BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Kyrios — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Kyrios is the Greek noun meaning 'lord' or 'master,' denoting supreme authority and used widely in the New Testament both as a respectful address and as a title for Jesus Christ.
Meaning of the word
The lemma κύριος (kyrios) is defined in the lexicon as 'supreme in authority,' essentially a controller or Master. As a noun it refers to one who has authority over others, whether that authority is understood in a political, social, or divine sense.
The word functions both as a secular term of respect — the title one gives to a person of higher standing — and as a religious title of supreme authority. In everyday Greek it was a polite form of address, comparable to 'Sir' or 'Master.' In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) it became the standard translation of the Hebrew divine name YHWH, and this religious weight carried into the New Testament writings.
Usage in Scripture
In the Sermon on the Mount, κύριος appears both in the legal setting of sworn oaths made 'unto the Lord' (Matthew 5:33) and in the religious confession 'Lord, Lord' used by those who claim to know God but do not obey (Matthew 7:21-22). Matthew 6:24 uses the plural κυρίοις for two earthly 'masters' a slave cannot simultaneously serve, contrasting them with 'God and mammon.'
In John's Gospel the address Κύριε is a common form of respectful speech directed to Jesus by disciples such as Thomas (14:5), Philip (14:8), and Judas (14:22). John 15:15-20 uses κύριος in a master-servant parable to teach about the relationship between Jesus and his disciples: the servant does not know what his lord does, yet Jesus calls them friends rather than servants.
The word in detail
- G2962 Defined as 'supreme in authority, controller; Master.' Functions as both a secular respectful title and a divine title; in the LXX and NT it is closely tied to God's covenant name and to the confession of Jesus as Lord.
Example verses
- Matthew 7:21 Κύριε here is a verbal confession; Jesus teaches that calling him 'Lord' without doing the Father's will is insufficient.
- John 14:5 Thomas addresses Jesus as Κύριε in a question about direction; the title conveys both respect and dependence on Jesus' knowledge.
- John 15:15 κύριος appears in a master-servant contrast; Jesus redefines the relationship, calling disciples friends rather than servants who do not know their lord's work.
- John 15:20 κυρίου in the saying 'a servant is not greater than his lord' grounds the expectation that disciples will share in their Master's persecution.
Common questions
Is kyrios only used for God?
No. While it became the standard Greek equivalent of the Hebrew divine name, it is also used for human masters (Matthew 6:24) and as a respectful address toward Jesus (John 14:5).
What is the difference between κύριος and θεός?
θεός (theos) focuses on identity as God, while κύριος emphasizes authority and the relationship of a master to those under him. Both are applied to the one true God and to Jesus in the New Testament.