βᾰσῐλ-ικός G0937
Royal, kingly; pertaining to a king, whether describing a person of the royal court or something possessing regal authority.
An adjective meaning 'royal' or 'belonging to a king,' applied both to persons associated with royalty and to things possessing kingly dignity. In John 4:46, 49, it describes a 'royal official' (basilikos) whose son Jesus heals from a distance—a man connected to Herod's court. Acts 12:20–21 uses it of Herod Agrippa's 'royal' country and 'royal' robes. Most strikingly, James 2:8 speaks of the 'royal law'—the command to love your neighbor—elevating it as the king's own decree. French and Spanish both render it simply as 'royal,' while German 'königlich' carries the same regal weight.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Royal or kingly—describing persons, possessions, or qualities that belong to or befit a king. The 'royal official' (basilikos) in John 4:46, 49 is a courtier in Herod Antipas's service, while Acts 12:20–21 uses the term for Herod Agrippa's royal territory and apparel. James 2:8 applies it metaphorically to the 'royal law' of neighbor-love, investing the command with sovereign authority. The uniform rendering across languages—French 'royal,' Spanish 'real,' German 'königlich'—confirms a single, coherent sense of regal association and dignity, though the referent shifts from persons to garments to divine law. 5×
AR["المَلَكِيَّ", "مَلَكِيًّا", "مَلَكِيٌّ", "مَلَكِيُّ", "ٱلْمَلَكِيَّةِ"]·ben["রাজকর্মচারী", "রাজকীয়"]·DE["koeniglich", "königlich"]·EN["royal", "royal-official"]·FR["royal"]·heb["מַלְכוּתִי", "מַלְכוּתִית", "עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְ"]·HI["राजकीय", "राजकीय,"]·ID["kerajaan", "kerajaan,", "pejabat-istana,"]·IT["basilikon", "basilikos", "reale"]·jav["abdi-dalem,", "karajan,", "karajan."]·KO["왕-의,", "왕실-관원이", "왕의", "왕의-것에서"]·PT["oficial-real,", "régia"]·RU["царедворец", "царский,", "царской", "царскую"]·ES["oficial-real", "real"]·SW["afisa-wa-mfalme", "ya-kifalme", "ya-kifalme,", "ya-kifalme."]·TR["kral", "kraliyet", "kraliyet-bölgesinden", "saray-görevlisi"]·urd["اے-خداوند", "بادشاہی", "شاہانہ٬", "شاہی"]
Related Senses
G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)G1849 1. authority, power (91×)H6485a 2. Qal: punish, bring judgment (63×)H8198 1. maidservant, female slave (63×)G2962 2. master, lord (human authority) (61×)H0034 1. needy, poor, destitute (61×)H0519 1. female servant, maidservant (56×)H6041 1. poor, needy person (55×)H0113 2. master, owner of servants (49×)H4910 1. Qal: to have dominion, exercise power over (44×)H1800 1. poor, needy (socioeconomic) (38×)H3515 1. heavy, severe, grievous (36×)G4434 1. (34×)G5092 1. honor, esteem, respect (33×)H6485a 4. Qal: visit, attend to, care for (32×)H3513 1. honor / show respect (Piel) (30×)H4910 2. Qal: to rule, govern (administrative authority) (27×)H4513 1. withhold, restrain, hold back (25×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
βᾰσῐλ-ικός, ή, όν, royal, kingly, ποιέεις οὐδαμῶς -κά Refs 5th c.BC+; β. [μοναρχία] Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to τυραννικός, Refs 4th c.BC+; βασιλικοὶ ἀπέβησαν proved themselves truly kingly, Refs 5th c.BC+, ἡ, art of ruling, Refs: comparative -ώτερος Refs 2nd c.AD+: superlative βασιλικώτατος καὶ ἄρχειν ἀξιώτατος Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb -κῶς, παρών as a king, with kingly authority, Refs 5th c.BC+…