Captain
captain
(in the bible) In the Douay Version, captain represents several different Hebrew and Latin words. It is used only for the highest civil officers as in the expressions “captain of my people” (4 Kings), and “let us appoint a captain” (Numbers 14). Military officers of all grades, however, are thus designated, e.g.: generals; infantry officers; captains of cavalry (2 Par.); commanders of the bodyguard (Genesis 26); officers charged with the organization of newly-levied troops and the order of the camp, and some whose status was not clear but who were later aides-de-camp. In the New Testament “captain”, occurs but once: “for out of thee shall come forth the captain [Our Lord] that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2).
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Captain
is the rendering, in the Auth. Vers., of numerous Hebrews and several Greek words, of which the following only require special elucidation. For the , kari, rendered “captains,” 2Ki 11:4; 2Ki 11:19, SEE CHERETHITES.
(1.) As a purely military title, captain answers to , sar, in the Hebrew army, and (tribunus) in the Roman. SEE ARMY. The “captain of the guard” () spoken of in Act 28:16 was the Praetorian praefect. SEE CHRONOLOGY, p. 312, b.
(2.) , ikatsin’, which is occasionally rendered captain, applies sometimes to a military (Jos 10:24; Jdg 11:6; Jdg 11:11; Isa 22:3; Dan 11:18), sometimes to a civil command (e.g. Isa 1:10; Isa 3:6): its radical sense is division, and hence decision without reference to the means employed: the term illustrates the double office of the , shophet’, or dictator (“judge”). SEE JUDGE.
(3.) , shalish’ (Exo 14:7; Exo 15:4; 2Sa 23:8; 1Ki 9:22; 2Ki 9:25; 2Ki 10:25; 2Ki 15:25; 1Ch 11:11; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 8:9; “lord,” 2Ki 7:2; 2Ki 7:17; 2Ki 7:19; Eze 23:23; “prince,” Eze 23:15), prop. a third man, i.e. one of three, Gr. , a higher order of soldiers, who fought from chariots, chariot-warriors (Exo 14:7; Exo 15:4; 1Ki 9:22; , , Homr. Iliad, 23:32; Eurip. Supplic. 679); employed also for the body-guard of kings (1Ki 9:22; 2Ki 10:25; 1Ch 11:11; 1Ch 12:18). The Sept. has rptararatm, i.e. according to Origen and Gregory of Nyssa (in the Catenae), “soldiers fighting from chariots,” and so called because each chariot contained three soldiers, one of whom managed the horses, while the other two fought (comp. Ewald, Gesch. Isr. 2:81). For although on the Egyptian monuments usually but one, or at most two appear in the war-chariots, yet occasionally, as certainly in the Assyrian bas-reliefs, in addition to the driver and the warrior, an armor-bearer or umbrella-bearer is depicted as standing in the chariot, who might properly be termed ternarius, or a third man. SEE CHARIOT. It is true the Hebrew army did not originally consist of cavalry, although chariots were in use among the Canaanites, and the first occurrences of the term are in connection with the Egyptians; but at alater date a chariot-squadron was organized (1Ki 10:26; comp. 9:9; 5:6; 2Sa 8:4). Consequently, it is not strange that among the battalions of David and Solomon (2Sa 23:8) there should be named as a prominent hero the leader of these shalishim ( , or, rather, ; comp. Gesenius, Lehrgeb. p. 525; Btticher, Spec. p. 38 sq.; Ewald, Gramm. Hebrews 5 th ed. 152, c. 177 a). Solomon’s chariot-men () are mentioned (1Ki 9:22; 2Ch 8:9) as next to the priefects of his chariot-force ( ). After the times of Solomon there certainly were chariot- combatants (essedarii) as royal officers in the northern kingdom, and in the reign of Jehu runners and charioteers ( ) formed, as it were, the king’s Praetorian cohort (2Ki 10:25); and the chief of these Praetorians (called by eminence or ) was among the most noble of the regal attendants (q. d. adjutant-general). Accordingly, Joram had an officer of this title, “on whose hand the king leaned” (2Ki 7:2; 2Ki 7:17; 2Ki 7:19); Jehu’s charioteer was Bidkar (2Ki 9:26); and Pekah held this eminent office under Pekahiah (2Ki 15:25). Others, however (after Drusius), hold that the was merely the third officer in rank after the king, or commanded a third part of the army (comp. the Roman tertiarii). So the Greek glossarists (ap. Drusius ad Ezech. and in Fragm. Vet. interpr. Gr. p. 145; Schleusner, Nov. Thesaur. s.v. ; Dufresne, Glossar. s.v.; see Rosenmller, Scholia ad Exo 14:7). SEE CHIEF OF THREE.
