noun · masculine
basilevos
Strong’sG935
a king, ruler, emperor
stem basilev-115 times in the New Testamentin 10 of 27 books9 of 10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
A king or ruler; a sovereign monarch 124. It denotes a human ruler, whether a monarch in the ordinary sense or someone given the title by courtesy, as Herod the Tetrarch is called 1; it is also used, as was common in the Greek of the period, of the Roman Emperor 13. The term can be used in an abstract, relative, or figurative way for a sovereign, and not only of a strict hereditary monarch 2.
The same word is applied to Christ, called king of the Jews and king of Israel, and to God, who is described as king of kings and king over all who reign 13.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
βασιλεύς, -έως, ὁ,
[in LXX chiefly for מֶלֶךְ;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G935 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidbas-il-yooce'
a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
Fromprobably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power);
King Jamesking.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
genitive έως, Epic dialect ῆος, Refs 5th c.AD+ Oracle texts cited in Refs 5th c.BC+ Aeolic dialect -ηεςRefs 7th c.BC+ old Attic dialect -ῆςRefs 5th c.BC+:— king, chief, Refs 8th c.BC+: frequently with collateral sense of captain or judge, Refs 8th c.BC+; later, hereditary king, opposed to τύραννος, Refs 4th c.BC+; but also of tyrants, as Hiero, Refs 5th c.BC+; of Gelo, Refs 5th c.BC+; of Pisistratus, Refs 5th c.BC+: joined with a substantive, βασιλεὺς ἀνήρ Refs 8th c.BC+; ἄναξ β. lord king, Refs 5th c.BC+; οἰωνῶν β., of the eagle, Refs 5th c.BC+: comparative βασιλεύτερος more kingly, Refs 8th c.BC+: superlative βασιλεύτατος Refs 8th c.BC+
b of the gods, Ζεὺς θεῶν β. Refs 8th c.BC+; as cult title of Zeus, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ μέγας β., of God, LXX+1st c.AD+: superlative βασιλεύτατοι τῶν θεῶν Refs 2nd c.AD+
2 as a title of rank, prince, β. εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι πολλοὶ ἐν.. Ἰθάκῃ Refs 8th c.BC+, etc.; of Cyrus, Refs 5th c.BC+
2.b descendant of a royal house, especially in Ionia, Refs 4th c.BC+; βασιλέων οἶκοι 'estates of the royal house', name of a district in Chios, Ἀθηνᾶ Refs
3 generally, lord, master, Refs 8th c.BC+
4 metaphorically, πόλεμος πάντων β. Refs 5th c.BC+
II at Athens, the second of the nine Archons, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 title of magistrates in other Greek states, as βασιλᾶες at Elis, Refs 4th c.BC+
II.3 at Rome, β. τῶν ἱερῶν, = rex sacrorum, Refs 1st c.BC+
III after the Persian war (without Article), the king of Persia, Refs 5th c.BC+ of the Satraps, Refs 5th c.BC+
III.2 of Alexander and his successors, usually with Article, Refs 4th c.BC+; Ἀντίγονος Alex.III; Πτολεμαῖος Refs 1st c.BC+; title used by Parthian kings, Refs 1st c.AD+; of God, NT
III.3 of the Roman emperors, NT+1st c.AD+
IV of any great man, πένησί τε καὶ βασιλεῦσιν Refs 1st c.AD+
IV.2 first or most distinguished of any class, Ἡρώδην τὸν β. τῶν λόγων Refs 2nd c.AD+; winner at a game, Refs 5th c.BC+; Stoic sage, μόνος β. Refs 2nd c.AD+; βασιλέως ἐγκέφαλος 'morsel fit for a king', Refs 4th c.BC+; β. σῦκα, name of a choice kind, Philem.Legal. cited in Refs 2nd c.AD+
V ={συμποσίαρχος}, Refs 1st c.AD+
VI wren, Refs 4th c.BC+
VII queen-bee,Refs is scanned ?~X ?~X ¯ in Refs 5th c.BC+; codices βασίλεια.)
