Quick Definition
ἄρχων, οντος, ὁ n.m. a ruler, prince, leader
Strong's Definition
present participle of 757; a first (in rank or power)
KJV Usage: chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -οντος | ἄρχω
37.56 · Control, Rule · Rule, Govern
ruler, governor (derivative of ἄρχω ‘to rule,’ 37.54) one who rules or governs
MAT 9:18 · MAT 9:23 · MAT 9:34 · MAT 12:24 · MAT 20:25 · MRK 3:22 · LUK 8:41 · LUK 11:15 · LUK 14:1 · LUK 18:18 · LUK 23:13 · LUK 23:35 · LUK 24:20 · JHN 7:26 · JHN 7:48 · JHN 12:31 · JHN 12:42 · JHN 14:30 · JHN 16:11 · ACT 3:17 · ACT 4:5 · ACT 4:8 · ACT 4:26 · ACT 7:27 · ACT 7:35 · ACT 7:35 · ACT 13:27 · ACT 14:5 · ACT 23:5 · ROM 13:3 · 1CO 2:6 · 1CO 2:8
56.29 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judge, Condemn, Acquit
official, judge a minor government official serving as a judge Though in LUK 12:58 ἄρχων has essentially the same reference as κριτής and δικαστής (56.28), the meaning differs in that ἄρχων represents government authority functioning in judgment on cases.
12.44 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Powers
Collocation: ἄρχων τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος
power, authority, lordship, ruler, wicked force (ἄρχων τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος - title for supernatural forces and powers) a supernatural power having some particular role in controlling the destiny and activities of human beings Some scholars have believed that it is possible to reconstruct at least in part some of the hierarchy represented by these various supernatural forces and powers, on the basis of the neoplatonic system of nine such powers arranged in three orders of three each. NT terminology and usage does not, however, lend itself to such a classification, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine what are the significant differences between these supernatural powers and forces.
In the case of EPH 1:21 some scholars apply the terms in question both to the supernatural and to the human sphere, thus emphasizing the totality of Christ’s rule. This has a considerable measure of justification in view of the concepts held by persons in the ancient world, since various earthly powers were supposed to reflect corresponding supernatural powers.
For the most part, translators have endeavored to render the various terms in somewhat different ways, for example, ἐξουσία as ‘authority’; δύναμις as ‘power’; κυριότης as ‘ruler’; and phrases such as τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις as ‘wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world.’ In a number of languages, however, there are simply not enough terms to designate various kinds of powers, authorities, and forces which could be employed in speaking of such supernatural impersonal powers. Accordingly, some translators have simply used a phrase such as ‘any and all kinds of supernatural powers.’ Where it is possible to make certain lexical distinctions between terms and phrases, this, of course, should be done, but in a number of contexts this may be impossible, and accordingly, some explanation in a marginal note may be required if the reader is to understand satisfactorily the intent of the passages in question.
37.95 · Control, Rule · Rule, Govern
Collocation: ἄρχων τῶν Ἰουδαίων
a member of the Council (a title, literally: ruler of the Jews) a member of the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews
1 One may classify ἄρχων τῶν Ἰουδαίων in Domain 11 Groups and Classes of Persons, but the phrase ἄρχων τῶν Ἰουδαίων seems to focus primarily upon the authority and status which such a person has, rather than merely upon his being a member of a deliberative body, as in the case of terms such as συνέδριον[a] city council (11.79), γερουσία and πρεσβυτέριον Sanhedrin (11.83).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἄρχων, -ovros, ὁ, (pres. ptep. of the verb ἄρχω), [fr. Aeschyl. down], a ruler, commander, chief, leader: used of Jesus, ἄρχων τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς, Rev. i. 5; of the rulers of nations, Mt. xx. 25; Acts iv. 26; vii. 35; univ. of magistrates, Ro. xiii. 3; Acts xxiii. 5; especially judges, Lk. xii. 58; Acts vii. 27, 35 (where note the antithesis: whom they refused as ἄρχοντα καὶ δικαστήν, him God sent as apyovra— leader, ruler my); Acts xvi. 19. of ἄρχοντες τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, those who in the present age (see αἰών, 3) by nobility of birth, learning and wisdom, power and authority, wield the greatest influence, whether among Jews or Gentiles, 1 Co. li. 6, 8; cf. Neander ad loc. p. 62 sqq. Of the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin: Lk. xxiii. 13, 35; xxiv. 20; Jn. ili. 1; vii. 26, 48; xii.42; Actsiii.17; iv. 5, 8; xiii. 27; xiv. 5. of the officers presiding over synagogues : Mt. ix. 18,23; Lk. viii. 41 (ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς, cf. Mk. v. 22 ἀρχισυνάγωγος). and perhaps also Lk. xviii. 