Define

• Hebrew: zaqen (זָקֵן)

  • referring to the official leaders of Israel
  • recognized elders who governed, judged, and shepherded the people

• Greek: presbyteros (πρεσβύτερος)

  • presbyteros is a noun that designates a recognized office/role within the ekklēsia. It is used interchangeably with episkopos for the same group of leaders. The word literally means "elder" and carries the function of mature oversight.
  • The occurrences that refer to the ecclesia office/role are:
  • Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2,4,6,22,23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; 1 Timothy 5:17,19; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1,5. In these passages, presbyteros clearly denotes a formal leadership position in the local ekklēsia.

Related words

• overseer episkopos (ἐπίσκοπος) The word itself is a noun meaning “overseer” or “guardian,” describing the function of watching over, shepherding, and caring for the flock of YHWH

Additional Info

Connections

1. Matthew 15:2 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
2. Matthew 16:21 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
3. Matthew 21:23 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
4. Matthew 26:3 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
5. Matthew 26:47 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
6. Matthew 26:57 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
7. Matthew 26:59 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
8. Matthew 27:1 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
9. Matthew 27:3 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
10. Matthew 27:12 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
11. Matthew 27:20 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
12. Matthew 27:41 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
13. Matthew 28:12 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
14. Mark 7:3 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
15. Mark 7:5 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
16. Mark 8:31 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
17. Mark 11:27 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
18. Mark 14:43 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
19. Mark 14:53 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
20. Mark 15:1 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
21. Luke 7:3 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism sent to Jesus
22. Luke 9:22 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
23. Luke 15:25 — “elder son” (literal age)
24. Luke 20:1 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
25. Luke 22:52 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
26. John 8:9 — older men (literal age, in the crowd)
27. Acts 2:17 — quoting Joel: “your old men shall dream dreams”
28. Acts 4:5 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
29. Acts 4:8 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
30. Acts 4:23 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
31. Acts 6:12 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
32. Acts 11:30 — elders in the ecclesia at Jerusalem
33. Acts 14:23 — appointed elders in every ecclesia
34. Acts 15:2 — elders in Jerusalem ecclesia
35. Acts 15:4 — elders in Jerusalem ecclesia
36. Acts 15:6 — elders in Jerusalem ecclesia
37. Acts 15:22 — elders in Jerusalem ecclesia
38. Acts 15:23 — elders in Jerusalem ecclesia
39. Acts 16:4 — decisions by apostles and elders
40. Acts 20:17 — elders of the ecclesia in Ephesus
41. Acts 21:18 — elders in Jerusalem church
42. Acts 23:14 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
43. Acts 24:1 — Jewish elder (Tertullus, spokesman)
44. Acts 25:15 — official religious and civic leaders within Judaism
45. 1 Timothy 5:1 — do not rebuke an older man
46. 1 Timothy 5:2 — older women
47. 1 Timothy 5:17 — elders who rule well
48. 1 Timothy 5:19 — accusation against an elder
49. Titus 1:5 — appoint elders in every town
50. Hebrews 11:2 — the men of old (OT saints)
51. James 5:14 — call for the elders of the ecclesia
52. 1 Peter 5:1 — Peter exhorts the elders
53. 1 Peter 5:5 — younger submit to elders
54. 2 John 1 — “The elder” (John’s self-designation)
55. 3 John 1 — “The elder” (John’s self-designation)
56. Revelation 4:4 — twenty-four elders around the throne
57. Revelation 4:10 — twenty-four elders
58. Revelation 5:5 — one of the elders speaks
59. Revelation 5:6 — twenty-four elders
60. Revelation 5:8 — twenty-four elders
61. Revelation 5:11 — twenty-four elders
62. Revelation 5:14 — twenty-four elders
63. Revelation 7:11 — twenty-four elders
64. Revelation 7:13 — one of the elders
65. Revelation 11:16 — twenty-four elders
66. Revelation 14:3 — twenty-four elders
67. Revelation 19:4 — twenty-four elders

Connections