CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 1203. δεσπότης (despotés) -- Master, Lord, Sovereign</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/1203.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/james/3-15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/1203.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 1203</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/1202.htm" title="1202">◄</a> 1203. despotés <a href="../greek/1204.htm" title="1204">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">despotés: Master, Lord, Sovereign</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">δεσπότης</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Noun, Masculine<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>despotés<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>des-pot'-ace<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(des-pot'-ace)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Master, Lord, Sovereign<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>a lord, master, or prince.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>From the Greek root δέω (deo), meaning "to bind" or "to tie," combined with πότης (potes), meaning "master" or "lord."<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span> - <b>H113 - אָדוֹן (adon):</b> Often translated as "lord" or "master," used to denote authority and ownership.<p> - <b>H136 - אֲדֹנָי (Adonai):</b> A title for God, emphasizing His lordship and sovereign rule.<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The term "despotés" is used in the New Testament to denote a person who has absolute ownership and unrestricted power over others. It is often translated as "master" or "lord" and conveys the idea of authority and control. In a biblical context, it is used to describe both human masters and God as the ultimate sovereign.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the Greco-Roman world, "despotés" was commonly used to refer to the head of a household or a master of slaves, indicating a position of authority and control. The term carried connotations of power and governance, often associated with the paternalistic role of a master over his household. In the New Testament, the term is elevated to describe God's sovereign authority over creation, emphasizing His ultimate power and dominion.<div class="vheading2">HELPS Word-studies</div><p class="discovery"><b>1203</b> <i>despótēs</i> (from <i>posis</i>, "husband") – properly, an authority figure ("master") who exercises complete jurisdiction (wields unrestricted power).</p><p class="discovery">[<a href="/greek/1203.htm">1203</a> (<i>despótēs</i>) implies someone exercising "unrestricted power and absolute domination, confessing no limitations or restraints" (R. Trench, 96).]</p><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/discovery.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>of uncertain origin<br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>lord, master<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>Lord (3), Master (3), masters (4).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 1203: δεσπότης</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">δεσπότης</span></span>, <span class="greek2">δεσπότου</span>, <span class="greek2">ὁ</span> (from <span class="abbreviation">Pindar</span> down), <span class="accented">a master, lord</span> (as of <span class="greek2">δοῦλοι</span>, <span class="greek2">οἰκέται</span>): <a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/6-1.htm">1 Timothy 6:1</a>,(2); <a href="/interlinear/2_timothy/2-21.htm">2 Timothy 2:21</a>; <a href="/interlinear/titus/2-9.htm">Titus 2:9</a>; <a href="/interlinear/1_peter/2-18.htm">1 Peter 2:18</a>; God is thus addressed by one who calls himself his <span class="greek2">δοῦλος</span>: <a href="/interlinear/luke/2-29.htm">Luke 2:29</a>, cf. <a href="/interlinear/acts/4-24.htm">Acts 4:24, 29</a> (<span class="greek2">δεσπότης</span> <span class="greek2">τῶν</span> <span class="greek2">πάντων</span>, <a href="/interlinear/job/5-8.htm">Job 5:8</a>; Wis. 6:8); Christ is so called, as one who has bought his servants, <a href="/interlinear/2_peter/2-1.htm">2 Peter 2:1</a>; rules over his church, <a href="/interlinear/jude/1-4.htm">Jude 1:4</a> (some take <span class="greek2">δεσπότης</span> here as designating God; cf. <span class="abbreviation">R. V.</span> marginal reading); and whose prerogative it is to take vengeance on those who persecute his followers, <a href="/interlinear/revelation/6-10.htm">Revelation 6:10</a>.<FOOTNOTE:1> [<span class="arttitle">SYNONYMS:</span> <span class="greek2">δεσπότης</span>, <span class="greek2">κύριος</span>: <span class="greek2">δεσπότης</span> was strictly the correlative of slave, <span class="greek2">δοῦλος</span>, and hence, denoted absolute ownership and uncontrolled power; <span class="greek2">κύριος</span> had a wider meaning, applicable to the various ranks and relations of life, and not suggestive either of property or of absolutism. <span class="abbreviation">Ammonius</span> under the word <span class="greek2">δεσπότης</span> says <span class="greek2">δεδσποτης</span> <span class="greek2">ὁ</span> <span class="greek2">τῶν</span> <span class="greek2">ἀργυρωνητων</span>. <span class="greek2">κύριος</span> <span class="greek2">δέ</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">πατήρ</span> <span