(4.) The ” captain of the Temple” ( ), mentioned by Luke (Act 4:1; Act 5:24) in connection, with the priests, was not a military officer, but superintended the guard of priests and Levites who kept watch by night in the Temple. The “captains” mentioned Luk 22:4, were probably his subalterns. The office appears to have existed from an early date the “priests that kept the door”. (2Ki 12:9; 2Ki 25:18) are described by Josephus (Ant. 10:8, 5) as “the officers guarding the Temple” ( ): a notice occurs in 2Ma 3:4, of a praefect of the Temple ( ); this officer is styled or captain by Josephus (Ant. 20:6, 2; War, 6:5, 3); and in the Mishna (Middoth, 1, 2) th , “the captain of the mountain of the Temple;” his duty, as described in the place last quoted, was to visit the posts during the night, and see that the sentries were doing their duty (comp. 1Ch 9:11; 2Ch 31:13; 2Ch 35:8-9; Jer 20:1). SEE TEMPLE.
The rank or power of an Israelitish captain was designated by the number of men under his command, as captain of fifty, or captain of a thousand, SEE CENTURION; and the commander or chief of the whole army was called the captain of the host (q.v.). The divisions of the army were regulated in some measure by the division of families, as the heads of families were usually officers. Captains of hundreds, or larger companies, were probably what would be called in modern phrase staff-officers, and formed the councils of war. SEE WAR. Sometimes distinguished men who were not Hebrews were promoted to high stations in the army (Deu 1:15; 1Ch 13:1; 2Ch 25:5; 2Sa 23:39). SEE OFFICER.
God is called Captain (“Prince”) of the Host (, Dan 8:11), not as equivalent to “Lord of Hosts,” but because he is the head and protector of his people. So in the N.T. our Lord is called Captain of his people’s salvation ( , Heb 2:10), because he is the beginner, source, and author of their salvation, the head of his Church, which he conducts, with and in himself, to blessedness (comp. Jos 5:14). SEE JEHOVAH.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Captain
(1.) Heb. sar (1 Sam. 22:2; 2 Sam. 23:19). Rendered “chief,” Gen. 40:2; 41:9; rendered also “prince,” Dan. 1:7; “ruler,” Judg. 9:30; “governor,’ 1 Kings 22:26. This same Hebrew word denotes a military captain (Ex. 18:21; 2 Kings 1:9; Deut. 1:15; 1 Sam. 18:13, etc.), the “captain of the body-guard” (Gen. 37:36; 39:1; 41:10; Jer. 40:1), or, as the word may be rendered, “chief of the executioners” (marg.). The officers of the king’s body-guard frequently acted as executioners. Nebuzar-adan (Jer. 39:13) and Arioch (Dan. 2:14) held this office in Babylon.
The “captain of the guard” mentioned in Acts 28:16 was the Praetorian prefect, the commander of the Praetorian troops.
(2.) Another word (Heb. katsin) so translated denotes sometimes a military (Josh. 10:24; Judg. 11:6, 11; Isa. 22:3 “rulers;” Dan. 11:18) and sometimes a civil command, a judge, magistrate, Arab. _kady_, (Isa. 1:10; 3:6; Micah 3:1, 9).
