Reign
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"to reign," is used (I) literally, (a) of God, Revelation 11:17; 19:6 , in each of which the aorist tense (in the latter, translated "reigneth") is "ingressive," stressing the point of entrance; (b) of Christ, Luke 1:33; 1—Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 11:15; as rejected by the Jews, Luke 19:14,27; (c) of the saints, hereafter, 1—Corinthians 4:8 (2nd part), where the Apostle, casting a reflection upon the untimely exercise of authority on the part of the church at Corinth, anticipates the due time for it in the future (see No. 2); Revelation 5:10; 20:4 , where the aorist tense is not simply of a "point" character, but "constative," that is, regarding a whole action as having occurred, without distinguishing any steps in its progress (in this instance the aspect is future); Revelation 20:6; 22:5 , (d) of earthly potentates, Matthew 2:22; 1—Timothy 6:15 , where "kings" is, lit., "them that reign;" (II) metaphorically, (a) of believers, Romans 5:17 , where "shall reign in life" indicates the activity of life in fellowship with Christ in His sovereign power, reaching its fullness hereafter; 1—Corinthians 4:8 (1st part), of the carnal pride that laid claim to a power not to be exercised until hereafter; (b) of Divine grace, Romans 5:21; (c) of sin, Romans 5:21; 6:12; (d) of death, Romans 5:14,17 .
"to reign together with" (sun, "with," and No. 1), is used of the future "reign" of believers together and with Christ in the kingdom of God in manifestation, 1—Corinthians 4:8 (3rd part); of those who endure 2—Timothy 2:12 , cp. Revelation 20:6 .
Romans 15:12 Revelation 17:18 Luke 3:1
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words [2]
Mâlak ( מָלַךְ , 4427), “to reign, be king (or queen).” This root appears in most Semitic languages, although it means “advice” and “counsel” in Akkadian (and biblical Aramaic) and “own” exclusively in Ethiopic (and old South Arabic). In the Northwest Semitic dialects the root has a common meaning. The verbal form occurs in every period of Hebrew and about 350 times in the Bible.
Basically the word means to fill the functions of ruler over someone. To hold such a position was to function as the commander-in-chief of the army, the chief executive of the group, and to be an important, if not central, religious figure. The king was the head of his people and, therefore, in battle were the king to be killed, his army would disperse until a new king could be chosen. The first appearance of mâlak is in Gen. 36:31: “And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.” The king “reigned” as the earthly representative of the god (or God) who was recognized as the real king. Thus, he was considered to be god’s (God’s) son. This same idea recurs in Israel (Ps. 2:6). In Israel, too, God was the King: “The Lord shall reign for ever and ever” (Exod. 15:18). That the word can also be used of what a queen does when she “reigns” proves that it refers to the function of anyone in the office of king: “And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land” (2 Kings 11:3).
Mâlak can also be used of the idea “to become king”—someone was made, or made himself, a king: “And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead” (Gen. 36:33). This verb can be used of the assumption of a kingly reign, or of “beginning to reign”: “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel …” (1 Sam. 13:1; cf. Prov. 30:22). Finally, the verb is used of receiving the title of queen (or king) whether or not one receives any political or military power. So it was said: “And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti” (Esth. 2:4).
King James Dictionary [3]
Reign rane. L. regno, a derivative of rego, regnum.
1. To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority to rule to exercise government, as a king or emperor or to hold the supreme power. George the third reigned over Great Britain more than fifty years.
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness. Isaiah 32 .
2. To be predominant to prevail.
Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer or autumn.
3. To rule to have superior or uncontrolled dominion. Romans 6 .
This word is never applied to the exercise of supreme power by a legislative body or the executive administration, in the United States.
REIGN, n. rane. L. regnum.
1. Royal authority supreme power sovereignty.
He who like a father held his reign.
2. The time during which a king, queen or emperor possesses the supreme authority. The Spanish armada was equipped to invade England in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Magna Charta was obtained in the reign of king John. 3. Kingdom dominion.
Saturn's sons received the threefold reign of heav'n, of ocean, and deep hell beneath.
4. Power influence. 5. Prevalence.
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [4]
Judges 9:8 (a) It is not a natural thing for one tree to rule over another tree, and certainly not for a bramble to rule over a big tree. Neither was it right nor natural for Abimelech to rule over Israel, and to destroy the family of Gideon.
Romans 5:17 (a) The word is used to describe that one who is a conqueror over passion, lust and all evil things.
Romans 5:21 (a) This word is used to show how that GOD's grace is more powerful and more evident than sin. When the tide is out, then many rocks and boulders appear on the beach. These represent sins in the life. When the tide comes in, there is far more water than stones, and the tide completely covers all the boulders on the beach. That great incoming tide represents the wonderful grace of GOD.
Romans 6:12 (a) By this figure we are admonished to let no evils prevail in the life, so that they direct the life in wrong paths.
1 Corinthians 4:8 (a) Paul is using sarcasm and irony in this passage to shame the Corinthians into seeing their real condition.
Webster's Dictionary [5]
(1): ( n.) The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion.
(2): ( n.) The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority; as, it happened in the reign of Elizabeth.
(3): ( n.) Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion.
(4): ( n.) Hence, to be predominant; to prevail.
