Quick Definition
βασιλεύω v. I rule, reign, reign over
Strong's Definition
from 935; to rule (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: king, reign
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | βασιλεία · βασίλειος · βασιλεύς · βασιλικός · βασίλισσα · συμβασιλεύω
37.64 · Control, Rule · Rule, Govern
to rule, to be a king, to reign, rule, reign to rule as a king, with the implication of complete authority and the possibility of being able to pass on the right to rule to one’s son or near kin It is generally a serious mistake to translate the phrase ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ‘the kingdom of God’ as referring to a particular area in which God rules. The meaning of this phrase in the NT involves not a particular place or special period of time but the fact of ruling. An expression such as ‘to enter the kingdom of God’ thus does not refer to ‘going to heaven’ but should be understood as ‘accepting God’s rule’ or ‘welcoming God to rule over.’
MAT 2:22 · LUK 1:33 · LUK 19:14 · LUK 19:27 · 1CO 4:8 · 1CO 4:8 · 1CO 15:25 · 1TI 6:15 · REV 11:15 · REV 11:17 · REV 19:6 · REV 20:4 · REV 20:6 · REV 22:5
37.22 · Control, Rule · Control, Restrain
to reign, to control completely (a figurative extension of meaning of βασιλεύω[a] ‘to rule, to reign as a king,’ 37.64) to be in control in an absolute manner In a number of languages, however, it may be impossible to personify death as being capable of ‘reigning’ or ‘ruling.’ Sometimes the equivalent meaning may be expressed as ‘from the time of Adam to that of Moses there was no way for people to escape death’ or ‘... to die was certain’ (ROM 5:14).
ROM 5:14 · ROM 5:17 · ROM 5:17 · ROM 5:21 · ROM 5:21 · ROM 6:12
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
βασιλεύω ; fut. βασιλεύσω ; 1 aor. ἐβασίλευσα; (βασιλεύς) ; —in Grk. writ. [fr. Hom. down] with gen. or dat., in the sacred writ., after the Hebr. (Sy win), foll. by emi with gen. of place, Mt. ii. 22 (where LT WH om. ‘irbr. ἐπί) ; Rev. v.10; foll. by ἐπί with acc. of the pers., Lk. i. 33; xix. 14,27; Ro. v.14; [ef. W. 206 (193 sq.); B. 169 (147) ]—to be king, to exercise kingly power, «9 reign: univ., 1 Tim. vi. 15; Lk. xix. 14,27; of the governor of a country, although not possessing kingly Bacrato rank, Mt. ii. 22; of God, Rev. xi. 15, 17; xix. 6; of the rule of Jesus, the Messiah, Lk. i. 33; 1 Co. xv. 25; Rev. xi. 15; of the reign of Christians in the millennium, Rey. v. 10; xx. 4, 6; xxii. 5; hence Paul transfers the word to denote the supreme moral dignity, liberty, blessedness, which will be enjoyed by Christ’s redeemed ones: Ro. v. 17 (ef. De Wette and Thol. ad loc.) ; 1 Co. iv. 8. Metaph. to exercise the highest influence, to control: Ro. ν. 14, 17, 21; vi. 12. The aor. ἐβασίλευσα denotes J obtained royal power, became king, have come to reign, in 1 Co. iv. 8 [ef. W. 302 (283); B. 215 (185)]; Rev. xi. 17; xix. 6, (as often in Sept. and prof. writ.; ef. Grimm on 1 Mace. p. 11; Breitenbach or Kiihner on Xen. mem. 1, 1,18; on the aor. to express entrance into a state, see Bnhdy. p. 382; Kriiger § 53, 5,1; [Kihner § 386, 5; Goodwin § 19 Ν. 17). [Comp.: ovp-Bacrdevo. |
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
βασιλεύω basileuō 21x
to possess regal authority, be a king, reign; to rule, govern, Mt. 2:22; met. to be in force, predominate, prevail, Rom. 5:14, 17, 21; met. to be in kingly case, fare royally, 1 Cor. 4:8
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
βασιλεύω,
(< βασιλεύς), [in LXX for מלךְ, its parts and derivatives, exc. IV Ki 15:5 (ישׁב);]
to be king, to reign, rule: I Ti 6:15; c. gen. (cl.), Mt 2:22; seq. ἐπί, c. acc. (= Heb. מלךְ על; Bl., § 36, 8), Lk 1:33 19:14, 27, Ro 5:14; ἐπὶ τ. γῆς, on earth, Re 5:10; of God, Re 11:15, 17 19:6; of Christ, Lk 1:33, I Co 15:25, Re 11:15; of Christians, Re 5:10 20:4 (constative aor., M, Pr., 130), Re 20:6 22:5. Metaph., Christians, Ro 5:17, I Co 4:8; θάνατος, Ro 5:14, 17; ἁμαρτία, Ro 5:21 6:12. Ingressive aor. (M, Pr., 109), to begin to reign: I Co 4:8, Re 11:17 19:6 (Cremer, 137).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
βασιλεύω. A good example of the ingressive aorist is afforded by the new Agraphon as restored by the editors—P Oxy IV. 654° θαμ]βηθεὶς βασιλεύσει καῇ βασιλεύσας ἀναπα]ήσεται, ““ astonished he shall reach the Kingdom, and having reached the Kingdom he shall rest”: see /0/eg. p. 130. The verb is used to render the Persian title (see under βασιλεύς) in P Sa‘id Khan 1 (a)! (B.c. 88) βασιλεύοντος βασιλέων Ἀρσάκου : 1 (4)! and 2! (B.c. 22-1) have the same formula. CPHerm 1254.% (a.p. 260-8) διατρίβοντός colv] ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλευούσης Ῥώμης supplies an illustration for Rev 187, For the relation of the Pauline conception of ‘‘ the saint as king” (Rom 517, 2 Tim 215) to the Greek philosophic ideal, see Ramsay 7eaching, p. 157 ff.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
βασιλεύω (basileuō) — to reign. βᾰσῐλ-εύω, to be king, rule, reign, οὐ μέν πως πάντες βασιλεύσομεν ἐνθάδ᾽ Ἀχαιοί [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐν ὑμῖν.. βασίλευε was king among you, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also of a woman, ἢ βασίλευεν ὑπὸ Πλάκῳ reigned as queen, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: in aorist, to have become king, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with genitive, to be king of, rule over, ἐν.. Ἰθάκῃ βασιλεύσει Ἀχαιῶν [Refs 8th c.BC+]: with dative, to be king among, Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν [LXX+8th c.BC+]:—passive, to be governed by a king, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, to be governed or administered, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, submit to the king, [Refs 1st c.AD+] __b to be ἄρχων β. at Athens, [Refs 5th c.BC+] of other magistrates, [Refs] __c later ἡ βασιλεύουσα πόλις the imperial city, of Rome, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. enjoy as master, τῶ χρυσῶ β. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
3. absolutely, live royally, β. ἐν πενίᾳ [NT+1st c.AD+]
II. causal, appoint as king, τινά [LXX]; but β. τισὶ βασιλέα make them a king,[LXX]