noun · masculine
despotos
Greekδεσπότης (despotēs)
Strong’sG1203
a lord, master, or prince
stem despot-10 times in the New Testamentin 9 of 27 books5 of 10 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
δεσπότης, -ου, ὁ
[in LXX chiefly for אָדוֹן, אֲדֹנָי; in Jth 9:17, δ. τ. οὐρανῶν κ. τ. γῆς];
SYN.: κύριος (q.v.), implying limitation of authority and a more general relation than δ., which "denoted absolute ownership and uncontrolled power" (Thayer).
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1203 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saiddes-pot'-ace
an absolute ruler ("despot")
Fromperhaps from G1210 and πόσις (a husband);
King JamesLord, master.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | despotos | despotois |
| object accusative | despoton2×δεσπότην | despotoin2×δεσπότας |
| direct address vocative | despotor3×δεσπότης | despotoir |
| of, belonging to genitive | despotou | despotoiu |
| to, for dative | despoto1×δεσπότῃ | despotoi2×δεσπόταις |
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
despoto 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
10 occurrences, every one of them listed
despoton“master”objectaccusative singular2×
2 Peter 2:1“master”Ginela de kai pseudoprofētois en to lao, hōs kai en vi eli pseudodidaskalois, hotinois pareisagali hairesiain apōleiau, kai ton agorazaraton autoin despoton arnerōtois, epagarōtois heautoi tachinan apōleian;Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Jude 1:4“master”pareisduala gar tinois anthrōpois, tois palai prografirētois eis houtem tem krimem, asebois, tan tou theou nu charian metatitharōtois eis aselgeian kai ton monon despoton kai kurion nu Iēsun Christon arnerōtois.For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed — ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
despotor“Lord”direct addressvocative singular3×
Luke 2:29“Lord”Nun apoluasō ton doulon su, despotor, kata tem rēmem su en eirēna;“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
Acts 4:24“Lord”tois de akouaratois homothumadōs airala fōnan pros ton theon kai legala; Despotor, sis tos poiaratos ton ouranon kai tan gēan kai tan thalassan kai panteim teim en autei,When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
Revelation 6:10“Lord”kai krazala fōna mega legarōtois; Heōs pote, tor despotor tor hagior kai alēthinor, ouk krinasō kai ekdikasō tem haimem nu ek toiu katoikarōtoiu epi tau gēau?And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”
despoto“master”to, fordative singular1×
2 Timothy 2:21“master”ean oun tinos ekkathairateia heauton apo houteiu, eti skeuem eis timan, hagiazirētem, euchrēstem to despoto, eis pantem ergem agathem hetoimazirētem.So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
despotoin“masters”objectaccusative plural2×
1 Timothy 6:1“masters”Hosois alō hupo zugon doulois, toin idioin despotoin pantau timau axioin hēgelōr, hina mē tem onomem tou theou kai tas didaskalias blasfēmiteiō.All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
1 Timothy 6:2“masters”tois de pistoin echarōtois despotoin mē katafronalōr, hoti adelfois alō; alla mallon douleualōr, hoti pistois alō kai agapētois tois tau euergesiau antilambanerōtois. Houteim didaskasōr kai parakalasōr.Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.
despotoi“masters”to, fordative plural2×
Titus 2:9“masters”Douloin idioi despotoi hupotassirō en pantei, euarestoin arō, mē antilegarōtoin,Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
1 Peter 2:18“masters”Toir oiketoir hupotassirōtois en panto fobo toi despotoi, ouk monem toi agathoi kai epieikoi alla kai toi skolioi.Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.