ἐπίσκοπ-ος G1985
Overseer, bishop, guardian; one who watches over and leads a community, applied to church leaders and to Christ.
Originally meaning 'one who watches over' or 'guardian,' this term was adopted by the early church for its leaders responsible for shepherding congregations. Paul addresses the overseers at Philippi (Phil 1:1), charges the Ephesian elders to guard their flock as overseers (Acts 20:28), and sets out qualifications for the office (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:7). Peter strikingly applies the title to Christ himself as 'the Overseer of your souls' (1 Pet 2:25). The Spanish 'obispo' — the direct ancestor of 'bishop' — reflects how this functional term became an ecclesiastical title.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Overseer, bishop, guardian — one charged with watching over and leading a group, especially a Christian congregation. The classical Greek sense of 'watcher, guardian' (applied even to gods) carries directly into the NT's ecclesial usage. Spanish 'obispo' and French 'évêque' both derive from this Greek word, showing its lasting institutional impact. In Acts 20:28 Paul equates this role with shepherding; 1 Tim 3:2 and Titus 1:7 specify moral and leadership qualifications. In 1 Pet 2:25, Christ is called the episkopos of believers' souls, anchoring the pastoral office in his own example. 5×
AR["أَساقِفَةٍ", "أُسقُفِ", "أُسْقُفًا", "الأُسْقُفَ", "الأُسْقُفُ"]·ben["অধ্যক্ষগণ", "তত্ত্বাবধায়ক", "তত্ত্বাবধায়ককে", "তত্ত্বাবধায়কের"]·DE["ἐπίσκοπον", "ἐπισκόποις", "ἐπισκόπους", "Ἐπίσκοπον"]·EN["Overseer", "overseer", "overseers"]·FR["évêque", "ἐπίσκοπον", "ἐπισκόποις", "Ἐπίσκοπον"]·heb["מְפַקֵּחַ", "מַשְׁגִיחִים", "מַשְׁגִיחַ"]·HI["अधयकश", "अधयकशओन", "अध्यक्ष"]·ID["Pengawas", "penilik jemaat", "penilik-jemaat", "penilik-penilik"]·IT["sorvegliante"]·jav["Pangawas", "pangawas,", "para-pangéran-pasamuwan", "pengawas", "penilik"]·KO["감독들", "감독이", "감독자들로", "감독자에게"]·PT["Bispo", "bispo", "bispos", "bispos,"]·RU["Блюстителю", "блюстителями,", "епископами", "епископу"]·ES["Obispo", "como-obispos", "obispo", "supervisor", "supervisores"]·SW["Mlinzi", "mwangalizi", "waangalizi"]·TR["Gözetmeni", "gozetmenlerle", "gözetmen", "gözetmeni", "gözetmenler"]·urd["نگران", "نگہبان", "نگہبان-کے", "نگہبانوں-کے"]
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
ἐπίσκοπ-ος, ὁ, __A (σκοπός 1) one who watches over, overseer, guardian, ἦ γὰρ ὄλωλας ἐπίσκοπος, ὅς τέ μιν αὐτὴν ῥύσκευ (i.e. τὴν πόλιν), of Hector, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐπίσκοποι ἁρμονιάων watchers over compacts, of the gods, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐ. ὀϊστῶν, of an archer, variant in Refs 3rd c.BC+; in education, tutor, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially of tutelary gods (compare ἐπισκοπέὠ, Παλλὰς ἐ. Refs 6th c.BC+;…