PRINCE, PRINCESS. Whereas the word “princess” trs. only one word in Heb. (שָׂרָה֮, H8576) the word “prince” is the tr. of a considerable variety of Heb., Aram. and Gr. words, which express different shades of meaning other than the direct male heir to a throne or the physical male descendant of a king. Among the more frequent meanings are “chieftain,” “ruler,” “noble,” “governor,” “deputy.” The tr. of these words as “prince” is very common in the KJV because the trs. took the LXX ἄρχων, G807, as their guide, although this is not followed consistently. The ASV and RSV contain more discerning trs.

I. The OT. The main Heb. terms are: 1. שַׂר, H8569, (Akk. šarru, king). The term is used for high officials among non-Israelite peoples; e.g. representatives of Pharaoh (Gen 12:15; Isa 19:11, 13; Jer 25:19); chieftains or leaders of Moab (Num 22:8, 13-15; 23:6; Amos 2:3); of Ammon (2 Sam 10:3; Amos 1:15); of Philistia (1 Sam 18:30; 29:3ff.); of Assyria (Isa 10:8); of Babylon (Jer 38:17f., 22); of Persia (Ezra 7:28; Esth 1:3, 11, 14, 16, 2:18, etc.); chief butlers and bakers (Gen 40:2, 3); taskmasters (Exod 1:11); chief eunuchs (Dan 1:7). In Israel the term refers to “district governors” (1 Kings 20:14); tribal leaders (Judg 5:15; Num 21:18), royal officials (Ezra 10:8; 1 Kings 4:2; 9:22); various national leaders and administrators (2 Kings 24:12; Isa 1:23; Jer 1:18; 2:26; 24:1, 8; 26:10-12, 16, 21, etc.; Ezek 11:1; 17:12; Hosea 3:4; 5:10; 7:3, 5, 16; Mic 7:3; Zeph 1:8; 3:3); town officials (Judg 8:6); army officers (1 Kings 16:9; 1 Chron 13:1; 2 Chron 18:30, etc.); ambassadors (Jer 36:14; 51:59); occasionally priests (1 Chron 24:6; Isa 43:28); and angelic beings (Josh 5:15; Dan 10:13, 20ff.; 12:1).

The feminine form, שָׂרﯴת׃֙, is used of Solomon’s wives (1 Kings 11:3) and of Jerusalem as the “princess of cities” (Lam 1:1), although the Heb. word is tr. otherwise elsewhere; e.g. “ladies” (Judg 5:29; Esth 1:18); or “queens” (Isa 49:23).

2. נָגִיד, H5592, “one who has been placed opposite, in front.” The KJV sometimes trs. “captain,” “ruler,” “noble.” The term is used for the prince of Tyre (Ezek 28:2), the high priest (Dan 9:25), Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan 9:26; 11:22). In poetry it connotes men of influence in a general sense (Job 29:9; 31:37; Ps 76:12; Prov 28:16). Occasionally it refers to military officers (1 Chron 12:27; 13:1; 2 Chron 32:21), administrators (2 Chron 19:11) and Temple officials (2 Chron 31:13; Jer 20:1). Once it refers to the crown prince (2 Chron 11:22). Its most significant usage is for the divinely appointed leader of Israel. Originally the נָגִיד, H5592, was different from a מֶ֫לֶכְ֒, H4889, (king) since he was charismatically endowed. Samuel would have been happy with a נָגִיד, H5592, but was unhappy about a מֶ֫לֶכְ֒, H4889, (1 Sam 8:7-22). The term נָגִיד, H5592, is used of David (1 Sam 9:16; 10:1; 13:14; 2 Sam 5:3; 6:21; 7:8), Solomon (1 Kings 1:35; 1 Chron 29:22), Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:7), Baasha (1 Kings 16:2), Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:5).

