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(Mark 10: 51) and Megistanes (Mark 6: 21), the word `Lord' is the N.T. translation of
two words, despotes and kurios. In this connection Cremer says:
"Kurios differs from despotes, as honourable superiority and authority does from mere
force."
Trench in his Synonyms of the New Testament writes:
"The distinction which the later Greek grammarians sought to trace between these
words was this; a man would be despotes as respects his slaves (Plato), and therefore
oikodespotes, but kurios in respect to his wife and children, who in speaking either to him
or of him, would give him this title of honour `As Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him
Lord' (I Pet. 3: 6) . . . . . The free Greeks refused this title of despotes to any but the gods
(Euripides); and the sense of this distinction of theirs we have retained in our use of
`despot', `despotic', `despotism', as set over against our use of `Lord', `Lordship' and the
like; the despot is one who exercises not dominion only, but domination."
We must not import into the title Despotes where it occurs in the N.T. any of the
harshness that was felt by the Greeks, but the distinction between the two words is a
useful thing to keep in mind. Kurios, "Lord" is derived from kuros, `supreme power,
authority, influence' and then in a secondary sense, `validity, security, certainty'. The
word kuros does not occur in the N.T. but the verb kuroo occurs twice--I Cor. 2: 8 and
Gal. 3: 15, where it is translated `confirmed'. Kuroo means `to make valid, sure, firm';
then `to settle, finish, accomplish and perform'. From this word, and retaining much, if
not all, of these senses, the word for "Lord" is derived. Jehovah "Lord", Kurios speak of
God as `The Ratifier', the God of the covenant, the God of the promises. Kurios was
used by the Greeks of men in the capacity of rulers, and of any one or any thing which
had another in its power--e.g. `the power of life and death' (Plato). They used it also of
things which were decisive, or upon which all depended and then of times which were
fixed or appointed or foreordained. Thus the ninth month was called `The month of the
Lord' because it was the appointed limit in conception and child-birth. Similarly the
regular day fixed for the Athenian assembly was called hemera kuria--which reminds us
of Rev. 1: 10 "The day of the Lord". All these things the Saviour gathers up in His title
of "Lord".
The Septuagint uses the title Kurios as a translation of several O.T. titles of God. We
give below a specimen of some of the more outstanding Hebrew words:
Adon, referring to man:
"My lord being old." Sarah refers to Abraham (Gen. 18: 12).
"My lords, turn in, I pray you." Lot, to the Angels (Gen. 19: 2).
"Thus shall you speak unto my lord Esau" (Gen. 32: 4).
"God hath made me lord of all Egypt" referring to Joseph (Gen. 45: 9), etc., etc.
Adonai, referring to God:
"Lord, how long?" (Isa. 6: 11).
Jehovah Adonai. "The spirit of the Lord God is upon Me" (Isa. 61: 1).
Eloah. "Let not God regard it from above" (Job 3: 4).
Elohim. "And God spake all these words" (Exod. 20: 1).
Jah. "Who is a strong Lord like unto Thee?" (Psa. 89: 8).