καθέδρα (G2515) — Greek Lexicon

καθέδρα

kathédra

G2515 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A seat or chair, especially one with a sense of authority or official standing; in broader contexts, any place of sitting or established position, whether physical (a seat, bench) or metaphorical (an office, position of authority, or teaching authority). In some contexts, refers to an established seat for judges or teachers, denoting status or the right to speak and adjudicate.

Semantic Range

seat, chair, bench, a formal place of sitting, position of authority, teaching office, judge's seat, position held, place of assembly

Root / Etymology

From κατά (kata, down, according to) and ἕδρα (hedra, seat, base), literally meaning 'a sitting-place' or 'something set down as a base.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καθέδρα commonly refers to a seat or chair, including stools and benches—particularly those used by individuals in positions of some authority or distinguishing role (e.g., judges, teachers, officials). By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term often carries a figurative sense: an authoritative seat (such as the 'Moses' seat' in Matt 23:2), indicating an established position of teaching or judicial authority rather than merely a physical chair. This is distinct from words like θρόνος (thronos), used for thrones or royal seats, marking higher status. In ecclesiastical usage (later than the NT), καθέδρα gave rise to 'cathedral' (the seat of a bishop). The English rendering 'seat' may obscure the institutional or official nuance of the term. In ancient educational and judicial contexts, 'to sit in the καθέδρα' meant to assume the formal role of teacher or judge. The figurative extension to authority or office is firmly attested in post-biblical Greek, especially in rabbinic and ecclesiastical literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and the same as ἑδραῖος; a bench (literally or figuratively):--seat.

Root Family

καθέδρα (kathedra) — seat, chair, sitting-place, established position, position of authority

Root καθ-εδρ- to sit, to seat, to set down

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2515-01`	καθέδρας	kathedras	`N ACC F PL`	seats	official seats	official seats	3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2515-01`	Matthew 21:12	καθέδρας	kathedras	`N ACC F PL`	seats	official seats	official seats
`G2515-01`	Matthew 23:2	καθέδρας	kathedras	`N GEN F SG`	seat	official seats	seat
`G2515-01`	Mark 11:15	καθέδρας	kathedras	`N ACC F PL`	seats	official seats	seats

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