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | basilevos47×βασιλεὺς | basilevois12×βασιλεῖς |
| object accusative | basilevon15×βασιλέα | basilevoin4×βασιλεῖς |
| direct address vocative | basilevor10×βασιλεῦ | basilevoir |
| of, belonging to genitive | basilevou9×βασιλέως | basilevoiu11×βασιλέων |
| to, for dative | basilevo6×βασιλεῖ | basilevoi1×βασιλεῦσιν |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
basilevo is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
115 occurrences, 100 of them printed here — the rest are in the reader
basilevos“king”subjectnominative singular47×, 32 shown
Matthew 2:2legarōntois; Pou atō tos tiktirantos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu? horana gar autou ton …… the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His …
Matthew 2:3akouarantos de tos basilevos Hērōdos tarassita kai pantas Hierosolumas meta …When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed …
Matthew 14:9kai lupirantos tos basilevos dia toin horkoin kai toin sunanakeiorōntoin …The king was grieved, but because of his …
Matthew 21:5Legavar ta thugatra Siōn; Idou tos basilevos su erchotō si prauos kai epibainarēntos …… the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding …
Matthew 22:7tos de basilevos orgizita, kai pemparantos teim strateumeim autou …The king was enraged, and he sent his …
Matthew 22:11eisercharantos de tos basilevos theasera toin anakeiorōntoin horata ekei anthrōpon …But when the king came in to see the guests …
Matthew 22:13tote tos basilevos legata toi diakonoi; Darantois autou podoin …Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand …
Matthew 25:34tote legati tos basilevos toi ek dexeiu autou; Deute, tois …Then the King will say to those on His …
Matthew 25:40kai apokrinirantos tos basilevos legati autoi; Amēn legamō vi, epi …And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you …
Matthew 27:11… tos hēgemonos legarōntos; Sis asō tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu? tos de Iēsus fēate; …… who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said …
Matthew 27:37… autou graforēntan; Houtos atō Iēsus tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu.… against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Matthew 27:42Allosoin sōzata, heauton ouk dunotō sōzara; basilevos Israēl atō, katabainatar nun apo tou …… cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down …
Mark 6:14Kai akouata tos basilevos Hērōdos, fanerem gar geneta tem onomem …Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ …
Mark 6:22… Hērōdo kai toi sunanakeiorōntoi, legata tos basilevos te korasie; Aitasar min hem ean …… Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me …
Mark 6:26kai perilupos generantos tos basilevos dia toin horkoin kai toin anakeiorōntoin …The king was consumed with sorrow, but because …
Mark 6:27kai euthuos apostelarantos tos basilevos spekoulatōron epitassata ferara tan kefalan autou. …So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought …
Mark 15:2… auton tos Pilatos; Sis asō tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu? tos de apokrinirantos auto …… Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said …
Mark 15:26… epigrafas tau aitiau autou epigraforēntas; Tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu.… charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mark 15:32tos christos tos basilevos Israēl katabainatar nun apo tou staurou, …Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from …
Luke 14:31ē tinos basilevos poreuorōntos hetero basilevo sumballara eis polemon …Or what king on his way to war with …
Luke 19:38legarōntois; Eulogorēntos tos erchorōntos basilevos en onome kuriou; en ourano eirēnas …“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of …
Luke 23:3… erōtata auton legarōntos; Sis asō tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu? tos de apokrinirantos auto …… Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said …
Luke 23:37kai legarōntois; Ei sis asō tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu, sōzasar siauton.“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save …
Luke 23:38… de kai epigrafas epi auto; Tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu houtos.… posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
John 1:49… asō tos huios tou theou, sis basilevos asō tou Israēl.… Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
John 12:13… erchorōntos en onome kuriou, kai tos basilevos tou Israēl.… of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
John 12:15Mē fobosōr, thugatrar Siōn; idou tos basilevos su erchotō, kathorōntos epi pōlon onau.… O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt …
John 18:33… kai legata auto; Sis asō tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu?… and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
John 18:37legata oun auto tos Pilatos; Oukoun basilevos asō sis? apokrinita tos Iēsus; Sis …“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I …
John 18:37… apokrinita tos Iēsus; Sis legasō hoti basilevos amō. mis eis houtem gennomē kai …… You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I …
John 19:14… kai legatō toi Ioudaioi; Ide tos basilevos vu.… to the Jews, “Here is your King!”
