ἐξουσιάζω
exousiázō
G1850 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To exercise authority over, to wield power or control over someone or something. The verb denotes the act of exercising lawful or delegated power, governing, or bringing an individual, group, or domain under one’s authority. In certain contexts, it specifically indicates the imposition of control, domination, or authoritative rule.
Semantic Range
to exercise authority over, to control, to bring under power or domination, to govern with authority, to have dominion
Root / Etymology
Derived from ἐξουσία (authority, right, power) and the verbal stem -άζω (forming verbs of action or causation from nouns or adjectives). The term thus means 'to act with authority' or 'to make subject to authority.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἐξουσιάζω occurs rarely in extant Greek literature, primarily in Koine sources and particularly in the New Testament (notably in Luke 22:25). The underlying noun, ἐξουσία, has a broad semantic field including the concepts of 'authority,' 'right,' or 'domain,' and ἐξουσιάζω denotes the act of actively using such authority. In the New Testament, the verb describes not merely possession of authority but the practical exercise of power, especially as contrasted with other forms of leadership (e.g., kings of the nations 'exercise authority over' their subjects), often with an implication of domination or political power rather than mere administrative oversight. This nuance may not always be fully represented in standard English translations, which sometimes render the word simply as 'rule' or 'have authority over,' potentially missing the active and sometimes coercive or dominating aspect of the term's usage. In classical Greek, similar forms appear (e.g., ἐξουσιαστής), but the verb itself is rare if attested at all, evidencing it as a development in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, especially in religious or bureaucratic settings. The difference between ἐξουσιάζω (to exercise authority) and related verbs such as ἄρχω (to rule) lies in the explicit emphasis on the lawful or sanctioned nature of the power being exercised. Septuagintal usage is extremely limited or absent, indicating this as a specialized term emerging in later Greek.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐξουσία; to control:--exercise authority upon, bring under the (have) power of.
Root Family
ἐξουσία- (exousiázō) — to exercise authority, to control, to dominate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2715 | κατεξουσιάζω | they dominate |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1850-02 |
ἐξουσιάζει | exousiazei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
have authority | exercises authority | exercises authority | 2 |
G1850-01 |
ἐξουσιασθήσομαι | exousiasthesomai | V FUT PASS IND 1P SG |
will be mastered | I will be brought under authority | I will be brought under authority | 1 |
G1850-03 |
ἐξουσιάζοντες | exousiazontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
who exercise authority | those exercising authority | those exercising authority | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1850-03 |
Luke 22:25 | ἐξουσιάζοντες | exousiazontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
who exercise authority | those exercising authority | those exercising authority |
G1850-01 |
1 Corinthians 6:12 | ἐξουσιασθήσομαι | exousiasthesomai | V FUT PASS IND 1P SG |
will be mastered | I will be brought under authority | I will be brought under authority |
G1850-02 |
1 Corinthians 7:4 | ἐξουσιάζει | exousiazei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
have authority | exercises authority | exercises authority |
G1850-02 |
1 Corinthians 7:4 | ἐξουσιάζει | exousiazei-2 | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
have authority | exercises authority | exercises authority |