βασίλειος (basileios)
basileios
kingly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective basileios describes something that is royal, kingly, or regal in nature. Derived from the word for king (basileus), it functions as an attributive descriptor to identify a connection to royalty or sovereign authority. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, serving as a direct quotation from the Old Testament in 1 Peter 2:9.
In that specific verse, Peter applies the title to believers, calling them "a royal priesthood." This usage draws heavily on the Septuagint translation of Exodus 19:6, where God declares Israel to be a kingdom of priests. By using basileios here, the text elevates the status of the Christian community, assigning them a dignified identity marked by high privilege and distinction rather than political power.
The word emphasizes the quality of belonging to a king. It does not describe the act of ruling but the character of being under royal authority or sharing in royal honor. The singular occurrence in Scripture highlights how early Christians understood their spiritual standing, viewing themselves as part of a divine household with kingly privileges.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word basileios carries the weight of royal dignity, describing something that belongs to a king or shares in his honor. In the New Testament, it appears just once, nestled within Peter’s letter to believers who felt like outsiders in their own societies. He calls them a "royal priesthood," linking them directly to the ancient identity God gave Israel.
This label is not about political power or social status. Instead, it speaks to your standing before God. You are part of a spiritual household marked by high privilege and distinction. It reminds us that our value comes from who we belong to, not what we achieve.
When you read this in 1 Peter 2:9, remember that you share in this kingly honor. It is an invitation to live with the confidence of someone chosen and set apart for a holy purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a royal1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βασίλειον1×
Key Verses
-
I Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Peter uses basileios here to define the collective identity of believers as sharing in the honor of God's kingdom rather than holding earthly political office.