Define

• Hebrew: There is no direct Hebrew equivalent in the Old Testament for episkopos (ἐπίσκοπος)

  • The NT overseer combines OT elder authority, judge-like governance, officer-style supervision, and shepherd responsibility. So the closest OT equivalent in role is:
    • Elder (zaqen) for structure
    • Judge (shofet) for authority
    • Officer (paqîd) for oversight. The verbal root pāqad (פָּקַד) – meaning "to visit, oversee, appoint, care for" – is sometimes rendered expressing the function of oversight

• Greek: 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.
  • In the New Testament era, the roles of presbyteros and episkopos describe the same men and their shepherding oversight, with presbyteros linking directly back to the Old Testament zaqen (זָקֵן), while episkopos emphasizes the function of that elder role without a precise Old Testament titular parallel.

Related words

• 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.

Additional Info

Connections

• Acts 20:28 — "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (ἐπισκόπους), to care for the church of God..."
• Philippians 1:1 — "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers (ἐπισκόποις) and deacons..."
• 1 Timothy 3:2 — "Therefore an overseer (ἐπίσκοπον) must be above reproach, the husband of one wife..."
• Titus 1:7 — "For an overseer (ἐπίσκοπον), as God's steward, must be above reproach..."
• 1 Peter 2:25 — "For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer (ἐπίσκοπον) of your souls."

Connections