John 19:19… de graforēntem; Iēsus tos Nazōraios tos basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu.… It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
basilevon“king”objectaccusative singular15×
Matthew 1:6Iessai de gennata ton David ton basilevon. David de gennata ton Solomōnon ek …… Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of …
Mark 6:25… eisercharantas euthuos meta spoudau pros ton basilevon aiteta legarōntas; Thelamō hina exautēs dōaseia …… the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you …
Mark 15:9… autoi legarōntos; Thelavō apoluameia vi ton basilevon toiu Ioudaioiu?… me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
Mark 15:12… oun thelavō poiameia hon legavō ton basilevon toiu Ioudaioiu?… with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
Luke 23:2… Kaisaro dōarō kai legarōnton heauton christon basilevon arō.… proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”
John 6:15… erchorō kai harpazarō auton hina poialeia basilevon anachōrata palin eis tem orem autos …… about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a …
John 18:39… pascha; boulovō oun apoluameia vi ton basilevon toiu Ioudaioiu?… me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
John 19:12… asō filos tou Kaisarou; pantos tos basilevon heauton poiarōntos antilegatō to Kaisaro.… Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”
John 19:15… auton. legatō autoi tos Pilatos; Ton basilevon vu staurameia? apokrinila tois archierevois; Ouk …… Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king …
John 19:15… staurameia? apokrinila tois archierevois; Ouk echanō basilevon ei mē Kaisaron.… King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.
Acts 13:21kakeithen aitela basilevon, kai dōata autoi tos theos ton …Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son …
Acts 13:22… auton egerata ton David autoi eis basilevon, ho kai legata marturarantos; Heuriskama David …… He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have …
Acts 17:7… pantois apenanti teiu dogmeiu Kaisarou prassalō, basilevon heteron legarōntois arō Iēsun.… decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”
1 Peter 2:17… adelfotan agapavōr, ton theon fobovōr, ton basilevon timavōr.… of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Revelation 9:11echalō epi autaiu basilevon ton angelon tau abussau; onomem auto …They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His …
basilevor“king”direct addressvocative singular10×
Matthew 27:29… emprosthen autou empaizala auto legarōntois; Chairasōr, basilevor toiu Ioudaioiu,… Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Mark 15:18kai archela aspazorō auton; Chairasōr, basilevor toiu Ioudaioiu;… they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
John 19:3… pros auton kai legale; Chairasōr, tos basilevor toiu Ioudaioiu; kai dōale auto rapismeim.… Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him …
Acts 25:24kai fēatō tos Fēstos; Agrippor basilevor kai pantoir tois sumpareiarōntoir ni androir, …Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present …
Acts 25:26… epi vu kai malista epi su, basilevor Agrippor, hopōs tau anakrisiau generantau echameia …… of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry …
Acts 26:2Peri panteiu heiu enkalomō hupo Ioudaioiu, basilevor Agrippor, hēgomē miauton makarion epi su …“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to …
Acts 26:7… peri hau elpidau enkalomō hupo Ioudaioiu, basilevor;… is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the …
Acts 26:13hēmerau mesau kata tan hodan horama, basilevor, ouranothen huper tan lamprotan tou hēliou …About noon, O king, as I was on the road …
Acts 26:19Hothen, basilevor Agrippor, ouk genema apeithos ta ourania …So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to …
Acts 26:27pisteuasō, basilevor Agrippor, toi profētoi? oidamē hoti pisteuasō.King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets …
basilevou“king”of, belonging togenitive singular9×
Matthew 2:1… tau Ioudaiau en hēmerai Hērōdou tou basilevou, idou magois apo anatolaiu paragenela eis …… in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived …
Matthew 2:9tois de akouarantois tou basilevou poreuila, kai idou tos asteros hon …After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and …
Matthew 5:35… Hierosolumeim, hoti polas atō tou megou basilevou;… is the city of the great King.
