Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GOVERNOR

Ruler of a city, territory, or province appointed by a king. Joseph became governor of all Egypt (Gen. 42:6; 45:26; cf. Acts 7:10), and Solomon named governors who exercised civic and military functions (1 Kgs. 20:14-22; 2 Chr. 9:14).

References to governors in the OT frequently designate the official administrators of Babylonia and Persia. The usual term (Heb. peḥâ) signifies an administrative level below a satrap, the Persian colonial governor. For example, Tattenai was governor of the province “Beyond the (Euphrates) River” (Ezra 5:6), while Zerubbabel and Nehemiah were local governors appointed by the king to rule Judah (Hag. 1:1; Neh. 5:14). Governors are also mentioned in Daniel (e.g., Dan. 2:48; 6:7[MT 8]).

In NT times “governor” (Gk. hēgemṓn) usually referred to the ruler of a Roman province (Mark 13:9; 1 Pet. 2:14). Matthew notes that Christians could be hauled into court “before governors and kings” for Christ’s sake (Matt. 10:18; cf. Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12). In his trial Jesus was brought before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea (Matt. 27:2, 11-26).

Three kinds of Roman officials are described as “governors” in Luke: the legate, a military ruler governing an imperial province (Quirinius of Syria, Luke 2:2); the proconsul, governing a senatorial province (Sergius Paulus of Cyprus, Acts 13:7; Gallio of Achaia, 18:12); and the perfect or procurator, governing a subdivision of a province with a settled army (Pontius Pilate, Luke 3:1; Felix, Acts 23:24; Festus, 24:27). In 2 Cor. 11:32 the “governor” (ethnárchēs) under King Aretas was probably his assistant.

The basic attitude inculcated in the Bible is one of respect and obedience to “the governing authorities” (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; cf. Mal. 1:8). Ultimately, God is seen as the supreme governor who “rules over the nations” (Ps. 22:28[29]).

Allison A. Trites

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GOVERNOR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)