Keraia
Lexicon

πρεσβύτερος

presbuteroselder: ElderHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentNoun66 occurrences13 books66 verses

Definition

πρέσβυς, -εως, ὁ poët. form of πρεσβύτης (which see),

[in LXX (= πρεσβευτής, an ambassador): Numbers 21:20 (21), al. (מֲלְאָךְ), Isaiah 13:8; 57:9 (צִיר), 1Ma.9.70, al. ;]

an old man.

Compar.,

πρεσβύτερος, -α, -ον,

[in LXX chiefly for זָקֵן ;]

1. of age, elder: ὁ νἱὸς ὁ π., Luke 15:25; as subst., opposite to νεανίσκοι, Acts 2:17; to νεώτερος, 1 Timothy 5:1-2; of the religious leaders of the past, Matthew 15:2, Mark 7:3, 5, Hebrews 11:2 (= οἱ πατέρες, Hebrews 1:1).

2. Of dignity, rank or office (as found in π. and Inscr. of civil and religious offices, including priesthood, in Asia Minor and in Egypt; see Deiss., BS, 154 ff., 233 If.; LAE, 373);

(a) among Jews: Matthew 16:21; 26:47, 57; 27:3, 12; 27:20, 41; 28:12, Mark 8:31; 11:27; 14:43, 53; 15:1, Luke 7:3; 9:22; 20:1; 22:52, John 8:9, Acts 4:5, 8; 4:23; 6:12; 23:14; 24:1; τ. Ἰουνδαίων, Acts 25:15; τ. λαοῦ, Matthew 21:23; 26:3; 27:1;

(b) among Christians: Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2, 4; 15:6, 22-23; 16:4; 21:18, 1 Timothy 5:17; 5:19, Titus 1:5, 2 John 1, 3 John 1, 1 Peter 5:1; 5:5; τ. ἐκκλησίας, Acts 20:17, James 5:14;

(with) in the visions of the Apocalypse: Revelation 4:4, 10; 5:5-6, 8; 5:11, 14; 7:11, 13; 11:16; 14:3; 19:4.

(On the NT use of this word and its relation to ἐπίσκοπος (which see), cf. Lft., Phi., 93 ff., 189 ff.; CGT, Past. Epp., lvi ff.)

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as πρεσβύτερος:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

66 total
  1. 1 Peter 5:1Πρεσβυτέρους · [the] elders
    As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:
  2. 1 Peter 5:5πρεσβυτέροις · to [your] elders
    Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
  3. 2 John 1:1πρεσβύτερος · elder
    The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—
  4. 3 John 1:1πρεσβύτερος · elder
    The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:
  5. Revelation 4:4πρεσβυτέρους · elders
    Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
  6. Revelation 4:10πρεσβύτεροι · elders
    …the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
  7. Revelation 5:5πρεσβυτέρων · elders
    Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
  8. Revelation 5:6πρεσβυτέρων · elders
    Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
  9. Revelation 5:8πρεσβύτεροι · elders
    When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
  10. Revelation 5:11πρεσβυτέρων · elders
    Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
  11. Revelation 5:14πρεσβύτεροι · elders
    And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
  12. Revelation 7:11πρεσβυτέρων · elders
    And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
  13. Revelation 7:13πρεσβυτέρων · elders
    Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
  14. Revelation 11:16πρεσβύτεροι · elders
    And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,
  15. Revelation 14:3πρεσβυτέρων · elders
    And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
  16. Revelation 19:4πρεσβύτεροι · elders
    And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!”