Luke 1:5Geneta en tai hēmerai Hērōdou basilevou tau Ioudaiau hierevos tinos onome Zacharios …In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest …
Acts 7:10… auto charitan kai sofian enantion Faraō basilevou Aiguptau, kai katastēata auton hēgorōnton epi …… wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler …
Acts 12:20… Blaston ton epi tou koitōnou tou basilevou aitole eirēnan dia tem treforō autoiu …… secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because …
2 Corinthians 11:32en Damaska tos ethnarchos Haretou tou basilevou frourate tan polan Damaskēnoiu piazara min,In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the …
Hebrews 11:23… kai ouk fobila tem diatagmem tou basilevou.… and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
Hebrews 11:27“king”… Aiguptan, mē fobirantos ton thumon tou basilevou, ton gar aoraton hōs horarōntos karterata.… Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
basilevo“king”to, fordative singular6×
Matthew 18:23… homoiita tas basileias toiu ouranoiu anthrōpo basilevo hos thelata sunairara logon meta toiu …… kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with …
Matthew 22:2Homoiita tas basileias toiu ouranoiu anthrōpo basilevo, hotinos poiata gamoin to huio autou.… kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for …
Luke 14:31ē tinos basilevos poreuorōntos hetero basilevo sumballara eis polemon ouchi kathizarantos prōtem …… his way to war with another king will not first sit down and …
Acts 25:14… hēmerain diatribale ekei, tos Fēstos to basilevo anatitheta teim kata ton Paulon legarōntos; …… laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom …
1 Timothy 1:17to de basilevo toiu aiōnoiu, aftharto, aorato, mono theo, …Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only …
1 Peter 2:13… anthrōpina ktisia dia ton kurion; eite basilevo hōs huperecharōnto,… every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
basilevois“kings”subjectnominative plural12×
Matthew 17:25… legarōntos; Tinem si dokatō, Simōnor? tois basilevois tau gēau apo tinoiu labalō teleim …… He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and …
Luke 10:24… gar vi hoti pollois profētois kai basilevois thelala horara heim vis blepavō kai …… tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see …
Luke 22:25tos de legata autoi; Tois basilevois teiu ethneiu kurieualō auteiu kai tois …So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over …
Acts 4:26parastēala tois basilevois tau gēau kai tois archontois sunagila …The kings of the earth take their stand …
Revelation 6:15kai tois basilevois tau gēau kai tois megistanois kai …Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the …
Revelation 17:2meta hau porneuala tois basilevois tau gēau, kai methuila tois katoikarōntois …The kings of the earth were immoral with …
Revelation 17:9“kings”… tas gunaikas kathotō epi auteiu. kai basilevois hepta alō;… seven mountains on which the woman sits.
Revelation 17:12… teim deka kerateim heim horasa deka basilevois alō, hotinois basileian oupō labala, alla …… ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a …
Revelation 17:12… basileian oupō labala, alla exousian hōs basilevois henan hōran labalō meta teu thēreu.… receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.
Revelation 18:3… pinalē panteim teim ethneim, kai tois basilevois tau gēau meta autau porneuala, kai …… the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with …
Revelation 18:9… klaiali kai kopteli epi autan tois basilevois tau gēau tois meta autau porneuarantois …Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual …
Revelation 21:24… dia teu fōteu autau; kai tois basilevois tau gēau feralō tan doxan autoiu …… will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their …
basilevoin“kings”objectaccusative plural4×
Matthew 10:18kai epi hēgemonoin de kai basilevoin agivi heneken mu eis marturiem autoi …… will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to …
Luke 21:12… tain sunagōgain kai fulakain, apagorōntoin epi basilevoin kai hēgemonoin heneken teu onomeu mu;… and they will bring you before kings and governors.
Revelation 16:14… poiarōnteim sēmeim, heim ekporeuotō epi toin basilevoin tau oikoumenau holau, sunagara autoin eis …… and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them …
Revelation 19:19kai horama tem thērem kai toin basilevoin tau gēau kai teim strateumeim autoiu …… I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies …
basilevoiu“kings”of, belonging togenitive plural11×
Matthew 11:8… malakeim forarōntois en toi oikoi toiu basilevoiu alō.… wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.
Mark 13:9… sunagōgain derivi kai epi hēgemonoiu kai basilevoiu stēivi heneken mu eis marturiem autoi.… you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
Acts 9:15… onomem mu enōpion ethneiu tē kai basilevoiu huioiu tē Israēl,… name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
1 Timothy 2:2huper basilevoiu kai pantoiu toiu en huperocha arōntoiu, …for kings and all those in authority— so …
Hebrews 7:1… Abraam hupostrefarōnto apo tau kopau toiu basilevoiu kai eulogarantos auton,… returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Revelation 1:5… toiu nekroiu kai tos archontos toiu basilevoiu tau gēau. To agaparōnto nin kai …… dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who …
Revelation 16:12… autou, hina hetoimaziteia tas hodas toiu basilevoiu toiu apo anatolau hēliou.… to prepare the way for the kings of the East.
Revelation 17:14… hoti kurios kurioiu atō kai basilevos basilevoiu, kai tois meta autou klētois kai …… Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by …
Revelation 17:18… megas tas echarōntas basileian epi toiu basilevoiu tau gēau.… great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 19:16… ton mēron autou onomem graforēntem; Basilevos basilevoiu kai kurios kurioiu.… and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:18hina esthiaveia sarkain basilevoiu kai sarkain chiliarchoiu kai sarkain ischuroiu …… you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of …
basilevoi“kings”to, fordative plural1×
Revelation 10:11… laoi kai ethnei kai glōssai kai basilevoi polloi.… peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”