Dominion

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Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]

This word is used, though not invariably, in the translation of three Gr. expressions: (1) the verb κυριεύειν, ‘to be lord of,’ ‘to have dominion over’ ( Romans 6:9;  Romans 6:14;  Romans 7:1 Authorized Versionand Revised Version;  2 Corinthians 1:24, Authorized Version, where Revised Versionhas ‘have lordship’); (2) τὸ κράτος; (3) κυριότης.

τὸ κράτος is rendered thus in the doxologies in  1 Peter 4:11;  1 Peter 5:11,  Judges 1:25,  Revelation 1:6;  Revelation 5:13 (Revised Version). In the only other doxology where it occurs ( 1 Timothy 6:16) Revised Versionstrangely retains ‘power’ of Authorized Version. Lightfoot (on  Colossians 1:11) says that ‘the word κράτος in the NT is applied solely to God,’ Thayer (s. v. δύναμις), more cautiously, that the word is used ‘in the NT chiefly of God’;  Hebrews 2:14 is an exception.

κυριότης) is found in four passages, viz.  Ephesians 1:21,  Colossians 1:16 (plural),  Judges 1:8,  2 Peter 2:10; Revised Versionin all cases gives ‘dominion,’ Authorized Versionin the first three, and in the margin of  2 Peter 2:10 (text, ‘government’). In Eph. and Col. a class of angels is meant (Milton’s ‘Dominations’) with which compare  1 Corinthians 8:5, where angels are called κύριοι (Thayer Grimm’s Gr.-Eng. Lexicon of the NT, tr. Thayer, Lexicon, s.v. κυριότης). The meaning of the word in Peter and Jude presents some difficulty. ( a ) Many suppose that here also angels are referred to, which  2 Peter 2:11 and the reference to the sin of the Sodomites seem to support. Cremer ( Lexicon, s.v. κυριότης) says that in Peter evil angels are implied from the context, though not in Jude. But, as Bennett (Century Bible: ‘The General Epistles,’ 1901, p. 334) points out, ‘it does not seem likely that blasphemy against angels would be so conspicuous a sin of licentious men as to call forth this emphatic condemnation.’ ( b ) κυριότης may be understood of the power and majesty of God (Bigg, St. Peter and St. Jude [ International Critical Commentary , 1901], p. 279), or the Lordship of Christ, in support of which  2 Peter 2:1;  2 Peter 2:6,  Judges 1:4;  Judges 1:15 may be quoted. ( c ) It may refer to authorities in the Church whose legitimate power these men despised and spoke against. Bennett inclines to this interpretation in Jude and regards it as included also in 2 Peter, where he gives the general principle of the argument thus: when good angels withstand dignities, i.e. evil angels, although the good are the more powerful, they do not abuse their opponents; how absurd and wicked for evil men to abuse good angels, or perhaps even the legitimate Church authorities. J. R. Lumby (in Speaker’s Commentary  : ‘Heb. to Rev.,’ 1881, p. 395) combines ( b ) and ( c ) above: ‘the railing at dignities, though its first exhibition might be made against the Apostles and those set in authority in the Church, yet went further and resulted in the denial of our only Master, God Himself, whose dominion these sinners were disregarding, and our Lord Jesus Christ, whose glory these men speak evil of or rail at.’

In the Revised Versionof  1 Timothy 2:12 αὐθεντεῖν ἀνδρός is translated ‘to have dominion over,’ Authorized Version‘to usurp authority over.’ See also articlePrincipality.

W. H. Dundas.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [2]

A — 1: Κράτος (Strong'S #2904 — Noun Neuter — kratos — krat'-os )

"force, strength, might," more especially "manifested power," is derived from a root kra---, "to perfect, to complete:" "creator" is probably connected. It also signifies "dominion," and is so rendered frequently in doxologies,  1—Peter 4:11;  5:11;  Jude 1:25;  Revelation 1:6;  5:13 (RV); in   1—Timothy 6:16 , and  Hebrews 2:14 it is translated "power." See Might , Power , Strength.

A — 2: Κυριότης (Strong'S #2963 — Noun Feminine — kuriotes — koo-ree-ot'-ace )

denotes "lordship" (kurios, "a lord"), "power, dominion," whether angelic or human,  Ephesians 1:21;  Colossians 1:16;  2—Peter 2:10 (RV, for AV, "government");   Jude 1:8 . In Eph. and Col. it indicates a grade in the angelic orders, in which it stands second.