class="greek2">υἱοῦ</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">αὐτός</span> <span class="greek2">τίς</span> <span class="greek2">ἑαυτοῦ</span>. So <span class="abbreviation">Philo</span>, quis rer. div. heres § 6 <span class="greek2">ὥστε</span> <span class="greek2">τόν</span> <span class="greek2">δεσπότην</span> <span class="greek2">κύριον</span> <span class="greek2">εἶναι</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">ἔτι</span> <span class="greek2">ὡσανεί</span> <span class="greek2">φοβερόν</span> <span class="greek2">κύριον</span>, <span class="greek2">οὐ</span> <span class="greek2">μόνον</span> <span class="greek2">τό</span> <span class="greek2">κῦρος</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">τό</span> <span class="greek2">κράτος</span> <span class="greek2">ἁπάντων</span> <span class="greek2">ἀνημμενον</span>, <span class="greek2">ἀλλά</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">δέος</span> <span class="greek2">καί</span> <span class="greek2">φόβον</span> <span class="greek2">ἱκανόν</span> <span class="greek2">ἐμποιησαι</span>. Cf. <span class="abbreviation">Trench</span>, § xxviii.; Woolsey, in Bib. Sacr. for 1861, p. 599f; <span class="abbreviation">Schmidt</span>, chapter 161, 5.] <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>Lord, master. <p>Perhaps from <a href="/greek/1210.htm">deo</a> and posis (a husband); an absolute ruler ("despot") -- Lord, master. <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/1210.htm">deo</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>δεσποτα δεσποτά δέσποτα δεσποταις δεσπόταις δεσποτας δεσπότας δεσποτη δεσπότη δεσπότῃ δεσποτην δεσπότην δεσποτης δεσπότης δεσπότου δεσποτών despota déspota despotais despótais despotas despótas despote despotē despótei despótēi despoten despotēn despóten despótēn despotes despotēs despótes despótēs<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/luke/2-29.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Luke 2:29</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular">N-VMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/luke/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">δοῦλόν σου <b>δέσποτα</b> κατὰ τὸ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/luke/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> Now <span class="itali">Lord,</span> You are releasing<br><a href="/kjvs/luke/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> <span class="itali">Lord,</span> now lettest thou<br><a href="/interlinear/luke/2-29.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> servant of you <span class="itali">Master</span> according to the<p><b><a href="/text/acts/4-24.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Acts 4:24</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular">N-VMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/acts/4.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">καὶ εἶπαν <b>Δέσποτα</b> σὺ ὁ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/acts/4.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> and said, <span class="itali">O Lord,</span> it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN<br><a href="/kjvs/acts/4.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and said, <span class="itali">Lord,</span> thou [art] God,<br><a href="/interlinear/acts/4-24.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> and said <span class="itali">Sovereign Lord</span> you who<p><b><a href="/text/1_timothy/6-1.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">1 Timothy 6:1</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural">N-AMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/6.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">τοὺς ἰδίους <b>δεσπότας</b> πάσης τιμῆς</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/1_timothy/6.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> their own <span class="itali">masters</span> as worthy<br><a href="/kjvs/1_timothy/6.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> count their own <span class="itali">masters</span> worthy of all<br><a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/6-1.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> the own <span class="itali">masters</span> of all honor<p><b><a href="/text/1_timothy/6-2.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">1 Timothy 6:2</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural">N-AMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/6.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">πιστοὺς ἔχοντες <b>δεσπότας</b> μὴ καταφρονείτωσαν</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/1_timothy/6.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> believers <span class="itali">as their masters</span> must not be disrespectful<br><a href="/kjvs/1_timothy/6.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> believing <span class="itali">masters,</span> let them<br><a href="/interlinear/1_timothy/6-2.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> believing having <span class="itali">masters</span> not let them despise [them]<p><b><a href="/text/2_timothy/2-21.