also : exousia in other topics

epitage an injunction (from epi, "upon," tasso, "to order"), is once rendered "authority," Titus_2:15 (RV, marg., "commandment"). See COMMANDMENT.

Note: The corresponding verb is epitasso, "to command." See COMMAND.

See also : epitage in other topics

huperoche primarily, "a projection, eminence," as a mountain peak, hence, metaphorically, "pre-eminence, superiority, excellency," is once rendered "authority," 1_Tim_2:2, AV (marg., "eminent place"), RV, "high place," of the position of magistrates; in 1_Cor_2:1, "excellency" (of speech). Cp. huperecho, "to surpass." See EXCELLENCY.

See also : huperoche in other topics

dunastes akin to dunamis, "power," (Eng., "dynasty,") signifies "a potentate, a high officer;" in Acts_8:27, of a high officer, it is rendered "of great authority;" in Luke_1:52, RV, "princes, (AV, "the mighty"); in 1_Tim_6:15 it is said of God ("Potentate"). See MIGHTY, POTENTATE.

exousiazo akin to exousia, signifies "to exercise power," Luke_22:25; 1_Cor_6:12; 1_Cor_7:4 (twice). See POWER.

See also : exousiazo in other topics

katexousiazo kata, "down," intensive, and exousiazo, "to exercise authority upon," is used in Matt_20:25; Mark_10:42.

authenteo from autos, "self," and a lost noun hentes, probably signifying working (Eng., "authentic"), "to execise authority on one's own account, to domineer over," is used in 1_Tim_2:12, AV, "to usurp authority," RV, "to have dominion." In the earlier usage of the word it signified one who with his own hand killed either others or himself. Later it came to denote one who acts on his own "authority;" hence, "to exercise authority, dominion." See DOMINION.