"to possess regal authority, be a king, reign; to rule, govern, Mt. 2:22; met. to be in force, predominate, prevail, Rom. 5:14, 17, 21; met. to be in kingly case, fare royally, 1 Cor. 4:8"
Definition and meaning
to possess regal authority, be a king, reign; to rule, govern, Mt. 2:22; met. to be in force, predominate, prevail, Rom. 5:14, 17, 21; met. to be in kingly case, fare royally, 1 Cor. 4:8
In the original Greek the word is written: βασιλεύω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of basileuo (G936) across the King James Bible.
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
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Common questions
Strong's G936 (basileuo) is a Greek word that means: to possess regal authority, be a king, reign; to rule, govern, Mt. 2:22; met. to be in force, predominate, prevail, Rom. 5:14, 17, 21; met. to be in kingly case, fare royally, 1 Cor. 4:8 It appears 18 times in the King James Bible.
The word basileuo (G936) appears 18 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G936 is basileuo, a Greek word defined as: to possess regal authority, be a king, reign; to rule, govern, Mt. 2:22; met. to be in force, predominate, prevail, Rom. 5:14, 17, 21; met. to be in k. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
basileuo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.