B — 1: Κυριεύω (Strong'S #2961 — Verb — kurieuo — koo-ree-yoo'-o )

"to be lord over, rule over, have dominion over" (akin to A, No. 2), is used of (a) Divine authority over men,  Romans 14:9 , "might be Lord;" (b) human authority over men,  Luke 22:25 , "lordship,"  1—Timothy 6:15 , "lords" (RV, marg., "them that rule as lords"); (c) the permanent immunity of Christ from the "dominion" of death,  Romans 6:9; (d) the deliverance of the believer from the "dominion" of sin,  Romans 6:14; (e) the "dominion" of law over men,  Romans 7:1; (f) the "dominion" of a person over the faith of other believers,  2—Corinthians 1:24 (RV, "lordship"). See Lord.

B — 2: Κατακυριεύω (Strong'S #2634 — Verb — katakurieuo — kat-ak-oo-ree-yoo'-o )

kata, "down" (intensive), and No. 1, "to exercise, or gain, dominion over, to lord it over," is used of (a) the "lordship" of gentile rulers,  Matthew 20:25 , AV, "exercise dominion," RV, "lord it;"  Mark 10:42 , AV, "exercise lordship," RV, "lord it;" (b) the power of demons over men,  Acts 19:16 , AV, "overcame," RV, "mastered;" (c) of the evil of elders in "lording" it over the saints under their spiritual care,  1—Peter 5:3 . See Lordship , Overcome.

 1—Timothy 2:12Authority

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [3]

Dominion . Lordship, or the possession and exercise of the power to rule. In   Colossians 1:16 the word is used in the plural, along with ‘thrones, principalities, and powers,’ to denote supernatural beings possessed of the power of lordship, and ranking as so many kings, princes, and potentates of the heavenly regions. The same word in the singular, and inessentially the same meaning, appears in   Ephesians 1:21 , where allusion is made to the exaltation of Christ ‘far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.’ There is no necessary reference in either of these texts to evil angels, but a comparison of what is written in   Ephesians 2:2;   Ephesians 6:12 shows that ‘the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places’ need not be excluded. Similar indefiniteness is apparent in the other two passages,   2 Peter 2:10 ,   Judges 1:8 , where the same word is found. It is understood by some to refer here to the lordship of civil rulers, or to any concrete representative of such lordship. Others believe that the reference is to angels, either good or evil, as representing some form of supernatural power and dominion, and the reference in the context to Michael, the archangel, not bringing a railing judgment even against the devil, may be thought to favour this view. A third explanation is also possible, and is favoured by the mention in   Judges 1:4 of ‘our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.’ Those ungodly men, who deny the Lord Jesus, would not hesitate to despise, set at nought, and rail at all manner of glorious lordships and dignities. See Authority, Power.

M. S. Terry.

Holman Bible Dictionary [4]

 Numbers 24:19 Daniel 7:6 7:12 7:14 1 Kings 4:24 1 Kings 9:19 Genesis 1:26 1:28 Psalm 8:6 Genesis 37:8 Judges 14:4 Nehemiah 9:28 Psalm 72:8 Daniel 4:3 4:34 Romans 7:1 Psalm 119:113 Romans 6:14 Romans 6:9 Colossians 1:16

King James Dictionary [5]

DOMINION, n. L. See Dominant.

1. Sovereign or supreme authority the power of governing and controlling.

The dominion of the Most High is an everlasting dominion.  Daniel 4 .

2. Power to direct, control, use and dispose of at pleasure right of possession and use without being accountable as the private dominion of individuals. 3. Territory under a government region country district governed, or within the limits of the authority of a prince or state as the British dominions. 4. Government right of governing. Jamaica is under the dominion of Great Britain. 5. Predominance ascendant. 6. An order of angels.

Whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers.  Colossians 1 .

7. Persons governed.

Judah was his sanctuary Israel his dominion.  Psalms 114 .

Webster's Dictionary [6]

(1): ( n.) Superior prominence; predominance; ascendency.

(2): ( n.) That which is governed; territory over which authority is exercised; the tract, district, or county, considered as subject; as, the dominions of a king. Also used figuratively; as, the dominion of the passions.

(3): ( n.) A supposed high order of angels; dominations. See Domination, 3.

(4): ( n.) Sovereign or supreme authority; the power of governing and controlling; independent right of possession, use, and control; sovereignty; supremacy.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [7]

dō̇ - min´yun  : In  Ephesians 1:21;  Colossians 1:16 the word so translated ( κυριότης , kuriótēs ) appears to denote a rank or order of angels. The same word is probably to be so interpreted in  Judges 1:8 (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "dominion"), and in   2 Peter 2:10 (the King James Version "government," the Revised Version (British and American) "dominion"). See Angel .

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