“Lord”

The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible defines “Lord” in the following:

 

# 1203 – Despotes, as absolute ruler (“despot’): -- Lord, master

#2961 – Kurieuo, to rule: -- have dominion over. Lord, be lord of, exercise lordship over

#2962 – Kurios (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by impl. Mr. (as respectful title: -- God, Lord, master, Sir.

#4462 – Rhabboni – from #4461 of Rabbi or person of honor, an official title

 

In Mark 10:51 we find #4462 being used by the blind man who had heard of Jesus and cried out to Him wanting him to heal his eye sight.  So, the blind man addresses Him in title of Rabbi not knowing, perhaps, that it was his “faith that made him whole” until Jesus told him so.  This is the only scripture in the New Testament (King James Version) that uses this form of the word as described.

 

In Romans 14:9 we find #2961 being used as in describing the reason for His resurrection.  It reads, “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living.”  It should be understood that Jesus Christ is God and that He had dominion over all even before His crucifixion.

 

The most common and frequent use of the word “Lord” in the New Testament is defined in #2962.  This word being closely attached to #2961. An example of the first usage in the New Testament of this word used as God is found in Matthew 1:20 which reads, “…the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream….”  The last as used as God is found in Revelation 22:21 is written, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  The first way it is used as a human title is found in Matthew 10:24 which reads, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”  The last way it is used as a human title is written in I Peter 3:6, “Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.”  It is easy to see that, although it is the same word, it can have two types of meanings from the same word.  Obviously, Sara respects Abraham so by the use of the word “lord” in its context she acknowledges his authority over her in the biblical sense.  So, in its proper context the word can mean controller or authority.

 

It is the use of the word “Lord” as defined by Strong’s #1203 that will be examined in context.  Four texts in the New Testament use that form of the word “Lord.” The English translation is despot.  Usually, in today’s vernacular the word despot describes a ruthless leader who has no regard for the people he is over.  And that may be so but in context here it is evident that God is sovereign over all. Isaiah 46:10, 11 tells us, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will  do all my pleasure: calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”  How much clearer can this be in the total control and execution of God’s will? Per the meaning as defined by Strong, this is absolute power by a ruler or despot.

 

Luke 2:29 – “Lord, now lettest thou servant depart in peace, according to thy word.”

Acts 4:24 – “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voices in one accord and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is.”

II Peter 2:1 – “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there were false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Revelation 6:10 – “And they cried with a loud voice saying, how long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge them that dwell on the earth?”

 

Each of these clearly show that God is sovereign and in control of everything.  Too late, though, some may acknowledge it. Simeon (Luke 2:29) clearly understands that it is God Who gives life and takes life.  His acknowledgement of the Savior’s birth shows that he recognizes the True God of Israel.  In Acts 4:24 they clearly acknowledge God the Creator of all things.

 

In II Peter 2:1 it is interesting that Peter mentions what the Lord did – “the Lord that bought them.”  In the preceding verse which ends chapter one, Peter writes that it is “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:21).”  So, the transition is from holy men to false prophets and false teachers who God likewise “bought.”  But were even the false prophets and false teachers purchased through the redemption of Jesus Christ?  Again, the “Lord” mentioned here is the word for “despot.” So, what does this mean in the context? It means, still, that God is sovereign over all and is in complete control.  Peter is warning his audience (and us today) that the Lord (despot) was able to bring His people out of Egypt and Sodom and Gomorrah and protected Noah and his family and through it all He was still in charge.  The Lord protected His people through all adversity. Even self-inflicted but sinful man was/is corrupt in his natural poster. Matthew 5:45 tells us that God “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.”   God in all His power is, in fact, capable of saving anyone that He so chooses. Yet, there will always be those who blindly rest in the deadness of their sins ignoring the sovereignty of God even in salvation.  As Peter wrote, whenever God raises up godly men, Satan raises up those who will “bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them” (II Peter 2:1).  This is in no way saying that Satan out-maneuvers God or that God is incapable of saving everyone because God is sovereign and in total control and saves those whom He so chooses (Ephesians 1:4, 5).  Even the angels that sinned (II Peter 2:4) were under His absolute (despotic) authority.  This scripture is a direct reference to the actions of the angels who sinned against the daughters of men as described in Genesis 6:2.

 

So, we see that it is important to know what the original use of the word meant in its original language to properly and contextual understand the text.