In biblical times, the term "nobleman" referred to a person of high social status, often associated with wealth, influence, and authority. Noblemen were typically members of the ruling class or aristocracy and played significant roles in the governance and social structure of ancient societies. The Bible provides several references to noblemen, highlighting their interactions with key biblical figures and their roles within the narrative of Scripture.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, noblemen are often depicted as leaders or officials within the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They were responsible for various administrative and military duties and were expected to uphold justice and righteousness. For example, in the book of Esther, noblemen are mentioned as part of King Ahasuerus's court, advising him on matters of state (Esther 1:14). Their influence was significant, as they were involved in decision-making processes that affected the entire kingdom.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks of noblemen in the context of judgment and accountability. In Isaiah 3:14, the Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people, indicating that noblemen were held to a high standard of conduct and were accountable for their actions and leadership.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the term "nobleman" is most notably associated with the account of Jesus healing the son of a nobleman in the Gospel of John. In John 4:46-54, a nobleman from Capernaum approaches Jesus, pleading for the healing of his sick son. The nobleman's faith is demonstrated when he believes Jesus' words that his son will live, even before receiving confirmation of the healing. This account highlights the nobleman's desperation, faith, and the authority of Jesus' word.

The Berean Standard Bible records this event as follows: "So Jesus said to him, 'Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.' 'Sir,' the official said, 'come down before my child dies.' 'Go,' said Jesus. 'Your son will live.' The man took Jesus at His word and departed" (John 4:48-50). This passage underscores the nobleman's trust in Jesus and serves as a testament to the power of faith.

Role and Influence

Noblemen in biblical times were often seen as intermediaries between the king and the common people. They wielded considerable influence and were expected to act with wisdom and integrity. Their decisions could impact the lives of many, and they were often involved in the administration of justice and the implementation of royal decrees.

The Bible also presents noblemen as individuals who, despite their status, were in need of spiritual guidance and redemption. The interaction between Jesus and the nobleman in John 4 illustrates that social status does not exempt one from the need for faith and divine intervention.

Spiritual Lessons

The biblical portrayal of noblemen offers several spiritual lessons. First, it emphasizes the importance of humility and faith, regardless of one's social standing. The nobleman's approach to Jesus in John 4 demonstrates that true faith transcends social barriers and is accessible to all who seek it earnestly.

Additionally, the accountability of noblemen in the Old Testament serves as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership. Those in positions of authority are called to lead with justice and righteousness, reflecting God's character in their actions and decisions.

Overall, the biblical depiction of noblemen provides insight into the social dynamics of ancient times while offering timeless lessons on faith, leadership, and accountability.(Gr. basilikos, i.e., "king's man"), an officer of state (John 4:49) in the service of Herod Antipas. He is supposed to have been the Chuza, Herod's steward, whose wife was one of those women who "ministered unto the Lord of their substance" (Luke 8:3). This officer came to Jesus at Cana and besought him to go down to Capernaum and heal his son, who lay there at the point of death. Our Lord sent him away with the joyful assurance that his son was alive. (n.) One of the nobility; a noble; a peer; one who enjoys rank above a commoner, either by virtue of birth, by office, or by patent.NOBLE; NOBLES; NOBLEMAN

no'-b'-l, no'-b'-lz, no'-b'-l-man (chorim, 'addir; eugenes, Kratistos, basilikos): "Nobles" is the translation of the Hebrew chorim (occurring only in the plural), "free-born," "noble" (1 Kings 21:8, 11 Nehemiah 2:16; Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble" (Judges 5:13 2 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble" (Numbers 21:18 Proverbs 8:16, etc.).

Other words are gadhol, "great" (Jonah 3:7); yaqqir, Aramaic "precious" (Ezra 4:10); naghidh, "a leader" (Job 29:10); partemim, "foremost ones" (Esther 1:3; Esther 6:9); atsilim, "those near," "nobles" (Exodus 24:11); bariah, "fugitive" (Isaiah 43:14); kabhedh, "weighty," "honored" (Psalm 149:8); eugenes, "wellborn" (Acts 17:11 1 Corinthians 1:26); kratistos, "strongest," "most powerful" (Acts 24:3; Acts 26:25).

