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Bible Dictionaries
Prince
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words
or A. Nouns.
Nâśı̂y' (נָשִׁא, Strong's #5387), “prince; chief; leader.” This noun appears 129 times in biblical Hebrew. An early occurrence of nâśı̂y' is in Gen. 23:6: “Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us.…” The books of Numbers and Ezekiel use the word most frequently. Elsewhere it rarely occurs.
Though the origin and meaning of nâśı̂y' are controversial, it is clearly associated with leadership, both Israelite and non-lsraelite. M. Noth proposed the idea that the nâśı̂y' was originally a tribal representative or a “deputy, chief.” Ishmael was promised to give rise to twelve “princes” (Gen. 17:20; cf. 25:16); the Midianites had “princes” (Num. 25:18), as well as the Amorites (Josh. 13:21), the peoples of the sea (Ezek. 26:16), Kedar (Ezek. 27:21), Egypt (Ezek. 30:13), and Edom (Ezek. 32:29). Also Israel had her “princes” (“rulers”): “… On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses” (Exod. 16:22). The “princes” (“leaders”) of Israel did not only participate in the civil leadership; they were also regarded as pillars in Israelite religious life, the upholders of the covenantal way of life: “And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them” (Exod. 34:31; cf. Josh. 22:30). Hence, Israel was to obey her “leaders”: “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people” (Exod. 22:28).
The Septuagint translation is arxon (“ruler; lord; prince; authority; official”), and the KJV has these translations: “prince; captain; chief; ruler.”
Another noun, neshi’im, is related to neshi’. The word, which is found 4 times, means “clouds”: “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain” (Prov. 25:14; cf. Ps. 135:7; Jer. 10:13; 51:16).
B. Verb.
Nâśâ' (נָסָה, Strong's #5375), “to lift up, carry.” This verb appears 654 times in the Old Testament; once in Gen. 44:1: “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry.…”
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Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Prince'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/vot/p/prince.html. 1940.
