exousia · authority

What it means

exousia (ἐξουσία) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “authority”.

The power to act or command.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. The right to command or act.
2. The freedom to do something, which one is entitled to.
3. Those who govern and command, whether people or unseen powers.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

Authority: the power to act or to command that one has by right; also the right to do something and, in the plural, the authorities. It comes from ἔξεστι, “it is lawful”. Thayer: power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; authority; the power of rule; the persons who hold it.

• Jesus teaches and acts “as one who has authority” Matthew 7:29Mark 2:10
• “By what authority are you doing these things?” Matthew 21:23
• “All authority … has been given to me” Matthew 28:18John 10:18
• The right to do something 1 Corinthians 9:4John 1:12
• The authorities, and a jurisdiction Romans 13:1Luke 23:7

How we translate it

“Authority” 81 times, “right” 11, “authorities” 8, “jurisdiction” 1, “power” 1. “Right” when it is what one is permitted (1 Corinthians 9:4); “jurisdiction” when it is a ruler's territory (Luke 23:7). In Matthew 28:18 the note refers to Daniel 7:14.

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• authority ×81
• right ×11
• authorities ×8
• jurisdiction ×1
• power ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×10
• Mark×10
• Luke×16
• John×8
• Acts×7
• Romans×5
• 1 Corinthians×10
• 2 Corinthians×2
• Ephesians×4
• Colossians×4
• 2 Thessalonians×1
• Titus×1
• Hebrews×1
• 1 Peter×1
• Jude×1
• Revelation×21

• Matthew 7:29

  for he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not as their scribes.

• Matthew 8:9

  For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

• Matthew 9:6

  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— then he says to the paralytic— “Get up, pick up your bed, and go to your home.”

• Matthew 9:8

  Seeing it, the crowds were afraid and glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

• Matthew 10:1

  And calling to himself his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, so as to drive them out and to heal every disease and every sickness.

• Matthew 21:23

  And when he had come into the temple, the high priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, saying, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?”

• Matthew 21:24

  And Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which, if you tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

• Matthew 21:27

  And they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

• Matthew 28:18

  And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

• Mark 1:22

  And they were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not as the scribes.

• Mark 1:27

  And they were all amazed, so that they questioned one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

• Mark 2:10

  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he says to the paralyzed man—

• Mark 3:15

  and to have authority to drive out the demons.

• Mark 6:7

  And he summons the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, and he was giving them authority over the unclean spirits.

• Mark 11:28

  and they were saying to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

• Mark 11:29

  But Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

• Mark 11:33

  And they answered Jesus and say, “We do not know.” And Jesus says to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

• Mark 13:34

  It is like a man away on a journey, who left his house and gave his slaves authority, to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.

• Luke 4:6

  And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been handed over to me, and to whomever I wish I give it.

• Luke 4:32

  And they were astonished at his teaching, because his word was with authority.

• Luke 4:36

  And amazement came upon all, and they were talking with one another, saying, “What is this word, that with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out?”

• Luke 5:24

  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralyzed man— “I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go to your home.”

• Luke 7:8

  For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

• Luke 9:1

  And having called together the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases.

• Luke 10:19

  Look, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will ever harm you.

• Luke 12:5

  But I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw you into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, fear him.

• Luke 12:11

  And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry how or what you will say in your defense or what you will say;

• Luke 19:17

  And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

• Luke 20:2

  and they spoke, saying to him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is the one who gave you this authority?”

• Luke 20:8

  And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

• Luke 20:20

  And watching him closely, they sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so that they might catch him in a word, so as to hand him over to the rule and the authority of the governor.

• Luke 22:53

  Day after day, while I was with you in the temple, you did not stretch out your hands against me; but this is your hour, and the authority of darkness.”

• Luke 23:7

  And learning that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him up to Herod, who was himself also in Jerusalem in those days.

• John 1:12

  But to all who received him, he gave them the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,

• John 5:27

  And he has given him authority to carry out judgment, because he is a son of man.

• John 10:18

  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from my Father.”

• John 17:2

  just as you have given him authority over all flesh, so that to all that you have given him he may give eternal life.

• John 19:10

  So Pilate says to him, “You do not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and I have authority to crucify you?”

• John 19:11

  Jesus answered him, “You would have had no authority over me unless it had been given you from above; for this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

• Acts 1:7

  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority;

And 62 more times.