(3.) It is also the rendering of a Hebrew word (shalish) meaning “a third man,” or “one of three.” The LXX. render in plural by _tristatai_; i.e., “soldiers fighting from chariots,” so called because each war-chariot contained three men, one of whom acted as charioteer while the other two fought (Ex. 14:7; 15:4; 1 Kings 9:22; comp. 2 Kings 9:25). This word is used also to denote the king’s body-guard (2 Kings 10:25; 1 Chr. 12:18; 2 Chr. 11:11) or aides-de-camp.
(4.) The “captain of the temple” mentioned in Acts 4:1 and 5:24 was not a military officer, but superintendent of the guard of priests and Levites who kept watch in the temple by night. (Comp. “the ruler of the house of God,” 1 Chr. 9:11; 2 Chr. 31:13; Neh. 11:11.)
(5.) The Captain of our salvation is a name given to our Lord (Heb. 2:10), because he is the author and source of our salvation, the head of his people, whom he is conducting to glory. The “captain of the Lord’s host” (Josh. 5:14, 15) is the name given to that mysterious person who manifested himself to Abraham (Gen. 12:7), and to Moses in the bush (Ex. 3:2, 6, etc.) the Angel of the covenant. (See ANGEL)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Captain
CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE (Luk 22:4; Act 4:1; Act 5:24): not military, but over the guard of the temple, consisting of priests and Levites (2Ki 12:9), “the priests that kept the door” (2Ki 25:18); they visited the posts by night, and saw that the sentries were on the alert. In Heb 2:10, (Greek “Prince leader of their salvation,”) the antitypical Joshua who leads us into the heavenly Canaan. The same Greek in Heb 12:2, “the Author,” rather “Prince leader of our faith.” Act 3:15, “Prince of life.”
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Captain
CAPTAIN.1. This word is the Authorized Version rendering of two Greek terms in the Gospels:(1) , properly leader of a thousand (Joh 18:12, Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 chief captain, (Revised Version margin) military tribune; see also Mar 6:21, Act 21:31-33; Act 21:37; Act 22:24; Act 22:26-29; Act 23:10; Act 23:15; Act 23:17-19; Act 23:22; Act 24:7; Act 24:22-23, Rev 6:15; Rev 19:18). (2) , properly leader of an army, general (Luk 22:4; Luk 22:52; see also Act 4:1; Act 5:24; Act 5:26).
1. is used (a) in a vague general sense of a superior military officer, and (b) technically as the Greek equivalent of the Roman prfeetus or tribunus militum. The Roman garrison in the citadel at Jerusalem, consisting of a cohort ( = NT , band [ , Josephus BJ v. v. 8]) of provincial troops, Syrian Greeks, and Samaritans, whose commandant would be a civis Romanus (Act 22:28), while they would be presented with the Imperial franchise on their discharge, was reinforced during the Passover by additional troops which were stationed in one of the Temple buildings (Mommsen, Prov. Rom. [Note: Roman.] Emp., English translation ii. 186). The is also called by Josephus (Ant. xv. xi. 4, xviii. iv. 3); see Schrer, HJP [Note: JP History of the Jewish People.] i. ii. 55. The legion consisting normally of 6000 men, the six tribuni took command for two months in turn. Palestine, however, being a Roman province of the second rank, did not possess a full legionary garrison. Mommsen gives its strength, at a subsequent period, as consisting of a detachment (ala) of cavalry and five cohorts of infantry, or about 3000 men.
2. , the commandant of the Temple Levites. Josephus mentions the captain () of the Levitical guard in the time of Claudius (Ant. xx. vi. 2), and in that of Trajan (BJ vi. v. 3). Possibly the officers () who assisted in the arrest of Jesus (Joh 18:3; cf. Joh 7:32; cf. Joh 7:45) belonged to this body. This captain of the Temple (2Ma 3:4 ) is mentioned in Jer 20:1 LXX Septuagint as and in Neh 11:11 as the ruler of the house of God (Vulgate prineeps domus Dei Dei = Mishna, Middoth i. 2). The duty of this captain of the mount of the Temple was to keep order in the Temple, visit the stations of the guard during the night, and see that the sentries were duly posted and alert. He and his immediate subalterns are supposed to be intended by the rulers () mentioned in Ezr 9:2 and Neh. passim ( or ). See Schrer, HJP [Note: JP History of the Jewish People.] ii. i. 258. The chief constable of this priestly corps of Temple police was naturally himself a Levite.
