καθέδρα (kathedra)
kathedra
seat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kathedra refers simply to a seat or chair, derived from roots meaning "to sit." In the New Testament, it appears only three times, yet each instance carries significant weight. It is used in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark to describe physical locations where authority is exercised.
Most notably, Jesus uses the term when cleansing the temple, condemning those who turned the Court of the Gentiles into a marketplace (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15). The word also appears in Matthew 23:2, where Jesus points to the "seat of Moses." Here, kathedra signifies the official position of authority held by the scribes and Pharisees. It is not merely furniture but a symbol of their right to teach the Law.
Translators consistently render this word as "seat" or "chair." The usage highlights that while the physical object is ordinary, its association with teaching and judgment makes it a potent image of religious power. Jesus acknowledges their authority in Matthew 23:2 but warns against mimicking their prideful posture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word kathedra simply means a seat or chair. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, yet each instance carries significant weight. It is used in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark to describe physical locations where authority is exercised.
Most notably, Jesus uses the term when cleansing the temple, condemning those who turned the Court of the Gentiles into a marketplace (Matthew 21:12). The word also appears in Matthew 23:2, where Jesus points to the "seat of Moses." Here, kathedra signifies the official position of authority held by the scribes and Pharisees. It is not merely furniture but a symbol of their right to teach the Law.
This usage highlights that while the physical object is ordinary, its association with teaching and judgment makes it a potent image of religious power. Jesus acknowledges their authority in Matthew 23:2 but warns against mimicking their prideful posture. For your faith, this reminds us that true leadership serves others, rather than seeking honor for itself.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- seats2×
- seat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καθέδρας3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:12
Jesus entered into the temple of God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
Jesus overturns these seats during the temple cleansing to show that commercial exploitation violates the sacred purpose of God's house.
-
Matthew 23:2
saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.
The phrase "Moses' seat" identifies the official teaching authority of the scribes, which Jesus acknowledges but warns against following their prideful example.
-
Mark 11:15
They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
Mark records the same temple cleansing event, emphasizing that these seats were part of the marketplace setup that disrupted worship.