נָשִׂיא

From the study of Ezekiel 39:1

Range of meaning

A leader raised up over others: a tribal chieftain (Num 1–2), a clan head, or a ruler. Related to nasa', 'to lift up'. Ezekiel uses it for Judah's kings (12:10; 21:25), foreign rulers (26:16; 32:29), and the restored Israel's 'David' and civic ruler (34:24; 37:25; chs. 44–48).

Against the English

'Prince' suggests a king's son or a minor noble. Nasi' means the actual ruler or chief. The NLT's 'ruler' gets closer.

How it drifted

The older English 'prince' (Latin princeps, 'first one, ruler') once meant the reigning sovereign. Modern English narrowed it to a royal heir.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in the Pentateuch for tribal leaders. At Qumran the messianic 'Prince of the Congregation' (nesi' ha-'edah) takes the title from Ezekiel.

From the study of Ezekiel 19:1

Range of meaning

A chief, leader or ruler: someone 'raised up' over a group. It is used for tribal heads in the wilderness (Num 1:16; 7), for foreign rulers (Gen 17:20; 23:6), and for the king himself (1 Kgs 11:34). It does not mean a king's son.

Against the English

'Princes' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB) is traditional and defensible, since Latin princeps means 'first man, ruler'. But modern readers hear 'prince' as a king's son or an heir waiting for the throne. The rulers in view here actually reigned as kings.

How it drifted

English 'prince' once meant any sovereign ruler (as in Machiavelli's 'The Prince'). Over the centuries it narrowed to mean a royal son.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezekiel strongly prefers nāśî' for the kings of Judah. He calls Zedekiah 'the nāśî' in Jerusalem' (12:10, 12) and 'profane, wicked nāśî' of Israel' (21:25 [Eng. 21:25; Heb. 21:30]). The future ruler of the restored people is also called nāśî' (34:24; 37:25; chs. 44-48). HALOT and BDB derive it from nāśā', 'to lift up'.

From the study of Ezekiel 21:25

Range of meaning

A raised-up one: chief, leader, tribal head (Num 1:16; 2:3). In Ezekiel it is the regular title for Judah's kings (12:10, 12; 19:1) and for the future ruler in the restored land (34:24; 37:25; chs. 44–48).

Against the English

'Prince' makes English readers think of a king's son. Here it means the reigning ruler himself.

How it drifted

English 'prince' has narrowed to mean royal offspring. Older English used it for any sovereign ruler.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers uses it for tribal chieftains. Ezekiel almost never calls Judah's kings melekh and keeps that title mostly for foreign kings such as Nebuchadnezzar (17:12; 21:19, 21).