The Meaning of [Kata] Kyrieyein

Abstract

This chapter deals with [Kata] Kyrieyein by quoting key passages from the King James Version (KJV) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV). It addresses the following questions: Why does the RSV translate Mk and Mt differently from Lk; Why does the RSV change the KJV in Mk and Mt, and translate instead lord it over; What change of meaning is thus introduced; Does the KJV or the RSV do better justice to the Greek as originally composed. Such questions concerning the proper translation all point to the need to understand the terms lord it over (as in Lk) and the compound (as in Mk and Mt). The chapter reviews the usage of these terms in the literature extant from the Hellenistic Roman era, in which the New Testament writings had their literary setting. Keywords: Greek; Hellenistic Roman era; King James Version; Kyrieyein; New Testament writings