[B-Greek] etimology of kurios

gerard jvanriet1 at mts.net
Wed Jan 25 12:59:23 EST 2006


On Jan 25, 2006, at 1:58 AM, Chris Weimer wrote:

> Does anyone know the etymology of kurios? I'm also curious on how  
> it was
> originally used before the LXX appropriated it for the name YHWH.  
> It doesn't
> seem to parallel the Latin dominus (from domus, house) nor does it  
> seem to
> be the original word for "master" such as master of slaves. Anyone  
> have a
> clue?
W.Foerster in Kittel TDNT writes,  
A.     The Meaning of the Word κύριος.

ὁ κύριος is the noun form of the adj. κύριος, which for its part derives from the noun τὸ κῦρος. The root of this is an Indo-Germanic √ keu(ā), kū, with the sense “to swell” (cf. κυέω, ἔγκυος, ἐγκύμων, κῦμα), then “to be strong”; κύρ—ιος is linked with the Sansk. s̄ra (strong, brave, hero). τὸ κῦρος, which is found from the time of Aesch., means “force,” “power,” 

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Vols. 5-9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. Edited by Kittel, Gerhard, Geoffrey William Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich. electronic ed., Vol. 3, Page 1041. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964-c1976.

If Foerster is correct about the element of swelling and pregnancy in KURIOS then there would be a slight chance that there were an Old Testament background of Branch, Shoot, words that also have a generative meaning of growth and strength. These, words are used e.g.in Isaiah 11:9 and Zecheriah 6:12 as prophetic designation of the royal Messiah, the KURIOS of the New Testament.

John VanRietschoten B.D. Minister Emeritus in the Canadian and American Reformed Churches. Carman MB, Canada.


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