κῆρυξ G2783
herald; one who makes public proclamations or announces important messages
In the ancient world, heralds served as official messengers who proclaimed decrees, announced news, and maintained order in public assemblies. They were protected persons whose role was to communicate, not to originate messages. The New Testament appropriates this image for gospel proclamation: a herald doesn't invent the message but faithfully announces the King's decree. Paul identifies himself as a herald of the gospel in both 1 Timothy 2:7 and 2 Timothy 1:11. Peter calls Noah 'a herald of righteousness' (2 Peter 2:5), emphasizing his role as God's spokesman warning of coming judgment.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A herald or public proclaimer. Paul describes himself as 'a herald and apostle' in 1 Timothy 2:7 and 2 Timothy 1:11, emphasizing his role as one who publicly announces the gospel message. 2 Peter 2:5 calls Noah 'a herald of righteousness,' highlighting his function as God's spokesman warning the pre-flood world. The term stresses faithful proclamation of another's message rather than personal opinion or invention. 3×
AR["مُناديًا", "مُنادِياً"]·ben["ঘোষক,", "প্রচারক"]·DE["Herold"]·EN["herald"]·FR["κήρυκα", "κήρυξ", "κῆρυξ"]·heb["כָּרוֹז", "מַכְרִיז"]·HI["घोशन-करतअ", "प्रचरित,", "प्रचारक"]·ID["pemberita"]·IT["kēruka", "kērux"]·jav["juru-pawarta", "juru-warta", "juru-warta,"]·KO["전파자로", "전파자로,", "전파자를"]·PT["pregador"]·RU["проповедника", "проповедником"]·ES["heraldo", "pregonero"]·SW["mhubiri"]·TR["vaic", "vaiz", "vaizi"]·urd["منادی", "منادی-کو"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κῆρυξ, ῡκος, ὁ, Aeolic dialect κᾶρυξ [ᾱ] Refs 7th c.BC+:—but κήρῡκος, ου, ὁ, Refs: (κηρύσσω):— herald, pursuivant: generally, public messenger, envoy, κ. λιγύφθογγοι Refs 8th c.BC+; θεῶν κ., of Hermes, Refs 8th c.BC+, as being messengers between nations at war, Refs 5th c.BC+: as proper name of a family at Athens, Refs 5th c.BC+ __b as feminine, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 crier, who made proclamation and…