Strong's Lexicon
presbuterion: Council of elders, eldership
Original Word:πρεσβυτέριον
Part of Speech:Noun, Neuter
Transliteration:presbuterion
Pronunciation:pres-boo-ter'-ee-on
Phonetic Spelling:(pres-boo-ter'-ee-on)
Definition:Council of elders, eldership
Meaning:an assembly of elders, the Sanhedrin, officers of the church assembly, presbytery.
Word Origin:Derived from πρεσβύτερος (presbuteros), meaning "elder."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries:The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of elders is זָקֵן (zaqen), which also means "elder" or "old man."
Usage:The term "presbuterion" refers to a group or council of elders, often within a religious or communal context. In the New Testament, it is used to describe the assembly of elders in the Jewish Sanhedrin or the leadership body within the early Christian church. The word emphasizes the role of elders as leaders and decision-makers within the community.
Cultural and Historical Background:In Jewish tradition, the Sanhedrin was the supreme council and tribunal during the time of Jesus and the early church, composed of elders, scribes, and priests. The concept of eldership was also significant in early Christianity, where elders were appointed to oversee and shepherd the local congregations. This structure was rooted in Jewish customs and adapted to the needs of the growing Christian communities.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 4244presbytérion – properly, a council (group) of elders; ateam of elder-overseers serving a local church who lead (feed, shepherd) the people of the Lord (cf. 1 Tim 4:14).
1 Tim 4:14: “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by thepresbytery” (NASU) (4244/presbytérion).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
presbuterosDefinitiona body of elders
NASB Translationcouncil of the elders (1), council of elders (1), presbytery (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4244: πρεσβυτέριονπρεσβυτέριον,
πρεσβυτερίου,
τό (
πρεσβύτερος, which see),
body of elders, presbytery, senate, council: of the Jewish elders (see
συνέδριον, 2),
Luke 22:66;
Acts 22:5; (cf. Daniel,
Theod. at the beginning); of the elders of any body (church) of Christians,
1 Timothy 4:14 (ecclesiastical writings (cf. references under the word
πρεσβύτερος, 2 b.)).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
presbytery, body of eldersNeuter of a presumed derivative ofpresbuteros; the order of elders, i.e. (specially), Israelite Sanhedrin or Christian "presbytery" -- (estate of) elder(-s), presbytery.
see GREEKpresbuteros
Forms and Transliterations
πρεσβείς πρέσβεις πρέσβυς πρεσβυτεριον πρεσβυτέριον πρεσβυτεριου πρεσβυτερίου presbuterion presbuteriou presbyterion presbytérion presbyteriou presbyteríouLinks
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