χιλίαρχος
chiliarchos
military officer
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) is a term that refers to a military officer. With 22 occurrences in the Bible, it is a relatively common term used to describe a high-ranking position within the Roman military. The use of this term suggests that the speaker or writer is referring to a commander or leader of a thousand soldiers, as the prefix "χιλ- (chil-)" means "thousand". This implies that a chiliarchos is a significant figure in the military hierarchy, likely responsible for overseeing a large group of soldiers. The frequency of this term in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, highlights its importance in the context of the Roman Empire and the military presence in the region. However, without further context, it is difficult to determine the specific significance of this term beyond its literal meaning as a military officer.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences across the text
Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
Acts 21:31As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Acts 21:32Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.
Acts 21:33Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.
Acts 21:37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, “May I speak to you?” He said, “Do you know Greek?
Acts 22:24the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
Acts 22:26When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”
Acts 22:27The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”
Acts 22:28The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”
Acts 22:29Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
Acts 23:10When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
Acts 23:15Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
Acts 23:17Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”
Acts 23:18So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
Acts 23:19The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
Acts 23:22So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
Acts 24:7having come up now Lysias the commander with great violence from the hands of us being carried away,
Acts 24:22But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”
Acts 25:23So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
John 18:12So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him,
Revelation 6:15The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains.
Revelation 19:18that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.”