ἀρχι-συνάγωγος G0752
Synagogue ruler; the chief official who presided over Jewish synagogue worship and administration.
The archisynagogos was the lay leader responsible for organizing the synagogue's worship services—selecting Scripture readers, inviting speakers, and maintaining decorum. This title appears almost exclusively in the Synoptic narratives about Jairus, the desperate father whose daughter was dying (Mark 5:22-38; Luke 8:49; 13:14). Luke 13:14 shows the synagogue ruler indignant that Jesus healed on the Sabbath, revealing the tension between institutional authority and messianic power. Acts 13:15 and 18:8, 17 mention synagogue rulers in the context of Paul's missionary journeys. Spanish 'jefe-de-sinagoga' and French 'chef-de-synagogue' both capture the administrative leadership role precisely.
Senses
1. synagogue ruler, president of a synagogue — The presiding official of a Jewish synagogue, responsible for organizing worship, selecting readers, maintaining order, and overseeing the facility. Most NT occurrences center on Jairus, the synagogue ruler who begged Jesus to heal his dying daughter (Mark 5:22, 35, 36, 38; Luke 8:49). Luke 13:14 presents a synagogue ruler who objects to Sabbath healing, illustrating institutional resistance to Jesus' ministry. Acts 13:15 mentions rulers who invited Paul to speak, and Acts 18:8, 17 name Crispus and Sosthenes as synagogue rulers in Corinth. The role was civic-religious, combining administrative authority with spiritual oversight. 9×
AR["-رَئيسِ المَجْمَعِ", "رَئيسِ-المَجمَعِ", "رَئِيسَ-الْمَجْمَعِ", "رَئِيسُ-المَجْمَعِ", "رَئِيسُ-الْمَجْمَعِ", "رُؤساءِ المَجْمَعِ", "رُؤَساءُ-المَجمَعِ"]·ben["সমাজগৃহ-অধ্যক্ষের", "সমাজগৃহাধ্যক্ষ", "সমাজগৃহের-প্রধান", "সমাজপতিকে", "সমাজপতিদের", "সমাজপতির", "সমাজপতিরা"]·DE["ἀρχισυνάγωγοι", "ἀρχισυνάγωγον", "ἀρχισυνάγωγος", "ἀρχισυναγώγου", "ἀρχισυναγώγων", "ἀρχισυναγώγῳ"]·EN["ruler-of-synagogue", "synagogue-ruler", "synagogue-rulers"]·FR["chef-de-synagogue"]·heb["רָאשֵׁי-הַכְּנֵסֶת", "רָאשֵׁי-הַכְּנֶסֶת", "רֹאשׁ-בֵּית-הַכְּנֵסֶת", "רֹאשׁ-הַכְּנֶסֶת", "שַׂר-בֵּית-הַכְּנֶסֶת"]·HI["अधीक्षकों", "आराधनालय", "आराधनालय-का-अध्यक्ष", "आराधनालय-के-अध्यक्ष-को", "आराधनालय-के-अध्यक्ष-ने", "के", "सभागृह-अधिकारी", "सभागृह-अध्यक्षों"]·ID["itu", "kepala-kepala-sinagoge", "kepala-sinagoge"]·IT["capo-della-sinagoga", "capo-sinagoga"]·jav["kepala-sinagogé", "pangageng-papan-pangibadah", "pangageng-sinagogé", "pangarsaning-sinagogé", "panggedhé-sinagogé,"]·KO["회당-장들이", "회당장-의", "회당장들의,", "회당장에게,", "회당장을", "회당장의,", "회당장이"]·PT["chefe-da-sinagoga", "chefe-de-sinagoga,", "chefe-de-sinagoga:", "chefes-da-sinagoga", "chefes-de-sinagoga,"]·RU["начальник-синагоги", "начальника-синагоги", "начальники-синагоги", "начальников-синагоги", "начальнику-синагоги"]·ES["jefe-de-sinagoga", "jefes-de-la-sinagoga", "principal-de-la-sinagoga", "principales-de-la-sinagoga"]·SW["kiongozi-wa-sinagogi", "kiongozi-wa-sinagogi,", "mkuu-wa-sinagogi", "viongozi-wa-sinagogi", "viongozi-wa-sinagogi,"]·TR["havra-başkanı", "havra-yöneticilerinin,", "havra-yöneticisine,", "havra-yöneticisinin,", "havra-önderi", "havra-önderini", "havra-önderleri"]·urd["سردار-عبادت-خانہ", "سردار-عبادت-خانے", "سردارِ-عبادت-خانہ", "عبادتخانے-کے-سردار-سے", "عبادتخانے-کے-سردار-کے", "عبادتخانے-کے-سرداروں-میں-سے"]
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H1406 1. roof / rooftop (31×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀρχι-συνάγωγος [ᾰ], ὁ, ruler of a synagogue, NT, Ramsay Cities and Bishoprics No.559:—hence ἀρχι-συνᾰγωγέω, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II master of a guild or company, Refs