Lord, master

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(loaf-guardian). Jehovah, LORD (Gen. 15:4⁴And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. (Genesis 15:4); Psa. 7; 100). Adonai, Lord, Christ, The Lord, Our Lord. Supreme ruler, and not the Saxon dignitary.

“Lord” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

1. adon, κύριος. These words are commonly translated “lord.” They are used as a term of respect as between man and man, as seen in the children of Heth to Abraham (Gen. 23:6⁶Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. (Genesis 23:6)); between servants and masters, and once by a wife to her husband (Gen. 18:12¹²Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? (Genesis 18:12); Luke 16:3,5³Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. (Luke 16:3)
⁵So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? (Luke 16:5); 1 Pet. 3:6⁶Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Peter 3:6)). The title “Lord” is applied to God (Psalm 90:1¹<<A Prayer of Moses the man of God.>> Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. (Psalm 90:1), Adonai), and in the New Testament to the Lord Jesus, not only as a term of respect, but as owning His constituted lordship (Acts 2:36³⁶Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36); Phil. 2:11¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11)). He is emphatically the Lord as eclipsing every other for the Christian, who delights to appropriate Him as “My Lord” (Luke 1:43⁴³And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:43); John 20:13¹³And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. (John 20:13); Phi. 3:8). To believers collectively He is “Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is also in this title the idea of administration which it is of great consequence to observe. As Man the Lord Jesus is mediator between God and men, and receives blessings for men which are administered through Him as Lord. “To us there is....one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him” (1 Cor. 8:6⁶But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. (1 Corinthians 8:6)). See Rom. 5:1-2,11,17,21¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2)
¹¹And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11)
¹⁷For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:17)
²¹That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21) and other scriptures.

The same Greek word is often used in the LXX for the Hebrew name Jehovah, and is transferred to the New Testament without the article. It stands as a proper name in the sense of Jehovah, as in Matthew 1:20,22,24²⁰But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:20)
²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (Matthew 1:22)
²⁴Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: (Matthew 1:24), though the English requires it to be translated “the Lord.” See GOD.

2. δεσπότης, signifying “owner, master,” as a man who owns slaves. It is applied to God and to the Lord Jesus (Luke 2:29²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: (Luke 2:29); Acts 4:24²⁴And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: (Acts 4:24); 2 Pet. 2:1¹But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1); Jude 4⁴For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4); Rev. 6:10¹⁰And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10)); and in 2 Timothy 2:21²¹If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21) is translated “master.”

3. ραββονί, a word similar to Rabbi, a term of respect among the Jews, signifying “teacher.” It is applied to the Lord by the blind man in Mark 10:51⁵¹And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. (Mark 10:51); and by Mary in John 20:16¹⁶Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16), where it is untranslated.

“Master” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

In the Old Testament there are five words so translated, but only one that occurs frequently, adon, which is often rendered “Lord,” and signifies “master” either as owner or ruler. In the New Testament there is 1. κύριος, often translated “Lord”; this is rendered “master” in reference to God in Ephesians 6:9⁹And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. (Ephesians 6:9) and Colossians 4:1¹Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 4:1); and is often used as between master and servants.

2. διδάσκαλος, “teacher.” This is often translated “master” in the gospels in application to the Lord (Matt. 8:19¹⁹And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (Matthew 8:19); Mark 4:38³⁸And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? (Mark 4:38); Luke 3:12¹²Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? (Luke 3:12); John 1:38³⁸Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (John 1:38), and more). It is the same word in James 3:1¹My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (James 3:1), “Be not many teachers.”

3. δεσπότης, master in the sense of “owner,” as of slaves (1 Tim. 6:1-2¹Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. ²And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. (1 Timothy 6:1‑2); 2 Tim. 2:21²¹If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21); Titus 2:9⁹Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; (Titus 2:9); 1 Peter 2:18¹⁸Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (1 Peter 2:18)).

4. ἐπιστάτης, “superintendent, overseer” (Luke 5:5⁵And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. (Luke 5:5); Luke 8:24,45²⁴And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Luke 8:24)
⁴⁵And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? (Luke 8:45); Luke 9:33,49³³And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. (Luke 9:33)
⁴⁹And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. (Luke 9:49); Luke 17:13¹³And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (Luke 17:13)).

5. καθηγητής “leader” (Matt. 23:8,10⁸But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. (Matthew 23:8)
¹⁰Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. (Matthew 23:10)).

6. ραββί, “Rabbi,” a Jewish title (Matt. 26:25,49²⁵Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. (Matthew 26:25)
⁴⁹And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. (Matthew 26:49); Mark 9:5⁵And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (Mark 9:5); Mark 11:21²¹And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. (Mark 11:21); Mark 14:45⁴⁵And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. (Mark 14:45); John 4:31³¹In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. (John 4:31); John 9:2²And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2); John 11:8⁸His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? (John 11:8)).

7. κυβερνήτης, “ship-master” (Acts 27:11¹¹Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. (Acts 27:11); Rev. 18:17¹⁷For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, (Revelation 18:17)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

1203 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

δεσπότης

Transliteration:

despotes

Phonic:

des-pot’-ace

Meaning:

perhaps from 1210 and πόσις (a husband); an absolute ruler ("despot")

KJV Usage:

Lord, master