Lexical Definition
ἐξουσία exousía (ex-oo-see'-ah) authority G:N-F
from ἔξεστι (in the sense of ability)
authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
- privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence
Abbott-Smith
ἐξουσία, -ας, ἡ (< ἔξεστι), [in LXX: IV Ki 20:13, Ps 113 (114):2* 135 (136)8*, 9*, Is 39:2, Je 28 (51):28* (מֶמְשָׁלָה), freq. in Da for Aram. שָׁלְטָן, etc., Wi 10:14, Si 9:13, al. ;]
1. prop., liberty or power to act, freedom to exercise the inward force or faculty expressed by δύναμις (q.v.): I Co 9:12; ἐ. ἔχειν, II Th 3:9; id. seq. inf., Jo 10:18, I Co 9:4, 5; c. gen. obj., Ro 9:21; seq. ἐπί, c. acc., Re 22:14; περί, I Co 7:37.
2. Later (cf. Milligan, Th., 114; MM, Exp., xiv), of the power of right, authority: Mt 21:33, Mk 11:28, Lk 20:2; of Messianic authority, Mt 9:6, Mk 2:10, al.; of apostolic authority, II Co 10:8 13:10; of the authority of government: Mt 8:9 28:18, Ju 25, Re 12:10, al.; esp. of judicial authority, Lk 20:20, Jo 19:10, 11.
3. Meton.,
(a) jurisdiction: Lk 23:7 (cf. I Mac 6:11, Is 39:2);
(b) a ruler or magistrate: Ro 13:1-3; pl., Lk 12:11, Ro 13:1, Tit 3:1;
(c) of supramundane powers (syn. with ἀρχή, δύναμις, θρόνος, κυριότης): I Co 15:24, Eph 1:21 3:10, Col 2:10, I Pe 3:22, al. (Cremer. 236).
SYN.: v.s. δύναμις.
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 2 Kings | 20:13 |
| Psalms | 113:2* · 135:8* · 135:9* |
| Isaiah | 39:2 |
| Jeremiah | 28:28* |
| Matthew | 8:9 · 9:6 · 21:33 · 28:18 |
| Mark | 2:10 · 11:28 |
| Luke | 12:11 · 20:2 · 20:20 · 23:7 |
| John | 10:18 · 19:10 · 19:11 |
| Romans | 9:21 · 13:1 |
| 1 Corinthians | 7:37 · 9:4 · 9:5 · 9:12 · 15:24 |
| 2 Corinthians | 10:8 · 13:10 |
| Ephesians | 1:21 · 3:10 |
| Colossians | 2:10 |
| 2 Thessalonians | 3:9 |
| Titus | 3:1 |
| 1 Peter | 3:22 |
| Jude | 1:25 |
| Revelation | 12:10 · 22:14 |
Liddell-Scott-Jones
ἐξουσία-ία, ἡ,
(ἔξεστι) power, authority to do a thing, with infinitive, χαίρειν καὶ νοσεῖν ἐ. πάρεστι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐξουσίαίαν ὁ νόμος δέδωκε permission to do.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τῇ τῆς εἰρήνης ἐ. with the freedom permitted by peace, [Refs 4th c.BC+] power of life and death, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; πρᾶγμα οὗ τὴν ἐ. ἔχουσιν ἄλλοι control over.., [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἐ. τινός power over, licence in a thing, τοῦ λέγειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν μεγάλῃ ἐ. τοῦ ἀδικεῖν[Refs]; κατὰ τὴν οὐκ ἐ. τῆς ἀγωνίσεως from want of qualification for.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, power, authority, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2 abuse of authority, licence, arrogance, ὕβρις καὶ ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 Lit. Crit., ἐ. ποιητική poetic licence, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__II office, magistracy, ἀρχαὶ καὶ ἐ. [ἐξουσίαιῶν LXX.Dan.3.2 ">LXX+5th c.BC+]; ἡ ὑπατικὴ ἐ. the consulate, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἡ ταμιευτικὴ ἐ. the quaestorship, [Refs]; δημαρχικὴ ἐ., see at {δημαρχικό; ἡ τοῦ θαλάμου ἐ}., in the Roman empire, lordship of the bedchamber, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.2 concrete, body of magistrates, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; αἱ ἐ. (as we say) the authorities, [NT+1st c.AD+]
__II.2.b ἡ ἐ. as an honorary title, [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__III abundance of means, resources, ἐξουσίαίας ἐπίδειξις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; excessive wealth, opposed to οὐσία, [Refs]
__IV pomp, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Dan.3.2 ☩ Luke.12.11