"to be lord over, to be possessed of, mastery over, Rom. 6:9, 14; 7:1; 14:9; 2 Cor. 1:24; 1 Tim. 6:15; to exercise control over, Lk. 22:25*"
Definition and meaning
to be lord over, to be possessed of, mastery over, Rom. 6:9, 14; 7:1; 14:9; 2 Cor. 1:24; 1 Tim. 6:15; to exercise control over, Lk. 22:25*
In the original Greek the word is written: κυριεύω
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
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 kyrieuo (G2961) across the King James Bible.
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Know ye not, brethren,(for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
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Common questions
Strong's G2961 (kyrieuo) is a Greek word that means: to be lord over, to be possessed of, mastery over, Rom. 6:9, 14; 7:1; 14:9; 2 Cor. 1:24; 1 Tim. 6:15; to exercise control over, Lk. 22:25* It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word kyrieuo (G2961) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2961 is kyrieuo, a Greek word defined as: to be lord over, to be possessed of, mastery over, Rom. 6:9, 14; 7:1; 14:9; 2 Cor. 1:24; 1 Tim. 6:15; to exercise control over, Lk. 22:25*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kyrieuo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.