RULER. This word is the tr. of the following Heb. and Gr. words. Heb.: מָשַׁל֮, H5440, to rule (Gen 45:8, 26; Prov 6:7; 23:1; 28:15, 16; 29:12, 26; Eccl 9:17; Isa 16:1; Jer 30:21; Ezek 19:14; Dan 2:48; 11:43; Mic 5:1, 2; Hab 1:14); נָשִׂיא֒, H5954, a prince (Exod 22:28; 1 Kings 11:43); נָגִיד, H5592, a leader, noble, prince (1 Kings 1:35; 1 Chron 9:20); סֶ֫גֶן, H6036, a vice-regent (Jer 51:46; Dan 2:48); קָצִין, H7903, a judge (Prov 25:15); שְׁלֵט, H10715, a commander (Dan 5:7, 16); שַׁלִּיט, H8954, a ruler (Eccl 10:4, 5; Dan 5:29); שַׂר, H8569, a chief, head (Judg 9:30; Neh 3:9, 14, 15; 11:1; Amos 2:3).

Gr.: ᾄρχων, ruler, chief, magistrate (Matt 9:18; 14:1; Luke 8:41; 18:18; John 3:1; 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Acts 7:27, 35; 23:5; Rev 1:5); ἀρχισυνάγωγος, G801, a ruler of a synagogue (Mark 5:36, 38; Luke 13:14; Acts 18:8, 17); ἡγεμών, G2450, a leader (Matt 2:6); κοσμοκράτωρ, G3179, world-ruler (Eph 6:12).

As in Eng., these Heb. and Gr. words designate one who rules or governs, often without any clear indication of his specific office: as a king (1 Kings 1:35; 11:34; Ps 105:20, 21; Ezek 19:14; Micah 5:1, 2; Matt 2:6), a prince (Jer 30:21), a prime minister (Gen 45:8, 26; Dan 2:48; 5:7, 16; 11:43), a head of a tribe (1 Chron 9:20), a deputy (Judg 9:30), a judge (John 7:27, 35), an officer of a synagogue (Mark 5:36, 38; Luke 13:14; Acts 18:8, 17), a member of the Sanhedrin (John 3:1), the high priest (Acts 23:5), Satan (John 12:31; 16:11; Eph 6:12), Jesus Christ the king (Rev 1:5).