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ἐξουσία

exousía

G1849 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Official right to act, authority exercised or delegated to individuals or entities, the ability or capacity to exercise control. In various contexts, it denotes official or legitimate authority (such as governmental, judicial, or institutional power), the personal capacity or freedom to act (liberty or right), and, in some instances, supernatural power or beings holding authority. In legal and administrative contexts, it often refers to legitimate jurisdiction. In religious or philosophical contexts, it can refer to cosmic or spiritual authorities.

Semantic Range

authority, right, power, jurisdiction, liberty, official or legal permission, the domain or sphere of control, supernatural or cosmic authority, individuals or beings holding authority

Root / Etymology

Formed from the verbal phrase ἔξεστι ('it is permitted' or 'it is possible'), composed of ἐκ ('out of') + εἰμί ('to be') with the abstract noun ending -ία. The underlying idea is the right or ability that comes from it being possible or permitted for someone to act.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἐξουσία refers to the power or permission to act, often in a legal or civic context, such as the rights of a citizen or magistrate. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, its range expands to include authority granted by humans or deities, the legitimate right of rulers, or even superhuman or spiritual entities (as in certain heavenly powers or authorities in Pauline literature). In the Septuagint, ἐξουσία is used to translate various Hebrew terms relating to authority, dominion, and power, though sometimes with nuances different from later Christian usage. In the New Testament, it frequently denotes the authority conferred by God, by rulers, or inherent in Jesus' actions, as well as cosmic authorities (e.g., angelic or spiritual powers). Standard English translations typically render it as 'authority' or 'power,' but these do not always capture its legal, social, or cosmic connotations; 'jurisdiction,' 'right,' or 'liberty' may be more specific in some contexts. Notably, ἐξουσία differs from δύναμις, which focuses on raw power or ability, whereas ἐξουσία emphasizes legitimacy, right, and officially sanctioned authority.

Translation Consistency

primary "authority" 92 occurrences

ἐξουσία most commonly and naturally renders as "authority" across legal, institutional, personal, and supernatural contexts. It captures official right, jurisdiction, power, and freedom to act, and matches the majority of existing P2 renderings, providing a single clear, natural English term for consistent use.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"authorities" (10x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἔξεστι (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:--authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

Root Family

ἐξουσία (exousia) — authority, right, jurisdiction, delegated power, liberty

Root ἐξουσ- to be allowed, to have the right, to exercise authority

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1849-04 ἐξουσίαν exousian N ACC F SG authority official authority official authority 56
G1849-01 ἐξουσίᾳ exousia N DAT F SG authority to authority authority 29
G1849-05 ἐξουσίας exousias N ACC F PL authority authorities authority 12
G1849-03 ἐξουσίαις exousiais N DAT F PL authorities to authorities to authorities 3
G1849-06 ἐξουσιῶν exousion N GEN F PL authorities of rightful authorities authorities 1
G1849-02 ἐξουσίαι exousiai N NOM F PL powers authorities authorities 1

Occurrences in Scripture

102 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1849-04 Matthew 7:29 ἐξουσίαν exousian N ACC F SG authority official authority official authority
G1849-04 Matthew 8:9 ἐξουσίαν exousian N ACC F SG authority official authority official authority
G1849-04 Matthew 9:6 ἐξουσίαν exousian N ACC F SG authority official authority official authority
G1849-04 Matthew 9:8 ἐξουσίαν exousian N ACC F SG authority official authority official authority
G1849-04 Matthew 10:1 ἐξουσίαν exousian N ACC F SG authority official authority official authority
G1849-01 Matthew 21:23 ἐξουσίᾳ exousia N DAT F SG authority to authority authority
G1849-04 Matthew 21:23 ἐξουσίαν exousian N ACC F SG authority official authority official authority
G1849-01 Matthew 21:24 ἐξουσίᾳ exousia N DAT F SG authority to authority authority
G1849-01 Matthew 21:27 ἐξουσίᾳ exousia N DAT F SG authority to authority authority
G1849-01 Matthew 28:18 ἐξουσία exousia N NOM F SG authority to authority authority
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