(5): ( n.) To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to exercise government, as a king or emperor;; to hold supreme power; to rule.
(6): ( n.) To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [6]
rān : The Hebrew word מלכוּת , malekhūth , may be rendered "kinghood," "royal dignity," "kingdom," "government" ("reign"). The verb is מלך , mālakh , "to be king" ("to reign as king"), "to become king," "to accede to the throne," "to assume royal power publicly" and, generally speaking, "to become powerful." In the New Testament ἡγεμονία , hēgemonı́a , βασιλεία , basileı́a , βασιλεύειν , basileúein . The word is used, either as a noun or as a verb, of Yahweh (God), the Messiah (Christ) and men (kings, etc.); then of such terms as sin, death, grace; of the woman in Revelation and, conditionally, of the Christians; once, ironically, of the Corinthians. "Reign" as a noun referring to the time of reigning occurs in 1 Kings 6:1 (Solomon); 2 Kings 24:12 (Nebuchadnezzar); 1 Chronicles 4:31 (David; compare 1 Chronicles 29:30 ); 2 Chronicles 36:20 ("until the reign of the kingdom of Persia"); Nehemiah 12:22 (Darius); Esther 2:16 (Ahasuerus); Luke 3:1 (Tiberius Caesar). More often occurs the verb "to reign," mālakh , basileuein . It is applied to: (1) Yahweh at the close of the song of Moses ( Exodus 15:18 ); "Yahweh reigneth" ( 1 Chronicles 16:31; compare Psalm 93:1; Psalm 96:10; Psalm 99:1; Revelation 19:6 ); "God reigneth over the nations" ( Psalm 47:8 ); "Yahweh of hosts will reign in mount Zion" ( Isaiah 24:23; compare Micah 4:7 ); "Thy God reigneth" ( Isaiah 52:7 ); "Thou hast taken thy great power and didst reign" ( Revelation 11:17 , meaning probably "thou didst assume thy might"); (2) the Messiah (Christ) as a just and righteous king ( Jeremiah 23:5 ); an eternal king ( Luke 1:33; compare Revelation 11:15 ); punishing and subduing His enemies ( Luke 19:14 , Luke 19:27; 1 Corinthians 15:25 ).
(3) Men (kings, etc.), in regard to the source of their power ("By me (i.e. the wisdom of God), kings reign" ( Proverbs 8:15 )); respecting legitimate succession ( 2 Chronicles 23:3 ); meaning "to have power or dominion" ( Genesis 37:8 and Job 34:30 ); in regard to an essential characteristic ( Isaiah 32:1 ); in connection with the covenant of Yahweh with David ( Jeremiah 33:21 ); then the word is used in 1 Samuel 12:12 , where Samuel reminds the children of Israel of their demanding a king of him (compare 1 Samuel 12:14 ); of Saul ( 1 Samuel 13:1; compare 1 Samuel 11:12 ); of Saul's son Ish-bosheth ( 2 Samuel 2:10 ); of David ( 2 Samuel 5:4 f; compare 2 Samuel 3:21 ); of Adonijah ( 1 Kings 1:11 , 1 Kings 1:24; compare 1 Kings 2:15 ); of Solomon ( 1 Kings 1:13 ); quite frequently of the kings of Judah and Israel (in the Books of Kings and Chronicles); of the kings of Edom ( Genesis 36:31 ); of Jabin, king of Canaan, in Ra Zôr ( Judges 4:2 ); of Abimelech, Jerubbaal's son, in Jotham's fable ( Judges 9:8-15 ); of Hanun, king of the Ammonites ( 2 Samuel 10:1 ); of Rezon and his men in Damascus ( 1 Kings 11:24 ); of Hazael and Ben-hadad, kings of Syria ( 2 Kings 8:15 and 2 Kings 13:24 ); of Esar-haddon, king of Assyria ( 2 Kings 19:37 ); of Ahasuerus, king of Persia ( Esther 1:1 ); of Archelaus ( Matthew 2:22 ).
(4) In the New Testament the term basileuein , "to reign," is used to illustrate and emphasize the power of sin, death and grace ( Romans 5:14 , Romans 5:17 , Romans 5:21 and Romans 6:12 ). Sin, the vitiating mental factor, is to be looked upon as being constantly and resolutely bent on maintaining or regaining its hold upon man, its power being exercised and reinforced by the lusts of the body. Death, the logical outcome of sin, at once testifies to the power of sin and its inherent corruption, while grace is the restoring spiritual factor following up and combating everywhere and always the pernicious influence of sin. It strives to dethrone sin, and to establish itself in man as the only dominating force. (5) In describing the future glorious state of the believers, the New Testament uses the expression of those who endure (in faith; compare 2 Timothy 2:12 ); of those 'purchased unto God with the blood of the Lamb' ( Revelation 5:10 ); of those partaking in the first resurrection ( Revelation 20:6 ); of the servants of God, "they shall reign for ever and ever" ( Revelation 22:5 ); on the other hand, it teaches us not to anticipate the privileges of heaven, while our Christian life is anything but satisfactory ( 1 Corinthians 4:8 ), and Revelation 17:18 shows us the terrible fate of the woman, the great city (the corrupt church), "which reigneth over the kings of the earth." See further King , Kingdom .