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">2 Timothy 2:21</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Dative Masculine Singular">N-DMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/2_timothy/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">εὔχρηστον τῷ <b>δεσπότῃ</b> εἰς πᾶν</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/2_timothy/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> useful <span class="itali">to the Master,</span> prepared<br><a href="/kjvs/2_timothy/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> meet <span class="itali">for the master's use,</span> [and] prepared<br><a href="/interlinear/2_timothy/2-21.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> useful to the <span class="itali">master</span> for every<p><b><a href="/text/titus/2-9.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Titus 2:9</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Dative Masculine Plural">N-DMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/titus/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">δούλους ἰδίοις <b>δεσπόταις</b> ὑποτάσσεσθαι ἐν</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/titus/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> to their own <span class="itali">masters</span> in everything,<br><a href="/kjvs/titus/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> unto their own <span class="itali">masters,</span> [and] to<br><a href="/interlinear/titus/2-9.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> Servants to their own <span class="itali">masters</span> to be subject in<p><b><a href="/text/1_peter/2-18.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">1 Peter 2:18</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Dative Masculine Plural">N-DMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/1_peter/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">φόβῳ τοῖς <b>δεσπόταις</b> οὐ μόνον</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/1_peter/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> be submissive <span class="itali">to your masters</span> with all<br><a href="/kjvs/1_peter/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> [be] subject <span class="itali">to [your] masters</span> with<br><a href="/interlinear/1_peter/2-18.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> fear to <span class="itali">masters</span> not only<p><b><a href="/text/2_peter/2-1.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">2 Peter 2:1</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular">N-AMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/2_peter/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς <b>δεσπότην</b> ἀρνούμενοι ἐπάγοντες</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/2_peter/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> denying <span class="itali">the Master</span> who bought<br><a href="/kjvs/2_peter/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> denying <span class="itali">the Lord</span> that bought<br><a href="/interlinear/2_peter/2-1.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> having bought them <span class="itali">Master</span> denying bringing upon<p><b><a href="/text/jude/1-4.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Jude 1:4</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular">N-AMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/jude/1.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">τὸν μόνον <b>δεσπότην</b> καὶ κύριον</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/jude/1.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> our only <span class="itali">Master</span> and Lord,<br><a href="/kjvs/jude/1.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> denying the only <span class="itali">Lord</span> God, and<br><a href="/interlinear/jude/1-4.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> the only <span class="itali">master</span> and Lord<p><b><a href="/text/revelation/6-10.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Revelation 6:10</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular">N-NMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/6.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">πότε ὁ <b>δεσπότης</b> ὁ ἅγιος</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/revelation/6.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> How long, <span class="itali">O Lord,</span> holy<br><a href="/kjvs/revelation/6.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> How long, <span class="itali">O Lord,</span> holy and<br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/6-10.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> when O <span class="itali">Lord</span> holy<p><b><a href="/greek/1203.htm">Strong's Greek 1203</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_1203.htm">10 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/despota_1203.htm">δέσποτα — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/despotais_1203.htm">δεσπόταις — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/despotas_1203.htm">δεσπότας — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/despote__1203.htm">δεσπότῃ — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/despote_n_1203.htm">δεσπότην — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/despote_s_1203.htm">δεσπότης — 1 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/greek/1202.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1202"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1202" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/1204.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1204"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1204" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>