The Apocrypha, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), still further enlarges the list. In the Revised Version (British and American) we have megistanes, "great ones" (1 Esdras 1:38; 8:26, with entimos, "in honor"; The Wisdom of Solomon 18:12). Otherwise the Revised Version's uses of "noble," and "nobleness" are for words containing the root genitive and referring to birth (compare The Wisdom of Solomon 8:3; 2 Maccabees 6:27, 31; 12:42; 14:42 twice). The King James Version's uses are wider (Judith 2:2, etc.).

Nobleman is, in Luke 19:12, the translation of eugenes anthropos, "a man well born," and in John 4:46, 49 of basilikos, "kingly," "belonging to a king," a designation extended to the officers, courtiers, etc., of a king, the Revised Version margin "king's officer"; he was probably an official, civil or military, of Herod Antipas, who was styled "king" (basileus).

For "nobles" (Isaiah 43:14), the King James Version "have brought down all their nobles," the Revised Version (British and American) has "I will bring down all of them as fugitives," margin "or, as otherwise read, all their nobles even," etc.; for "nobles" (Jeremiah 30:21), "prince"; the English Revised Version has "worthies" for "nobles" (Nahum 3:18); the Revised Version (British and American) has "the noble" for "princes" (Proverbs 17:26): "nobles" for "princes" (Job 34:18 Daniel 1:3), for "Nazarites" (Lamentations 4:7, margin "Nazirites"); "her nobles" for "his fugitives," margin "or, as other otherwise read, fugitives" (Isaiah 15:5); the American Standard Revised Version has "noble" for "liberal" (Isaiah 32:5); for "The nobles held their peace," the King James Version margin "The voice of the nobles was hid" (Job 29:10), the Revised Version (British and American) has "The voice of the nobles was hushed," margin "Hebrew: hid"; for "most noble" (Acts 24:3; Acts 26:25), "most excellent."

W. L. Walker

937. basilikos -- royal
... See 932 (). Word Origin from basileus Definition royal NASB Word Usage king's
(1), royal (2), royal official (2). king's, nobleman, royal. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/937.htm - 7k

444. anthropos -- a man, human, mankind
... friend (1), human (5), human judgment (1), human relations (1), king* (1), Man
(89), man (232), man's (8), mankind (5), men (164), men's (2), nobleman* (1), one ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/444.htm - 8k

2104b. eugenes -- of noble race
... Word Origin from eu and genos Definition of noble race NASB Word Usage more
noble-minded (1), noble (1), nobleman* (1). 2104a, 2104b. eugenes. 2105 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2104b.htm - 5k

2104. eugenes -- noble
... noble From eu and ginomai; well born, ie (literally) high in rank, or (figuratively)
generous -- more noble, nobleman. see GREEK eu. see GREEK ginomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2104.htm - 6k

3175. megistan -- the chief men
... megistan Phonetic Spelling: (meg-is-tan'-es) Short Definition: a great one, a lord
Definition: a great one, a lord; a courtier, satrap, nobleman. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3175.htm - 6k

133. Admatha -- a prince of Pers. and Media
... and Media NASB Word Usage Admatha (1). Admatha. Probably of Persian derivation:
Admatha, a Persian nobleman -- Admatha. 132, 133. Admatha. 134 . ...
/hebrew/133.htm - 5k

5081. nadib -- inclined, generous, noble
... Word Origin from nadab Definition inclined, generous, noble NASB Word Usage generous
man (1), moved (1), noble (3), noble man (1), nobleman (1), nobles (7 ...
/hebrew/5081.htm - 6k

The Nobleman's Son.
... Chapter IV. The Nobleman's Son. This lesson, though it ... And there was a certain
nobleman, whose son was sick. The Greek word translated ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the noblemans son.htm

