from ἡγεμών; government, i.e. (in time) official term:--reign.
Transliteration:hēgemonía
Pronunciation:hayg-em-on-ee'-ah
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun hēgemonía (G2231) is derived from hēgemōn (G2232), meaning "leader," "governor," or "ruler." Consequently, hēgemonía fundamentally signifies the state, period, or sphere of leadership and governance. Its core semantic range encompasses "government," "dominion," "sovereignty," and "rule." The specific nuance often conveyed is the "official term" or "reign" of a ruler, highlighting the temporal duration of their authority. It describes not merely the abstract concept of rule, but the concrete manifestation and tenure of leadership within a given political structure.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word hēgemonía (G2231) appears only once in the New Testament, found in the Gospel of Luke:
* [[Luke 3:1]]: "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee..."
In this singular occurrence, hēgemonía explicitly refers to "the reign of Tiberius Caesar." The context is purely historical and chronological, serving to precisely date the beginning of John the Baptist's public ministry. Luke, known for his meticulous historical detail, uses this term to anchor the sacred events of salvation history within the verifiable timeline of the Roman Empire. This usage perfectly aligns with the definition of an "official term" or "reign," providing a specific temporal marker for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **hēgemōn (G2232):** This is the direct root from which hēgemonía is formed, signifying the *person* who exercises leadership or governorship. The noun hēgemonía describes the *act* or *period* of that person's rule.
* **basileia (G932):** Meaning "kingdom," "kingship," or "royal dominion," basileia often refers to the realm or the abstract concept of kingship. While both hēgemonía and basileia relate to rule, hēgemonía is more specific to the tenure or period of a particular ruler's governance, whereas basileia can encompass the entire scope of a kingdom, whether human or divine.
* **archē (G746):** This word carries a broad semantic range, including "beginning," "rule," "authority," or "principality." When archē refers to "rule," it can overlap with the concept of hēgemonía in denoting a position of authority, but hēgemonía emphasizes the duration or period of that rule.
* **exousia (G1849):** Denoting "authority," "power," or "right," exousia focuses on the inherent capacity or delegated permission to act. Hēgemonía, by contrast, describes the state or duration of exercising that power in a governmental capacity. The broader concept of "rule" or "governance" is a pervasive theme throughout biblical narratives, encompassing both human political structures and the ultimate sovereignty of God.
### Theological Significance
While hēgemonía appears in a seemingly secular, historical context in [[Luke 3:1]], its theological significance is profound. Luke's precise dating of sacred events by referencing the hēgemonía of a Roman emperor underscores the incarnational nature of God's redemptive work. It emphasizes that God's plan unfolds not in an ethereal realm, but within the concrete realities of human history, interacting with established political powers. The mention of Tiberius Caesar's "reign" serves as a historical anchor, affirming the historicity and verifiability of the Gospel narrative. It implicitly acknowledges the temporal authority of human rulers, even as the ultimate basileia (`{{G932}}`) belongs to God and His Christ. This meticulous historical grounding reinforces the truth claim of the Christian faith, demonstrating that the events of salvation are not mythical, but occurred at specific times and places within human history, under the overarching sovereignty of God.
### Summary
Hēgemonía (G2231) signifies the "reign" or "official term" of a ruler, deriving from hēgemōn (`{{G2232}}`), meaning "leader" or "governor." Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Luke 3:1]] is crucial for establishing the precise historical context of John the Baptist's ministry, dating it to "the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar." This usage highlights the meticulous historical accuracy of the Gospel writer, anchoring divine revelation within verifiable human history. Theologically, hēgemonía underscores the incarnational reality of God's redemptive plan unfolding amidst the temporal reigns of earthly powers. It implicitly contrasts the fleeting nature of human hēgemonía with the eternal basileia (`{{G932}}`) of God, affirming that even the most powerful human governments ultimately operate within the framework of God's sovereign purposes.
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