LiteratureJosephus, Ant. x viii. 5, xv xi. 4, xviii. iv. 3, xx vi. 2, BJ v. v. 8, vi. v. 3; Schurer, HJP [Note: JP History of the Jewish People.] i. ii. 55, ii. i. 258; Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible , article Captain.
P. Henderson Aitken.
II. Besides these two military or semi-military uses of captain in the Gospels, we have to notice the employment of the term as a title for Christ in Heb 2:10 (Authorized Version and (Revised Version margin) ) and Heb 12:2 ((Revised Version margin) ). In both cases the corresponding word in the Greek text is , a word which otherwise is found in the NT only in Act 3:15; Act 5:31 (both times in Acts applied to Christ, and in each case rendered Prince, with Author as a marginal alternative in Act 3:15).
In accordance with its derivation ( and ), originally meant a leader, and so naturally came to be applied to a prince or chief. From this the transition was easy to the further meaning of a first cause or author, which is not infrequent in the philosophical writers. For the Captain of Authorized Version in Heb 2:10, Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 substitutes author, giving captain in the margin; and in Heb 12:2 both VSS [Note: SS Versions.] have author, though Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 again gives captain as a marginal rendering.
But when Jesus is called (Heb 2:10), the meaning is not merely that He is the Author of our salvation. The context suggests that the idea of a leader going before his saved ones (cf. Heb 6:20) ought to be adhered to (see Davidson, Hebrews, ad loc.). Similarly when He is called (Heb 12:2), the idea is that of one who has led the way along the path of faith. In both cases the term Captain may be unsuitable, since it is apt to suggest military images which had no place in the writers mind; but leader, at all events, should be retained, since the idea of leadership and not of authorship seems best to express his purpose (see Bruce, Expositor, 3rd ser. viii. [1888] p. 451). For a full treatment of the subject in its apologetic and homiletic aspects, Bruces chapter on The Captain of Salvation (op. cit. pp. 447461) should be read in whole.
Literature.The Lexicons of Grimm-Thayer and Cremer, s.v.; W. R. Smith in Expos. 2nd ser. [1881] ii. 422; D. Brown, ib. 5th ser. [1895] ii. 434 ff. See also C. J. Vaughan, P. Rendall, and B. F. Westcott on Heb 2:10; J. A. Selbie in Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible iv. 102a; and P. H. Chase, Credibility of the Acts, 129 f.
J. C. Lambert.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Captain
CAPTAIN.This word occurs very frequently in the OT (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] and RV [Note: Revised Version.] ), and appears to have been favoured by the translators as a comprehensive term to denote a ruler, or a military commander of any unit, whatever its size might be. In modern military language it means especially the commander of a company of infantry, numbering about 100 to 110 men, and is quite unsuitable as a translation. It represents in OT 13 different Hebrew words. In Ezekiel it is often used for the secular head of the Messianic kingdom: prince will there and often elsewhere do as a rendering; officer and chief will suit other passages. There are further places where none of these words will do as a translation. In the NT it translates four Greek words, and means: (1) Joh 18:12, Act 22:28 a Roman military officer, a tribune of the soldiers, in command of about 1000 men, constituting the garrison of Jerusalem (hence Rev 6:15; Rev 19:18 in a general sense); (2) Luk 22:4; Luk 22:52, Act 4:1 etc., the captain of the Temple, a Levite, who had under him a body of police, probably themselves also priests, whose duty it was to keep order in the Temple at Jerusalem and guard it by night; (3) Heb 2:10 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] author) leader, initiator; (4) Act 28:16 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] captain of the guard (wanting in RV [Note: Revised Version.] ), a doubtful reading and of doubtful sense. See also Army, 2.
