βασιλικός (basilikos)
basilikos
royal
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective basilikos means "royal" or "belonging to a king." It describes anything connected with royal authority, whether it is a person, a place, or a concept. In the New Testament, this word appears five times, primarily in the Gospel of John and the book of Acts, with one occurrence in James.
The sources highlight two distinct uses. First, it refers to people or places associated with a monarch. For example, Acts 12:20 mentions a "royal country" (chōra) and a "royal garment" (esthēs), describing the setting of King Herod’s court. John 4:46 uses it to describe a "royal official" or courtier whose son was ill, emphasizing his status as someone in the king’s service.
Second, James 2:8 applies the term metaphorically to the "royal law" (nomos basilikos). Here, the word suggests a supreme principle that governs other laws. As noted by scholars like Hort, this usage implies a law with a specially regal character, likely because it reflects the highest standard of love and justice established by God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word basilikos reminds us that our lives are connected to a greater authority than ourselves. In John’s Gospel, a royal official trusts Jesus enough to ask for his son’s healing. He does not demand; he simply asks for help. This shows that approaching God with honest need is part of walking in His presence.
James uses the term differently, calling love the “royal law.” It is not a rule imposed from above to control us, but a standard that reflects the character of God Himself. When we choose to love others as we love ourselves, we align with the highest principle of the Kingdom.
This word invites us to see our daily actions through the lens of eternal values. Whether in moments of crisis or routine choices, living under this royal standard means prioritizing grace and connection over pride and isolation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- royal2×
- royal official;1×
- royal official1×
- king’s.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βασιλικῆς.¶1×
- βασιλικός·1×
- βασιλικὸς1×
- βασιλικὸν1×
- βασιλικὴν1×
Key Verses
-
John 4:46
Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
This verse introduces the royal official whose faith begins with a desperate request for his son's healing, showing how royal status does not shield one from human vulnerability.
-
James 2:8
However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
Here the term elevates the command to love neighbors above other regulations, framing it as the supreme standard that defines life in God’s Kingdom.
-
Acts 12:21
On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
Herod wears royal clothing to assert his earthly power, creating a stark contrast between human pride and the true authority of Christ.