3. נָשִׂיא֒, H5954, “one who has been lifted up,” perhaps originally used of tribal leaders or representatives. It is used by the Hittites of Hebron for Abraham (Gen 23:5-7), and frequently in Numbers for tribal leaders (Num 3:24; 16:2; 17:2, 6; 34:18; cf. Josh 22:14; 1 Chron 4:38). At times the word seems to connote military leadership (Exod 18:21), and sometimes tribal leadership of a high order (Gen 17:20; 25:16; 34:2; Num 25:18). The term was used of Solomon (1 Kings 1:34) as were מֶ֫לֶכְ֒, H4889, and נָגִיד, H5592, showing interchangeability. Ezekiel referred to Zedekiah thus (Ezek 12:10) and always speaks of the political leader in the restored Israel as נָשִׂיא֒, H5954, and מֶ֫לֶכְ֒, H4889, (Ezek 34:24; 37:25; often in 45, 46). He uses the word also for foreign rulers (26:16; 28:2; 30:13; 32:29). Sheshbazzar was so-called (Ezra 1:8) and Simon Maccabaeus took up the ancient title in his day.

4. נָדִיב, H5618, “one who is willing,” or “chooses of his own free will,” often used in the pl. and frequently tr. “prince,” but it connotes a nobleminded man or man of rank (1 Sam 2:8; Job 12:21; Pss 47:9; 107:40; 113:8; 118:9; 146:3; Prov 17:7; 25:7). Proverbs 19:6 denotes a liberal man (cf. Isa 32:8) and in Job 21:28 in context a wicked leader.

5. נָסִיכְ֮, H5817, “anointed,” tr. “prince” in KJV (Ps 83:11; Ezek 32:30; cf. Dan 11:8).

6. רָזﯴנ֮, H8138, (cf. proper name, Rezon, 1 Kings 11:23), tr. “prince” (Prov 14:28). A related term is רﯴזֵן, used in the pl. (“the weighty ones”), parallel to “kings” (Judg 5:3; Prov 8:15; 31:4; Hab 1:10) or “judges” (Isa 40:23).

7. רַב֮, H8042, “chief” (Jer 39:13; 41:1) cf. Assyrian titles Rabshakeh, Rabsaris, Rabmag (2 Kings 18:17, 19, 26, etc.; Jer 39:3, 13, etc.).

8. רַבְרְבָנִין, H10652, “lords” (Dan 5:2, 3).

9. שָׁלִישׁ֙, H8957, (either Hitt. šalliš, or “third man in a chariot”) Ezekiel 23:15; elsewhere equivalent to adjutant (2 Kings 9:25).

10. קָצִין, H7903, (Dan 11:8; Prov 25:15; Mic 3:1, 9), strictly “judge,” “leader” (Jephthah) cf. Arab. Qadi.

11. חַשְׁמַנִּים (Ps 68:31), possibly “ambassadors,” or it may be a loan-word from Egyp. ḥsmn, plated bronze. RSV renders it “bronze.”

12. סְגָנִימ׃֙ (Isa 41:25), elsewhere heads of the Jewish community in postexilic times (Ezra 9:2; Neh 2:16; 4:14, 19; 5:7, 17; 7:5; 12:40). RSV “chief men” (Ezra 9:2); “officials” (Neh 2:16).

13. כֹּהֵן, H3913, (Job 12:19), “priest.” RSV “priests.”

14. Loan words אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפָּן, H346, from Pers. Khshathrapavan, “satrap” (Ezra 8:36; Esth 3:12; 8:9; 9:3; Dan 3:2, 3, 27; 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7); פַּרְתְּמִֽים, from Pers. fratama (Dan 1:3).

II. In the NT. Three Gr. terms occur in the NT: 1. ἀρχηγός, G795, “leader,” “one who goes before to blaze a trail,” applied to Christ (Acts 3:15, RSV “author”); 5:31, RSV “leader.” Translated “author” (Heb 2:10; 12:3; RSV “pioneer”).

2. ἄρχων, G807, “potentate,” “person in authority,” etc. Used of Gentile rulers (John 20:25; 1 Cor 2:6, 8; Matt 20:25); of Beelzebub (Matt 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22); of Christ (Rev 1:5), “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); “prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2).

3. Χγεμών. In Matthew 2:6 it denotes Bethlehem (cf. Mic 5:2). Elsewhere used of the Rom. authority, legate, procurator, proconsul, or governor.

The Messiah is Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), Prince of princes (Dan 8:25), Prince of the kings (Rev 1:5) and Prince of life (Acts 3:15). Beelzebub is the prince of demons (Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15) and the leader of those who reject God’s sovereignty (John 12:31; 16:11).