Greek word · G2963

κυριότης

kyriotēs

lordship

Lordship, dominion. The state of being lord, and the bearer of that lordship. It is rare and built on kyrios ('lord').

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κυριότης, -ητος, ἡ

(κύριος),

lordship, dominion: Ephesians 1:21, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8; pl., Colossians 1:16 (cf. Lft., Col; Mayor, Ju., in ll.; DB, i, 616 f.).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ephesians 1:21

Range of meaning

Lordship, dominion. The state of being lord, and the bearer of that lordship. It is rare and built on kyrios ('lord').

Against the English

'Dominion' (KJV, BSB, WEB) or 'lordship' (YLT). 'Lordship' keeps the link to kyrios that the original hearers would have caught.

Used elsewhere in the period

Col 1:16 has 'thrones or dominions (kyriotētes) or rulers or authorities', all created through Christ. 2 Pet 2:10 and Jude 8 speak of despising 'lordship' or 'authority', probably angelic glory. 2 Enoch 20:1 includes 'lordships' among the heavenly ranks.

From the study of Jude 1:8

Range of meaning

The position or power of a lord: lordship, dominion. In the plural it can name a rank of angelic powers ('dominions', Col 1:16; cf. Eph 1:21).

Against the English

KJV 'dominion'; most modern versions 'authority'; YLT 'lordship' (closest to the form of the word).

How it drifted

'Authority' in English is open-ended, so readers easily fill it with church leaders, government or parents. The Greek is built on kyrios, 'Lord'. In Jude, 'Lord' is Jesus (v. 4) and God (vv. 5, 9, 14).

Used elsewhere in the period

Didache 4:1 (about AD 100): a teacher is to be honoured as the Lord, 'for where lordship (kyriotēs) is spoken of, there the Lord is', which is the abstract noun used for the Lord's own authority. 2 Pet 2:10, which reworks Jude, has 'despise lordship (kyriotētos)' and then mentions the Lord in 2:9 and 2:1.

From the study of 2 Peter 2:10

Range of meaning

An abstract noun, 'lordship, dominion, the status of being lord', built on kyrios. In the plural it names ranks of angelic powers ('dominions', Col 1:16; Eph 1:21). In the singular it can mean the lordship of the Lord himself.

Against the English

KJV 'government' and 'despise government' now suggest the state and politics. BSB, WEB, ESV and NIV 'authority' is more neutral but still sounds like human authority in general. YLT 'lordship' is closest to the Greek.

How it drifted

In 1611 'government' could mean rule or dominion in general; today it means the civil state. The Greek word has no special link to civil rulers.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jude 8 has the same pairing, 'reject kyriotēs, blaspheme doxai', which 2 Peter is very likely reworking. Didache 4:1 (c. AD 100): 'where the kyriotēs is spoken of, there the Lord is', meaning the Lord's own lordship. In Col 1:16 and Eph 1:21 the plural means angelic 'dominions'.

Where it appears

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 1:21 κυριότητος dominion

    far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

    Here: An abstract noun built on kyrios, 'lord'. It names a power that holds lordship. The irony is pointed: every 'lordship' sits below the one the church calls Lord.

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 1:16 κυριότητες dominions

    For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

    Here: Those who hold lordship (from kyrios, 'lord'). The irony is pointed: every 'lordship' was created in the one Christians call Lord.

2 Peter · 1

  1. 2 Peter 2:10 κυριότητος authority

    Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.

    Here: 'Lordship', a rare abstract noun built on kyrios, 'Lord'. In context most likely the lordship of the Lord himself (compare 2:1, 'denying the Master who bought them'). It is not civil 'government' in the modern sense.

Jude · 1

  1. Jude 1:8 κυριότητα authority

    Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.

    Here: Singular and abstract: 'lordship'. Most likely the Lord's own authority, that of the 'only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ' whom v. 4 says they deny. It probably does not mean human leaders.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.