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Bible Encyclopedias
Prince
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or is the rendering of several Heb. and Gr. words in the A. V. Sar, שִׂר (from שָׂרִר, to rule, to have dominion; Sept. ἄρχων; Vulg. princts), the chief of any class, the master of a company, a prince or noble; used of Pharaoh's chief butler and baker (Genesis 40:2 sq.); of the taskmasters set over the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 1:11); even of chief herdsmen (Genesis 47:6). It is frequently used for military commanders (Exodus 18:21 ["rulers"]; 2 Kings 1:9 ["captain"]; Isaiah 3:3, etc.), and or princes both supreme and subordinate (1 Samuel 29:3; Job 29:1; Job 29:9; Isaiah 49:7; Jeremiah 51:59, etc.). In Daniel 8:11 God is called שִׂר הִצָּבָ (Sar hatstaba), Prince of the host; and in Daniel 8:25 the title שָׁרִים שָׂר (Sar sarim), Prince of princes, is applied to the Messiah. The "princes of the provinces" (הִמְּדִינוֹת שָׁרֵו, sarey ham-medinoth, 1 Kings 20:14) were probably the district magistrates who had taken refire in Samaria during the invasion of Benhadad, and their "young men" were their attendants, παιδάρια, pedisseqiui (Thenius, Ewall. Gesch. 3, 495). Josephus savs, υἱοὶ τῶν ἡγεμόνων (Ant. 8:14, 2).
There is a peculiar sense in which the term "prince" is used by the prophet Daniel: thus, "Prince of the kingdom of Persia" (Daniel 10:13), "Michael your prince" (Daniel 10:21). In these passages the term probably means a tutelary angel; and the doctrine of tutelary angels of different countries seems to be countenanced by several passages of Scripture (Zechariah 3:1; Zechariah 6:5; Judges 1:9; Revelation 12:7). Michael and Gabriel were probably the tutelary angels of the Jews. These names do not occur in any books of the Old Test. that were written before the captivity; and it is suggested by some that they were borrowed from the Chaldaeans, with whom and the Persians the doctrine of the general administration and superintendence of angels over empires and provinces was commonly received. (See ANGEL).
2. Nagid, נָגִיד : (from, נָגִד to be in front, to precede; Sept. ἄρχων or ἡγούμενος; Vulg. dux), one who has the precedence, a leader, or chief, used of persons set over any undertaking, superintending any trust, or invested with supreme power (1 Kings 14:7; Psalm 76:13; 1 Chronicles 26:24 ["ruler"]; 1 Samuel 9:16 ["captain"], etc.). In Daniel 9:25 it is applied to the Messiah; and in Daniel 11:22 to Ptolemy Philometor, king of Egypt.
3. Nadib, נָדִיב (from נָדִב, which in Hithp. signifies to volunteer, to offer voluntarily or spontaneously; chiefly in poetry; Sept. ἄρχων; Vulg. princeps), generous, noble-minded, noble by birth (1 Samuel 2:8; Psalms 107:40; Psalms 113:8; Psalms 118:9; Proverbs 27:7, etc.). This word is the converse of the preceding; נָגִיד means primarily a chief, and derivatively what is morally noble, excellent (Proverbs 8:6); נדיב means primarily what is morally noble, and derivatively one who is noble by birth or position.
4. Nasi, נָשִׂיץ (from נָשָׂץ, to lift up, Niph. to be elevated; Sept. ἄρχων, ἡγούμενος, ἡγεμών, βασιλεύς Vulg. princeps, dux), one exalted; used as a general term for princes, including kings (1 Kings 11:24; Ezekiel 12:10, etc.), heads of tribes or families (Numbers 1:44; Numbers 3:24 [A. V. "chief"]; Numbers 7:10; Numbers 34:18; Genesis 17:20; 1 Chronicles 7:40, etc.). In the A.V. it is often rendered "ruler" or "captain." In Genesis 23:6 Abraham is addressed by the sons of Heth as נָשִׂיץ אֵֹלהִים (nasi Elohim), a prince of God, i.e. constituted, and consequently protected, by God [A.V. "mighty prince"]. This word appears on the coins of Judas Maccableus (Gesenius, Thesaur. p. 917).
5. Nasik, נָסִיךְ (from נָסִךְ, to pour out, anoint; Sept. ἄρχων; Vulg.princeps; Psalms 83:11; Ezekiel 32:30; Daniel 11:5; "duke," Joshua 13:8; "principal," Micah 5:5).
6. Katsin, קָצִין (from קָצָה, to cut, to decide; Sept. ἀρχηγός, ἄρχων; Vulg. princeps; Proverbs 25:15; Daniel 11:18; Micah 3:1; Micah 3:9; elsewhere "captain," "guide," "ruler").
7. Rab, רִב (usually an adj. great; Sept. ἄρχων, ἡγεμών; Vulg. optimus); only occasional; but used in compounds, e.g. Rab-mag, Rab-saris (q.v.). So its Chald. reduplicature Rabreban, רִבְרְבָן, in the plur. (Daniel 5:2-3; elsewhere "lords").
8. Rozen, רֹזֵן (participle of רָזִן, to rule; Sept. (σατράπης, δυνάστης; Vulg. princeps, legum conditor), a poetical word (Judges 5:3; Proverbs 8:15; Proverbs 31:4; Isaiah 40:23; Habakkuk 1:10 "ruller," Psalms 2:2).
9. Shalish, שָׁלִישׁ (apparently from שָלוֹשׁ, three; only Ezekiel 23:13; elsewhere "captain" [q.v.]).
10. Achashdarpenaya (Chald. plur. אֲחִשְׁדִּרְפְּנִיָּ ‹, Daniel 3:2; Daniel 3:27; Daniel 6:1-7; Sept.; ὕρατοι ), a Persian word. Those mentioned in Daniel 6:1 (see Esther 1, 1) were the predecessors, either in fact or in place, of the satraps of Darius Hystaspis (Herod. 3, 89). (See SATRAP).
11. Chashmannim, חִשְׁמִנִּים (plur. literally rich, only in Psalms 68:13).
12. Segen, סֶגֶן (a Persian word, used only in the plur. Isaiah 11:25; elsewhere "rulers").
13. Partemim, only in the plur. פִּרְתְּמִים (another Persian word, Daniel 1:3; elsewhere "rulers").
14. ῎Αρχων, which in the Sept. appears as the rendering of all the Hebrew words above cited, in the New Test. is used of earthly princes (Matthew 20:25; 1 Corinthians 2:6), of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:5), and of Satan (Matthew 9:34; Matthew 12:24; Mark 3, 22; John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; Ephesians 2:2). On the phrase "prince of the power of the air" in this last passage, see AIR.
15. Ἀρχηγός, which in Theodotion is the rendering of נָשִׂיא (Numbers 13:3; Numbers 16:2); and in the Sept. is the rendering of שִׂר (Judges 5, 15; Nehemiah 2, 9; Isaiah 30:4), in the New Test. is applied only to our Lord (Acts 3:15; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:10 [A. V. "captain"]; Hebrews 12:2 [A. V. "author"]).
16. ῾Ηγεμών is used (Matthew 2:6) in a general sense for a chief or ruler. (See GOVERNOR); (See KING); (See RULER).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Prince'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/p/prince.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
