# king, kingship

## Definition:

In the Bible, the term “king” refers to a man who is the supreme ruler of a particular group of people or a particular region of land (or both).

* In biblical times, a king was usually chosen to rule on the basis of family relation to the previous king(s). When a king died, usually his oldest son became the next king.
* The Bible often refers to God is as a king who rules over the entire universe (in a general sense) and over his people (in a specific sense).
* The New Testament refers to Jesus as a king in various ways, including: “king of the Jews;” “king of Israel;” and “king of kings.”
* Depending on the context, the term “king” might also be translated as “supreme chief” or “sovereign ruler.”
* The phrase “king of kings” might be translated as “king who rules over all other kings” or “supreme ruler who has authority over all other rulers.”

(See also: [authority](../kt/authority.md), [Herod Antipas](../names/herodantipas.md), [kingdom](../other/kingdom.md), [kingdom of God](../kt/kingdomofgod.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Timothy 6:15-16](rc://en/tn/help/1ti/06/15)
* [2 Kings 5:18](rc://en/tn/help/2ki/05/18)
* [2 Samuel 5:3](rc://en/tn/help/2sa/05/03)
* [Acts 7:9-10](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/09)
* [Acts 13:22](rc://en/tn/help/act/13/22)
* [John 1:49-51](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/01/49)
* [Luke 1:5](rc://en/tn/help/luk/01/05)
* [Luke 22:24-25](rc://en/tn/help/luk/22/24)
* [Matthew 5:35](rc://en/tn/help/mat/05/35)
* [Matthew 14:9](rc://en/tn/help/mat/14/09)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[8:6](rc://en/tn/help/obs/08/06)__ One night, the Pharaoh, which is what the Egyptians called their kings, had two dreams that disturbed him greatly.
* __[16:1](rc://en/tn/help/obs/16/01)__ The Israelites had no __king__, so everyone did what they thought was right for them.
* __[16:18](rc://en/tn/help/obs/16/18)__ Finally, the people asked God for a __king__ like all the other nations had.
* __[17:5](rc://en/tn/help/obs/17/05)__ Eventually, Saul died in battle, and David became __king__ of Israel. He was a good __king__, and the people loved him.
* __[21:6](rc://en/tn/help/obs/21/06)__ God’s prophets also said that the Messiah would be a prophet, a priest, and a __king__.
* __[48:14](rc://en/tn/help/obs/48/14)__ David was the __king__ of Israel, but Jesus is the __king__ of the entire universe!

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H4427, H4428, H4430, G09350, G09360