18; ἄρχων τῶν Φαρισαίων, one who has great influence among the Pharisees, Lk. xiv. 1. of the devil, the prince of evil spirits: (6) ἄρχων τῶν δαιμονίων, Mt. ix. 34; xii. 24; Mk. iii. 22; Lk. xi. 15 ; 6 ἄρχ. τοῦ κόσμου, the ruler of the irreligious mass of mankind, Jn. xii. 31; xiv. 30; xvi. 11, (in rabbin. writ. Dyn WW); ἄρχ. τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, [enat. ad Eph. 19, 1 [ad Magn. 1, 3]; ἄρχων τοῦ καιροῦ τῆς cvonias, Barn. ep. 18,2); τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος, Eph. ii. 2 (see ἀήρ). [See Hort in Dict. of Chris. Biog., s.v. Archon. }
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἄρχων archōn 37x
one invested with power and dignity, chief, ruler, prince, magistrate, Mt. 9:23; 20:25
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἄρχων, -οντος, ὁ
(pres. ptcp. of ἄρχω), [in LXX for נשׂא, רֹאשׁ, שַׂר, etc.;]
a ruler, chief: Jesus, Re 1:5; rulers of nations, Mt 20:25, Ac 4:26 7:35; magistrates, Ac 23:5, Ro 13:3; judges, Lk 12:58, Ac 7:27, 35 16:19; members of the Sanhedrin, Lk 14:1 23:13, 35 24:20, Jo 3:1 7:26, 48 12:42, Ac 3:17 4:5, 8 13:27 14:5; rulers of synagogues, Mt 9:18, 23, Lk 8:41 18:18; οἱ ἄ. τ. αἰῶνος τούτου, I Co 2:6, 8; of the devil: ἄ. τῶν δαιμονίων, Mt 9:34 12:24, Mk 3:22, Lk 11:15; ὁ ἄ. τοῦ κόσμου, Jo 12:31 14:30 16:11; ἄ. τ. ἐξουσίας τ. ἀέρος, Eph 2:2 (MM, s.v.; DB, iii, 838; Ext., 99 f; DCG, ii, 419; DCG, s.v. Archon).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἄρχων. The official uses of ἀ. are fully classified by Dittenberger in the index to his OG/S, where he cites instances of its application to (1) sezmmus magistratus, (2) praefectus in urbem aut regionem subditam missus, (3) magistratus provincialis Romanorum, and (4) magistratus quilibet. To these for the NT we have to add ‘ruler of a synagogue,” which is illustrated, according to de Rossi, in an Italian inscr. of the reign of Claudius, Ca at I. 388 (= 7GS/ 949) Κλαύδιος Ἰωσῆς ἄρχων ἔζησεν ἔτη de. 70. 1024" (i/B.€. 7) —the inscr. from Berenice in Cyrenaica cited above under aBapys—eSote τοῖς ἄρχουσι Kal τῷ πολιτεύματι τῶν ἐν Βερενίκῃ Ἰουδαίων : a list of these Jewish ἄρχοντες is given at the beginning of the inscr., which is dated at the σκηνοanya. (See Schiirer as cited below.) So in P Lond 1177°*? (A.D. 113) (=TIII. p. 183),-in accounts for the water-works of the μητρόπολις (? Hermopolis)—Apxévtav Ἰ[ου]δαᾳίων προσευχῆς Θηβαίων μηνιαιω <pky, ‘‘ The rulers of the proseucha of Theban Jews 128 drachmae a month” (see further σι. προσευχή). For Jewish ἄρχοντες generally see Schiirer’s inscriptional evidence and discussion in Geschchée iil. p. 38 ff. (= A/F II. ii. p. 243 ff.). In P Lond 1178® (A.D. 194) (= III. p. 217) the designation is applied to the ‘‘ presidents” of an athletic club known as ‘The Worshipful Gymnastic Society of Nomads” (ἡ ἱερὰ ξυστικὴ περιπολιστικὴ. . . σύνοδος). Miscellaneous references are P Oxy III. 473? (A.D. 138-60) of the magistrates of Oxyrhynchus, 2b. 592 (A.D. 122-3) of Sarapion γενομένῳ πρυτανικῷ dipxovt(t) ἱερεῖ Kal ἀρχιδικαστῇ, BGU 11. 362%? (A.D. 214-5), 26. 38 81:36 ἄρχουσιν, Cagnat I. 118% (B.c. 78) (=7GS/ 951) ἐάν τε ἐν ταῖς πατρίσιν κατὰ τοὺς ἰδίους νόμους βούλωνται κρίνεσθαι ἢ ἐπὶ τῶν ἡμετέρων ἀρχόντων ἐπὶ Ἰταλικῶν κριτῶν. In P Oxy III. 592 we have ἃ πρυτανικὸς ἄρχων, which Wilcken (A7chiv iv. p. 118 f.) regards as equivalent to πρύτανις. Note also P Giss I. 19}? (ii/A.D.), where Aline commends to her husband, a otpatnyds, the example of ὃ ἐνθάδε στρατηγός, who τοῖς ἄρχου[σι ἐπιτί]θησι Td βάρος: these ἄρχοντες were accordingly subordinates. MGr ot ἄρχοντες or 7 ἀρχοντιά = the local aristocracy.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἄρχων (archōn) — ruler. ἄρχων, οντος, ὁ, (participle of ἄρχω) ruler, commander, νεός[Refs 5th c.BC+]; chief, king, Ἀσίας[Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄ. τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, of Satan, [NT]
II. as official title, chief magistrate, especially at Athens, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἄ., at Sparta, the authorities, [Refs 5th c.BC+] the eponymous magistrate of the year, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; so in Boeotia, at Delphi, Delos, and elsewhere, [Refs]; = Latin consul, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.2. governor of a dependency or province, e.g. in the Athenian Empire, [Refs]; of a Roman governor, [Refs]; = praefectus, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.3. generally, magistrate, official, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; opposed to ἰδιώτης, [Refs]; ruler of a synagogue, [NT]; president of a club, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]