κυριότης (kuriotēs)
kuriotēs
lordship
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kuriotēs denotes the state or quality of being a master, translating most naturally as "lordship" or "dominion." It describes the absolute authority and power held by one who rules, emphasizing the right to command rather than just the act of ruling. In the New Testament, this term appears only four times, making it a rare but potent descriptor of sovereign control.
Its usage highlights a specific hierarchy of power. In Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16, it is paired with titles like "ruling" and "authority," suggesting that Christ’s lordship encompasses all levels of spiritual governance. Jude and 2 Peter use the word to describe beings who ignore this established order, acting as rebels against the divine hierarchy they are meant to serve.
The word derives from kyrios, meaning "lord" or "master." While kyrios identifies the person, kuriotēs defines their status and power. This distinction clarifies that the text is not merely naming a ruler but describing the inherent weight of their authority over creation and spiritual realms alike.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kuriotēs points to the inherent right to rule, not just the exercise of power. It describes a lordship so absolute that it encompasses every level of existence, from the visible world to the invisible spiritual realms. When we read that Christ holds this dominion, we are reminded that His authority is foundational and unshakeable.
This truth offers deep comfort in times of uncertainty. If all things were created through Him and for Him, then nothing exists outside His sovereign care. Even when we encounter chaos or rebellion, as seen in the warnings to Jude and Peter, we can rest knowing that the ultimate hierarchy remains intact under Christ’s rule.
Our response to this reality is one of trust rather than fear. We do not need to grasp for control, because the One who holds all authority is also our Creator. This assurance allows us to live with peace, anchored in the knowledge that His lordship extends over every name and every age.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- authority2×
- dominions1×
- dominion1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κυριότητος2×
- κυριότητες1×
- κυριότητα1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 1:21
far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.
This verse places Christ far above every known structure of power, showing that His kuriotēs surpasses all earthly and spiritual hierarchies.
-
Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.
Here the term links directly to creation, indicating that thrones and powers exist because He established them and for His purposes.
-
Jude 1:8
Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
The author uses this concept to highlight the seriousness of rebellion, noting that those who despise authority are actually defying the divine order.