ἄρχων

árchōn · Greek · Strong's G758 · 37 occurrences

The KJV renders 13 different Hebrew and Greek words as “chief”

What it means

a first (in rank or power)

present participle of G757 (ἄρχω);

How the KJV renders it

chief, magistrate, prince, ruler

Where that flattens a distinction

The same English word is also used for these other originals, so the distinction between them disappears in translation.

“chief”

also renders prōtos (G4413), chilíarchos (G5506), hēgéomai (G2233), ʼâb (H1), gibbôwr (H1368), nâgîyd (H5057), nâsîyʼ (H5387), pinnâh (H6438), rêʼsh (H7217), rêʼshîyth (H7225), rab (H7229), sar (H8269)

“prince”

also renders archēgós (G747), hēgemṓn (G2232), ʼăchashdarpan (H324), nâgîyd (H5057), nâdîyb (H5081), nᵉçîyk (H5257), nâsîyʼ (H5387), qâtsîyn (H7101), rab (H7227), rabrᵉbân (H7261), râzôwn (H7333), sar (H8269)

“ruler”

also renders kosmokrátōr (G2888), hēgemṓn (G2232), mâgên (H4043), nâgîyd (H5057), nâsîyʼ (H5387), qâtsîyn (H7101), rôʼsh (H7218), shilṭôwn (H7984), sar (H8269)

“magistrate”

also renders archḗ (G746), stratēgós (G4755), shᵉphaṭ (H8200)

Answers that weigh this word

Where it appears

37 occurrences in the Greek text, first 36 verses shown.

1 Corinthians 2:6 · N-GPM

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:8 · N-GPM

which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.

Acts 3:17 · N-NPM

“Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

Acts 4:5 · N-APM

In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem.

Acts 4:8 · N-VPM

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

Acts 4:26 · N-NPM

The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers plot together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’

Acts 7:27 N-ASMActs 7:35 N-ASMActs 13:27 N-NPMActs 14:5 N-DPMActs 16:19 N-APMActs 23:5 N-ASMEphesians 2:2 N-ASMJohn 3:1 N-NSMJohn 7:26 N-NPMJohn 7:48 N-GPMJohn 12:31 N-NSMJohn 12:42 N-GPMJohn 14:30 N-NSMJohn 16:11 N-NSMLuke 8:41 N-NSMLuke 11:15 N-DSMLuke 12:58 N-ASMLuke 14:1 N-GPMLuke 18:18 N-NSMLuke 23:13 N-APMLuke 23:35 N-NPMLuke 24:20 N-NPMMatthew 9:18 N-NSMMatthew 9:23 N-GSMMatthew 9:34 N-DSMMatthew 12:24 N-DSMMatthew 20:25 N-NPMMark 3:22 N-DSMRevelation 1:5 N-NSMRomans 13:3 N-NPM

Occurrences and morphology are taken from the primary Greek text, never from an English translation. Strong's Hebrew lexicon and Westminster Leningrad Codex morphology used under CC BY-SA 4.0 / CC BY 4.0 (OpenScriptures). Strong's Greek lexicon is public domain.