A. Souter.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Captain
We meet this title in one passage of the word of God, and but one, as far as my memory chargeth me, applied to the Lord Jesus Christ; and that is in the second chapter of Hebrews, and the tenth verse. And very sweetly and eminently so, must we consider the name in reference to him. For he it was, most probably, that Joshua saw in vision, long before his incarnation, before the walls of Jericho, as captain of the Lord’s host, and before whom Joshua fell on his face. (Jos 5:13-15) It is very blessed to see and know the Lord Jesus under this character, and to fight under his banner.
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Captain
kaptin: In the King James Version there are no fewer than 13 Hebrew words, and 4 different Greek words, which are rendered by this one English word. In the Revised Version (British and American) some of these are rendered by other English words, and so we find for captain: marshal (Jer 27; Nah 3:17), prince (1Sa 9:16), governor (Jer 51:23, Jer 51:18), while in the case of one of these Hebrew words a different construction is found altogether (Jer 13:21).
1. In the Old Testament
Of Hebrew words in the Old Testament rendered by captain (1) The most frequent is , sar, which denotes a military commander, whether of thousands or hundreds or fifties (Num 31:48; 1Sa 8:12 and many other places). Sar is the chief officer of any department, civil and religious, as well as military – captain of the guard the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), chief of the executioners the Revised Version, margin (Gen 37:36); chief butler (Gen 40:9); chief baker (Gen 40:16); chief of a district (Neh 3:15); chiefs of tribes (Naphtali; Zebulun, Psa 68:27); chiefs over gangs of slaves (Exo 1:11); chiefs of the priests and the Levites (Ezr 8:29). (2) , rabh, later Hebrew for chief of the executioners or captain of the guard, a title always given to Nebuzar-adan (2Ki 25:8; Jer 39:9) and to Arioch (Dan 2:14). Compare also Rab-mag, chief of the magicians (Jer 39:13), and Ashpenaz, chief of the eunuchs (Dan 1:3). (3) , ro’sh, head over a host (Israel in the wilderness, Num 14:4), over tribes (Deu 29:10, where the Revised Version (British and American) renders heads), over thousands (1Ch 12:20). Abijah, king of Judah, before joining battle against Jeroboam, claimed God himself is with us for our captain the King James Version, with us at our head the Revised Version (British and American) (2Ch 13:12). (4) , shalsh, originally the third man in the chariot, who, when the chief occupant was the king, or commander-in-chief, was of the rank of captain (2Ki 7:2; 2Ki 9:25), the term third man being generalized to mean a captain in 2Ki 10:25; 2Ch 8:9, where chief of his captains combines (1) and (4). (5) , naghdh, leader by Divine appointment: of Saul (1Sa 9:16, captain, the King James Version, prince the Revised Version (British and American) 1Sa 10:1); of David (2Sa 5:2); of Hezekiah (2Ki 20:5); with a charge in connection with the temple (2Ch 31:13). It is the word used of Messiah the prince (Dan 9:25), who is also Prince of the Covenant (Dan 11:22). (6) , nas’, rendered captain in the King James Version Num 2:3, Num 2:5, Num 2:7 only, there in the Revised Version (British and American) and in other places, both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), rendered prince. In 1Ch 7:40 chief of the princes combines (3) and (6). (7) , pehah, is found almost entirely in a foreign title denoting governor, and belongs to the later history of Israel (Neh 2:7, Neh 2:9; Ezr 8:36; Hag 1:1), rendered captain in exclusively foreign associations (1Ki 20:24; 2Ki 18:24; Dan 3:27 f). (8) , kacn (from root of kadi, Arabic for judge), denotes dictator, almost usurper, and is found in rulers of Sodom the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), judges of Sodom the Revised Version, margin (Isa 1:10), used of Jephthah in sense of captain the King James Version, chief the Revised Version (British and American) (Jdg 11:6), found combined with (3), head and captain (King James Version, head and chief the Revised Version (British and American) Jdg 11:11). In Jos 10:24 it denotes commanders of troops, the King James Version captains of the men of war, the Revised Version (British and American) chiefs of the men of war. (9) , kar, in Eze 21:22 to set captains the King James Version, is translated to set battering rams the Revised Version (British and American). (10) , baal, only once in captain of the ward (Jer 37:13). (11) , tiphsar, a dignitary belonging to an oriental court, in the King James Version rendered captain, in the Revised Version (British and American) marshal (Nah 3:17; Jer 51:27). (12) , shallt, in Dan 2:15 of Arioch, the king’s captain; in Ecc 8:8 having power over, and in Ecc 7:19 used of mighty men (the Revised Version (British and American) rulers).
