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55 lines
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<title>What Does the Greek Word Kurios (Lord) Mean?</title>
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<div class="head">What Does the Greek Word <i>Kurios</i> (Lord) Mean?</div>
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<p>When referring to the true God, the New Testament sometimes uses the Greek word <i>kurios</i> translated as "Lord." It is important that we have a correct understanding of the word because it is often misunderstood.</p>
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<p><b>It Does Not Always Refer to God</b></p>
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<p>The thought behind the word <i>kurios</i> is supremacy and authority. <i>Kurios</i> is used a number of different ways in the New Testament.<p>
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<p><b>The Word Can Mean Sir</b></p>
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<p>Sometimes the word is merely a polite title meaning, "Sir."</p>
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<blockquote><p>"Sir," [<i>kurios</i>] they said, "We remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'" (<a id="nbi1307-si1" onClick="return mV('Mat',27,63);">Mat 27:63</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>It Also Means Master or Owner</b></p>
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<p>In some contexts it has the idea of a title such as, "Master," or "Owner."</p>
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<blockquote><p>A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master [<i>kurios</i>] (<a id="nbi1307-si2" onClick="return mV('Mat',10,24);">Mat 10:24</a>).<p></blockquote>
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<p><b><i>Kurios</i> Can Refer to Husbands</b></p>
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<p>Even husbands are called by the word <i>kurios</i>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him master [<i>kurios</i>] (<a id="nbi1307-si3" onClick="return mV('1Pe',3,6);">1Pe 3:6</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>The Word Was Used of Idols</b></p>
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<p>Paul uses the plural of <i>kurios</i> to refer to idols.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods [<i>kurios</i>] in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords (<a id="nbi1307-si4" onClick="return mV('1Cr',8,5);">1Cr 8:5</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>It Can Also Mean the LORD (<i>Yahweh</i> or <i>Jehovah</i>)</b></p>
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<p>There are many times, however, that <i>kurios</i> is equivalent to the divine name <i>Yahweh</i>, or <i>Jehovah</i>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>But Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord (<a id="nbi1307-si5" onClick="return mV('Act',15,40);">Act 15:40</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Jesus Is Addressed as Both Human and Divine</b></p>
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<p>We find Jesus being addressed by the human and divine usages of <i>kurios</i>. The polite form of <i>kurios</i> meaning, "Sir," is used. In John's gospel Jesus met a woman at a well in Samaria. She addressed Him as <i>kurios</i> (sir).</p>
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<blockquote><p>The woman said to him, "Sir (<i>kurios</i>), you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? (<a id="nbi1307-si6" onClick="return mV('Jhn',4,11);">Jhn 4:11</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>There are other times when <i>kurios</i> speaks of Jesus' full Deity as God the Son.</p>
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<blockquote><p>So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (<a id="nbi1307-si7" onClick="return mV('Phl',2,10,11);">Phl 2:10-11</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>Paul wrote to the Romans.</p>
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<blockquote><p>That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (<a id="nbi1307-si8" onClick="return mV('Rom',10,9);">Rom 10:9</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Divine and Human Usage in the Same Verse</b></p>
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<p>We find both uses of <i>kurios</i> in the same verse.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Slaves, obey your earthly masters [<i>kurios</i>] in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord [<i>kurios</i>] (<a id="nbi1307-si9" onClick="return mV('Col',3,23);">Col 3:23</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Summary</b></p>
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<p>The Greek word <i>kurios</i> has a number of different meanings. It can mean sir, master, owner, or even refer to an idol. However on a number of occasions it is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word <i>Yahweh</i> or <i>Jehovah</i>. This is the divine name for God. Jesus Christ is designated as the Lord in many New Testament references. This is the consistent truth of Scripture—Jesus is <i>Yahweh</i> or <i>Jehovah.</i></p>
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