Original Word: πρεσβύτερος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: presbuteros
Pronunciation: pres-boo'-ter-os
Phonetic Spelling: (pres-boo'-ter-os)
Definition: elder, older, presbyter
Meaning: elder, usually used as subst.; an elder, a member of the Sanhedrin, an elder of a Christian assembly.

eldest, old.

Comparative of presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian "presbyter" -- elder(-est), old.

4245 presbýteros – properly, a mature man having seasoned judgment (experience); an elder.

The NT specifies elders are men. (The feminine singular, presbytera, never occurs in the Bible.)

[The feminine plural, presbyteras, occurs in 1 Tim 5:2. It refers to aged women, i.e. not women with an official church office or title.]

Word Origin
a cptv. of presbus (an old man)
Definition
elder
NASB Translation
elder (3), elders (57), men of old (1), old men (1), older (1), older man (1), older ones (1), older women (1), women (1).

STRONGS NT 4245: πρεσβύτερος

πρεσβύτερος, πρεσβυτέρα, πρεσβύτερον (comparitive of πρέσβυς) (from Homer down), elder; used:

1. of age;

a. where two persons are spoken of, the elder: ὁ υἱός ὁ πρεσβύτερος (Aelian v. h. 9, 42), Luke 15:25.

b. universally, advanced in life, an elder, a senior: opposed to νεανίσκοι, Acts 2:17; opposed to νεώτερος, 1 Timothy 5:1f (Genesis 18:11f; Wis. 8:10; Sir. 6:34 (33); ; 2 Macc. 8:30). οἱ πρεσβύτεροι (A. V. the elders), forefathers, Hebrews 11:2; παράδοσις (which see) τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, received from the fathers, Matthew 15:2; Mark 7:3, 5.

2. a term of rank or office; as such borne by,

a. among the Jews, α. members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from the elderly men): Matthew 16:21; Matthew 26:47, 57, 59 Rec.; ; Mark 8:31; Mark 11:27; Mark 14:43, 53; Mark 15:1; Luke 9:22; Luke 20:1; Luke 22:52; John 8:9; Acts 4:5, 23; Acts 6:12; Acts 23:14; Acts 24:1; with the addition of τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, Acts 4:8 R G; of τῶν Ἰουδαίων, Acts 25:15; of τοῦ λαοῦ, Matthew 21:23; Matthew 26:3; Matthew 27:1. β. those who in the separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice: Luke 7:3. (Cf. BB. DD., under the word .)

b. among Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches): Acts 11:30; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22; Acts 16:4; Acts 21:18; 1 Timothy 5:17, 19; Titus 1:5; 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:1; 1 Peter 5:1, 5; with τῆς ἐκκλησίας added, Acts 20:17; James 5:14. That they did not differ at all from the (ἐπίσκοποι) bishops or overseers (as is acknowledged also by Jerome on Titus 1:5 (cf. Lightfoot's Commentary on Philippians, pp. 98f, 229f)) is evident from the fact that the two words are used indiscriminately, Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7, and that the duty of presbyters is described by the terms ἐπισκοπεῖν, 1 Peter 5:1f, and ἐπισκοπή, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 44, 1 [ET]; accordingly only two ecclesiastical officers, οἱ ἐπίσκοποι and οἱ διάκονοι, are distinguished in Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1, 8. The title ἐπίσκοπος denotes the function, πρεσβύτερος the dignity; the former was borrowed from Greek institutions, the latter from the Jewish; cf. (Lightfoot, as above, pp. 95ff, 191ff); Ritschl, Die Entstehung der altkathol. Kirche, edition 2, p. 350ff; Hase, Protest. Polemik, edition 4, p. 98ff; (Hatch, Bampton Lects. for 1880, Lect. 3 and Harnack's Analecten appended to the German translation of the same (p. 229ff); also Harnack's note on Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 1, 3 [ET] (cf. references at 44 at the beginning), and Hatch in Dict. of Christ. Antiq., under the word . Cf. ἐπίσκοπος.). the twenty-four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court, seated on thrones around the throne of God: Revelation 4:4, 10; Revelation 5:5, 6, 8, 11, 14; Revelation 7:11, 13; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 19:4.

Word Origin: Comparative form of πρέσβυς (presbus), meaning "elder" or "old man."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek term "πρεσβύτερος" corresponds to several Hebrew terms used in the Old Testament to denote elders or leaders, such as זָקֵן (zaqen, Strong's Hebrew 2205), which similarly refers to an elder or someone of advanced age, often with a role in leadership or governance within the community.

Usage: The word "πρεσβύτερος" is used in the New Testament to describe both the elders of the Jewish community and the leaders within the Christian church. It is often translated as "elder" or "presbyter" in English Bibles.

Context: The term "πρεσβύτερος" appears frequently in the New Testament, reflecting its importance in both Jewish and early Christian contexts. In Jewish tradition, elders were respected leaders and decision-makers within the community, often serving on councils such as the Sanhedrin. In the Christian church, the role of the elder evolved to include spiritual oversight, teaching, and governance.

In the New Testament, elders are mentioned in various contexts. For example, in Acts 14:23, Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in the churches they establish: "Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord, in whom they had believed." This indicates the early practice of establishing a leadership structure within Christian communities.

The qualifications and duties of elders are further outlined in the pastoral epistles. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, Paul provides criteria for selecting elders, emphasizing qualities such as being above reproach, self-controlled, hospitable, and able to teach. These passages highlight the moral and spiritual responsibilities of elders in guiding the church.

The role of elders is also seen in the context of church governance and decision-making. In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council, composed of apostles and elders, deliberates on the issue of Gentile believers and the Mosaic Law, demonstrating the collaborative leadership model in the early church.

Overall, "πρεσβύτερος" signifies a position of respect and authority, with a focus on spiritual leadership and community care. The term underscores the continuity between Jewish traditions of eldership and the emerging Christian ecclesiastical structure.

πρεσβυτέρα πρεσβυτέραι πρεσβυτερας πρεσβυτέρας πρεσβυτεροι πρεσβύτεροι πρεσβύτεροί πρεσβυτεροις πρεσβυτέροις πρεσβύτερον ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΣ πρεσβύτερος πρεσβυτερου πρεσβυτέρου πρεσβύτερου πρεσβυτερους πρεσβυτέρους Πρεσβυτερω πρεσβυτέρω Πρεσβυτέρῳ πρεσβυτερων πρεσβυτέρων πρεσβύτης presbuteras Presbutero Presbuterō presbuteroi presbuterois presbuteron presbuterōn PRESBUTEROS presbuterou presbuterous presbyteras presbytéras Presbytero Presbyterō presbyteroi Presbytéroi Presbytérōi presbýteroi presbyterois presbytérois presbyteron presbyterōn presbytéron presbytérōn PRESBYTEROS presbýteros presbyterou presbytérou presbyterous presbytérousInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts