βασιλεία (basileia)
basileia
kingdom
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 156 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun basileia primarily denotes royal power, sovereignty, or the abstract right to rule, rather than a physical territory. While it can refer to a concrete kingdom or domain, its core sense is the authority exercised by a king. This distinction is visible in passages where Jesus tells Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36), emphasizing the nature of His rule over geographical boundaries.
In the New Testament, the term most frequently describes the Messianic reign of God. Phrases like "the kingdom of God" and "the kingdom of heaven" appear throughout the Gospels, with Matthew often using the latter to reflect Jewish reverence for the divine name. Jesus proclaims this kingdom as present in His ministry (Matthew 12:28) yet future in its full consummation (Matthew 6:10).
The word carries significant theological weight, describing a reign that believers are called to seek above all else (Matthew 6:33). It encompasses both the current spiritual reality of God’s rule and the future hope of eternal inheritance, as seen in Jesus’ promise to the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42).
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word basileia points to God’s active rule rather than a physical map or political border. When Jesus speaks of the Kingdom, He invites us into a reality where His authority shapes our daily lives. This is not about geography but about allegiance. We are called to live under His care and guidance, trusting that His will brings true order and peace.
Matthew 6:33 offers a clear priority for this trust: seek God’s Kingdom first. This means letting His values lead your decisions before worrying about material needs. The promise is that when we align our hearts with His reign, the necessary provisions follow naturally. It is an invitation to rest in His sovereignty.
This reign is both present and future. We experience its power now through healing and truth, as seen in Jesus’ ministry, while looking forward to its full completion. Believers are part of this story, called to reflect His character in a broken world. This hope anchors us when circumstances feel uncertain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 156 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- kingdom145×
- a kingdom5×
- [the] kingdom3×
- kingdoms2×
- kingdom;2×
- kingdom,2×
- a kingdom,2×
- kingship1×
- kingdoms,1×
- kingdom.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βασιλεία56×
- βασιλείαν55×
- βασιλείας24×
- βασιλείᾳ21×
- βασιλείαν,4×
- βασιλείας·1×
- βασιλείας,1×
- βασιλείαν·1×
- βασιλείαν.1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:33
But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
This verse establishes the primary Christian duty to prioritize God's reign above all earthly concerns.
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Matthew 12:28
But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.
Jesus identifies His exorcisms as direct evidence that God's sovereign rule has arrived among the people.
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Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Beatitudes begin by linking spiritual humility directly to the inheritance of this divine kingdom.
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Matthew 13:24
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
The parable illustrates how God's reign grows quietly and organically within the world, much like seed in a field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does basileia mean in the New Testament?
Is the Kingdom of Heaven different from the Kingdom of God?
How is the Kingdom present now if it is also future?
Every Occurrence (156 verses across 17 books)
Matthew 54 verses
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 4:8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Matthew 4:17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:23Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing…
Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the…
Matthew 5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter…
Matthew 6:10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory…
Matthew 6:33But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my…
Matthew 8:11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the…
Matthew 8:12but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of…
Matthew 9:35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the…
Matthew 10:7As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’
Matthew 11:11Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the…
Matthew 11:12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every…
Matthew 12:26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
Matthew 12:28But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.
Matthew 13:11He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
Matthew 13:19When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which…
Matthew 13:24He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
Matthew 13:31He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took,…
Matthew 13:33He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of…
Matthew 13:38the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the…
Matthew 13:41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and…
Matthew 13:43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:44“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and…
Matthew 13:45“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,
Matthew 13:47“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,
Matthew 13:52He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a…
Matthew 16:19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven;…
Matthew 16:28Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man…
Matthew 18:1In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
Matthew 18:3and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the…
Matthew 18:4Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:23Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Matthew 19:12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by…
Matthew 19:14But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to…
Matthew 19:23Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with…
Matthew 19:24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s…
Matthew 20:1“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire…
Matthew 20:21He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand…
Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell…
Matthew 21:43“Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.
Matthew 22:2“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son,
Matthew 23:13“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers.…
Matthew 24:7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes…
Matthew 24:14This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end…
Matthew 25:1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:34Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from…
Matthew 26:29But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with…