Brief overview of βασίλειος (G933: basíleios)

1. Overview

βασίλειος (basíleios), transliterated as “bah-SEE-lay-os,” is an adjective derived from the root word βασιλεύς (basileús), meaning “king.” The term basíleios primarily means “royal” or “kingly,” and it is often used to describe something that pertains to a king or a kingdom. This word can be applied to various contexts, whether it be referring to a royal residence, something befitting a king, or anything related to the concept of royalty.

2. Lexical Details

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In BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich), basíleios is defined as “royal” or “belonging to a king.” BDAG emphasizes that this word is used to describe things associated with kingship, such as royal authority, dignity, or items related to a king’s court. For example, the term might describe a royal residence (βασίλειον), indicating a palace or a king’s house.

Thayer’s Lexicon aligns with BDAG and expands on the usage of basíleios by indicating that the word can refer to anything pertaining to a king, including his office, his dignity, or his possessions. Thayer’s Lexicon also notes that this word is less common in the New Testament but is nonetheless significant when it does appear, as it conveys the idea of something being of a kingly nature.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary further elaborates on basíleios by noting its use in both the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) and the New Testament. Vine’s highlights that basíleios is often used in contexts where the royal or kingly quality of something is being emphasized, such as a royal city or a king’s lineage.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) provides additional context by exploring the classical Greek usage of basíleios. The lexicon points out that this adjective was commonly used in ancient Greek literature to describe anything associated with a king, whether it be a physical object like a palace or an abstract concept like royal power or authority.

Biblical references:

• Acts 12:20: “They asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country (βασίλειος) for food.” In this context, basíleios is used to describe the region that belongs to the king, highlighting its royal nature.
• Hebrews 7:1: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.” While the word basíleios itself is not in this verse, the context of Melchizedek as a king-priest connects to the royal theme inherent in basíleios.
• 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal (βασίλειος) priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” Here, the word basíleios is used metaphorically to describe the believers as having a royal status in their priesthood.

3. Classical Usage

In classical Greek literature, basíleios was frequently used to describe anything that had to do with royalty or the king’s office.

Examples include:

• Herodotus, Histories: The term basíleios is used to describe the “royal road” in Persia, a major route maintained by the king’s authority for the movement of troops and communications.
• Xenophon, Cyropaedia: Xenophon uses basíleios to describe the royal guard, emphasizing their role in protecting the king and their close association with the royal household.
• Homer, Iliad: The term is employed to refer to royal garments or possessions, highlighting the king’s wealth and status.

These examples show that basíleios was a versatile term in ancient Greek, applied to various aspects of life that were connected to or influenced by royal authority.

4. Summary

The word basíleios (G933) is an adjective that encapsulates the concept of something being royal or kingly. It is closely related to the term basileía and derives from basileús, meaning “king.” This word can be used to describe anything pertaining to a king, whether it be a physical object, a location, or a more abstract concept like royal dignity. In the New Testament, basíleios emphasizes the royal nature of the people of God, as seen in 1 Peter 2:9, where believers are called a “royal priesthood.” In classical Greek literature, basíleios was commonly used to describe various aspects of life under a king’s rule, highlighting its widespread usage and importance in conveying royal associations.