2. In the New Testament
Of Greek words rendered by captain in New Testament there are the following: (1) , archegos, rendered captain in Heb 2:10 the King James Version but relegated to the margin in the Revised Version (British and American), where author (of their salvation) is preferred, this being the rendering of Heb 12:2 the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), author (and finisher of our faith), captain being still retained in the Revised Version, margin. Compare Act 3:15 and Act 5:31, where the same Greek word is rendered Prince, the Revised Version, margin of the former passage giving Author. In the Risen and Ascended Christ the various conceptions Thus expressed are found to blend. (2) , chilarchos, the Latin tribunus militum of which there were six to a legion, commanding the six cohorts of which it was composed. In its lit. acceptation it would be commander of a thousand, and it is so used in Act 22:28 where it designates the commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, consisting of a cohort, and is rendered chief captain (Joh 18:12; Act 21:31; Act 22:24; Act 24:22). It is used more vaguely in the sense of military officer in Mar 6:21; Rev 6:15; Rev 19:18. (3) , strategos, used only by Luke in the New Testament, and almost exclusively of (a) officials in charge of the Temple (Luk 22:4, Luk 22:52; Act 4:1; Act 5:24, Act 5:26). The captain of the Temple had the superintendence of the Levites and priests who were on guard in and around the Temple, and under him were strategoi, who were also captains of the Temple police, although they took their instruction from him as their head. He was not only a priest, but second in dignity only to the high priest himself; (b) The exception to Luke’s general usage is where the word is used of the chief authorities in civil affairs at Philippi; where the magistrates, as the word is rendered (Act 16:20 f), called themselves praetors (strategoi). In the case of Paul and Silas they placed themselves in peril of removal from their office by ordering them to be beaten, being Romans and uncondemned. (4) , stratopedarches, the captain of the guard to whom Julius of the Augustan band (according to the Textus Receptus of the New Testament, Act 28:16) delivered Paul and his fellow-prisoners. The word has disappeared from the Revised Version (British and American), but the passage in which it occurs has attestation which satisfies Blass, Sir William Ramsay, and other scholars. It was supposed that this was the captain of the Praetorian guard, but Mommsen and Ramsay believe him to be the princeps peregrinorum castrorum. See AUGUSTAN BAND; ARMY, ROMAN.
.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Captain
In the O.T. this word is used for one filling any office of rule or command: as the head of a tribe, Num 2:3-29; commander of an army, etc. The person who appeared to Joshua as ‘a man’ declared himself to be ‘captain of the Lord’s host.’ He told Joshua to remove his shoes from his feet, for the ground was holy, evincing that he was God’s representative to lead their warfare. Jos 5:14-15. In the N.T. the Lord is called ‘Captain’ of our salvation, , ‘chief leader.’ Heb 2:10.
There was also a ‘CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE,’ . Luk 22:4; Luk 22:52; Act 4:1; Act 5:24; Act 5:26. This word is literally ‘the leader of an army;’ it is also applied to magistrates, Act 16:20, but the captain of the temple was set not over the soldiers, but over the priests and Levites: cf. Num 3:32; 1Ch 9:11; Jer 20:1.
THE CHIEF CAPTAIN or HIGH CAPTAIN is , lit. ‘Captain of a thousand,’ applied to the chief of the soldiers in Jerusalem. Acts 21 – 25.