Christ Heals the Nobleman's Son. --Chooses Capernaum for His
... GALILEE. Section 127. Christ heals the Nobleman's Son."Chooses Capernaum
for his. Abode."Healing of Peter's Wife's Mother. ON ...
/.../section 127 christ heals the.htm

Healing the Nobleman's Son.
... HIS YEAR OF POPULARITY. JESUS IN GALILEE HEALING THE NOBLEMAN'S SON. ... And there
was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/healing the noblemans son.htm

How Jesus Christ, the Blessed One, at the Prayer of St Francis ...
... THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER XXXVII HOW JESUS CHRIST, THE
BLESSED ONE, AT THE PRAYER OF ST FRANCIS, CONVERTED A RICH NOBLEMAN WHO HAD ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xxxvii how jesus christ.htm

The Second visit to Cana - Cure of the Nobleman's' Son at ...
... CHAPTER IX. THE SECOND VISIT TO CANA - CURE OF THE NOBLEMAN'S' SON AT CAPERNAUM.
(Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 4:14, 15; John 4:43-54.) ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the second visit.htm

The Second Miracle at Cana.
... And there was a certain nobleman [literally, "king's man:" a word which Josephus
uses to designate a soldier, courtier, or officer of the king. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxviii the second miracle at.htm

"Except Ye See Signs and Wonders"
... and distressed. In Capernaum the tidings attracted the attention of a Jewish
nobleman who was an officer in the king's service. A ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 20 except ye see.htm

Triumph of Faith.
... And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. ... "The
nobleman saith unto Him, Sir, come down ere my child die. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the masters indwelling/xi triumph of faith.htm

The Servants and the Pounds.
... immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far
country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xxx the servants and the.htm

Ciii. Zacch??us. Parable of the Pounds. Journey to Jerusalem.
... by a parable which showed that there must be patient waiting and faithful work before
there could be any season of reward.] 12 A certain nobleman went into a ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/ciii zacchaeus parable of the.htm

Nobleman (5 Occurrences)
... patent. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NOBLE; NOBLES; NOBLEMAN. no ... Walker.
Multi-Version Concordance Nobleman (5 Occurrences). Luke ...
/n/nobleman.htm - 12k

Noble (61 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; a peer. ... 7. (vt) To make noble;
to ennoble. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NOBLE; NOBLES; NOBLEMAN. ...
/n/noble.htm - 27k

Nobles (71 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia NOBLE; NOBLES; NOBLEMAN. no'-b'-l, no'-b'-lz,
no'-b'-l-man (chorim, 'addir; eugenes, Kratistos, basilikos ...
/n/nobles.htm - 33k

Official (45 Occurrences)
... There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. ... John 4:49 The nobleman
said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/o/official.htm - 20k

Royal (154 Occurrences)
... There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. ... John 4:49 The nobleman
said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." (See NAS NIV). ...
/r/royal.htm - 42k

Premillennial
... The parable was spoken to correct this mistake and to reveal certain vital features
of it. "A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself ...
/p/premillennial.htm - 23k

Millennium
... The parable was spoken to correct this mistake and to reveal certain vital features
of it. "A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself ...
/m/millennium.htm - 24k

Sick (117 Occurrences)
... 17:17), the sunstroke of the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:19), the epileptic boy
(Matthew 17:15), Jairus' daughter (Matthew 9:18), and the nobleman's son (John 4 ...
/s/sick.htm - 44k

Capernaum (16 Occurrences)
... Here Jesus healed the centurion's son (Matthew 8:5, etc.), the nobleman's son (John
4:46), Simon Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:31, etc.), and the paralytic ...
/c/capernaum.htm - 23k

Noble-hearted (1 Occurrence)
Noble-hearted. Noble, Noble-hearted. Nobleman . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Noble, Noble-hearted. Nobleman . Reference Bible.
/n/noble-hearted.htm - 6k

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