ethnarch

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(director). Often captain, chief, or civic official; but generally the political officer in charge of a province (Gen. 42:6⁶And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. (Genesis 42:6); 1 Kings 10:15¹⁵Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. (1 Kings 10:15); Ezra 8:36³⁶And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God. (Ezra 8:36); Neh. 2:9⁹Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. (Nehemiah 2:9); Matt. 27:2²And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:2)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

There are ten Hebrew words thus translated, signifying any ruler, captain, viceroy, etc., that was set over the people. The term is also so used in the New Testament except the following:

1. ἐθνάρχης, “governor of a nation,” an ethnarch, as the ruler of Damascus was called (2 Cor. 11:32³²In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: (2 Corinthians 11:32)).

2. ἐύθύνων, “one who directs, guides,” used of the “steersman of a ship” (James 3:4⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. (James 3:4)).

3. ἡγεμών, the procurator of Judaea (Matt. 27:2²And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:2); Luke 20:20²⁰And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. (Luke 20:20), &c).

4. οἱκονόμος, “manager of a house, steward” (Gal. 4:2²But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. (Galatians 4:2)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

1481 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

ἐθνάρχης

Transliteration:

ethnarches

Phonic:

eth-nar’-khace

Meaning:

from 1484 and 746; the governor (not king) of a district

KJV Usage:

ethnarch