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, Act 28:16, is , properly ‘commander of a camp,’ but here the prefect of the Praetorian Guard, an officer to whom state prisoners were entrusted at Rome.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Captain
Commander-in-chief:
– Of an army
Deu 20:9; Jdg 4:2; 1Sa 14:50; 1Ki 2:35; 1Ki 16:16; 1Ch 27:34
– Of the tribes
Num 2
– Of thousands
Num 31:48; 1Sa 17:18; 1Ch 28:1
– Of hundreds
b General references
2Ki 11:15 Centurion
– Of fifties
2Ki 1:9; Isa 3:3
– Of the guard
Gen 37:36; 2Ki 25:8
– Of the ward
Jer 37:13
Signifying any commander
1Sa 9:16; 1Sa 22:2; 2Ki 20:5
Signifying any leader
1Ch 11:21; 1Ch 12:34; 2Ch 17:14-19; Joh 18:12
David’s captains, or chief heroes
2Sa 23; 1Ch 11
King appoints
1Sa 18:13; 2Sa 17:25; 2Sa 18:1
Angel of the Lord, called captain
Jos 5:14; 2Ch 13:12
Christ called captain
Heb 2:10 Armies
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Captain
Captain. In the Old Testament the rendering of a Hebrew word generally signifying a military officer. There were various ranks, from the captains of 50 to the captain of the host (or commander-in-chief). 1Sa 17:18; 2Sa 19:13; 2Ki 1:9; 2Ki 11:15. Captains of the guard are also mentioned. Gen 37:36; 2Ki 25:8. These were military officers, charged, it would seem, with the defence of the royal person, and with the execution of sentences pronounced by the king: comp. 1Ki 2:29-34; 1Ki 2:46. The officer in the New Testament, called a captain in Act 28:16, was probably the commander of the prtorian troops at Rome, but the R. V. omits the clause containing the word. There is another Hebrew word translated sometimes “captain,” Jos 10:24, A. V. (“chiefs” in the R.V.), sometimes “ruler,” Isa 3:6, which denotes both a military and a civil officer. The captain of the temple, Luk 22:4; Act 4:1; Act 5:24, was not a military man, but the chief of the priests and Levites that watched in the temple at night. Comp. Psa 134:1. The word “captain” applied to our Lord, Heb 2:10, has not a military signification.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Captain
Captain.
1. As a purely military title, “captain” answers to sar in the Hebrew army and tribune in the Roman army. The captain of the guard in Act 28:16 was probably the prefectus pratorio.
2. Katsin, occasionally rendered captain, applies sometimes to a military, Jos 10:24; Jdg 11:6,11; Isa 22:3; Dan 11:18, sometimes to a civil command, for example, Isa 1:10; Isa 3:6.
3. The captain of the Temple, mentioned in Luk 22:4; Act 4:1; Act 5:24, superintended the guard of priests and Levites, who kept watch by night in the Temple.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Captain
denoting “a commander of 1000 soldiers” (from chilios, “a thousand,” and archo, “to rule”), was the Greek word for the Persian vizier, and for the Roman military tribune, the commander of a Roman cohort, e.g., Joh 18:12; Act 21:31-33, Act 21:37. One such commander was constantly in charge of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. The word became used also for any military commander, e.g., a “captain” or “chief captain,” Mar 6:21; Rev 6:15; Rev 19:18.
originally the commander of an army (from stratos, “an army,” and ago, “to lead”), came to denote “a civil commander, a governor” (Latin, duumvir), the highest magistrate, or any civil officer in chief command, Act 16:20, Act 16:22, Act 16:35-36, Act 16:38; also the “chief captain” of the Temple, himself a Levite, having command of the Levites who kept guard in and around the Temple, Luk 22:4, Luk 22:52; Act 4:1; Act 5:24, Act 5:26. Cp. Jer 20:1.
see AUTHOR (No. 2).
Note: In Act 28:16 some mss. have the word stratopedarches (lit., “camp-commander”), which some take to denote a praetorian prefect, or commander of the praetorian cohorts, the Emperor’s bodyguard, “the captain of the praetorian guard.” There were two praetorian prefects, to whose custody prisoners sent bound to the Emperor were consigned. But the word probably means the commander of a detached corps connected with the commissariat and the general custody of prisoners.
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Captain
2Ch 13:12 (a) One of the many positions taken by our Lord for the blessing of His people. We are soldiers of JESUS CHRIST as we find in Heb 2:10. See 2Ti 2:3.