In biblical terms, the concept of "principal" can be understood in various contexts, including leadership, authority, and foundational truths. The term itself is not frequently used in the Berean Standard Bible , but the underlying themes are prevalent throughout Scripture.

1. Leadership and Authority: The idea of principal often relates to those in positions of leadership or authority. In the Old Testament, leaders such as kings, judges, and prophets were considered principal figures who guided the people of Israel. For example, King David is a principal figure in the history of Israel, chosen by God to lead His people (1 Samuel 16:1-13). His leadership is marked by a heart after God, as noted in Acts 13:22, "After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do all My will.’"

2. Wisdom and Understanding: The Book of Proverbs frequently emphasizes the importance of wisdom as a principal thing. Proverbs 4:7 states, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding." Here, wisdom is portrayed as a foundational principle that should guide one's life and decisions. The pursuit of wisdom is encouraged as a means to live righteously and in accordance with God's will.

3. Principalities and Powers: In the New Testament, the term "principalities" is used to describe spiritual forces and authorities. Ephesians 6:12 highlights the spiritual battle believers face: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This passage underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for believers to be equipped with the armor of God.

4. Foundational Truths: The concept of principal can also refer to foundational truths or doctrines of the Christian faith. Hebrews 6:1-2 encourages believers to move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God. These foundational principles are essential for spiritual growth and maturity.

5. Moral and Ethical Principles: The Bible provides numerous moral and ethical principles that serve as a guide for righteous living. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are a prime example of God's principal laws given to His people. Jesus further expounds on these principles in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), where He teaches about the heart of the law and the importance of internal righteousness.

In summary, while the specific term "principal" may not be frequently used in the BSB, the concept is woven throughout Scripture in various forms, emphasizing leadership, wisdom, spiritual authority, foundational truths, and moral principles. These elements are integral to understanding the biblical worldview and living a life that honors God.1. (a.) Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case.

2. (a.) of or pertaining to a prince; princely.

3. (n.) A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; -- distinguished from a subordinate, abettor, auxiliary, or assistant.

4. (n.) The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, -- as distinguished from an accessory.

5. (n.) A chief obligor, promisor, or debtor, -- as distinguished from a surety.

6. (n.) One who employs another to act for him, -- as distinguished from an agent.

7. (n.) A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous.

8. (n.) A capital sum of money, placed out at interest, due as a debt or used as a fund; -- so called in distinction from interest or profit.

9. (n.) The construction which gives shape and strength to a roof, -- generally a truss of timber or iron, but there are roofs with stone principals. Also, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing.

10. (n.) In English organs the chief open metallic stop, an octave above the open diapason. On the manual it is four feet long, on the pedal eight feet. In Germany this term corresponds to the English open diapason.

11. (n.) A heirloom; a mortuary.

12. (n.) The first two long feathers of a hawk's wing.

13. (n.) One of turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and center of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned.

14. (n.) A principal or essential point or rule; a principle.

PRINCIPAL

prin'-si-pal: Appears in the King James Version as a translation of nine Hebrew words (fewer in the Revised Version (British and American)), in one case (Isaiah 28:25) being used quite wrongly and in 2 Kings 25:19 (Jeremiah 52:25); 1 Chronicles 24:31 gives a wrong sense (all corrected in the Revised Version (British and American)). In 1 Kings 4:5, "principal officer" (the American Standard Revised Version "chief minister") is an arbitrary translation of kohen to avoid "priest" (so the English Revised Version; compare 2 Samuel 8:18).

1851. exoche -- a projection, eminence
... principal. From a compound of ek and echo (meaning to stand out); prominence
(figuratively) -- principal. see GREEK ek. see GREEK echo. (exochen) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1851.htm - 6k

5056. telos -- an end, a toll
... telos Phonetic Spelling: (tel'-os) Short Definition: an end, purpose, tax Definition:
(a) an end, (b) event or issue, (c) the principal end, aim, purpose, (d ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5056.htm - 7k

2774. kephalaion -- of the head, the main point
... sum. Neuter of a derivative of kephale; a principal thing, ie Main point;
specially, an amount (of money) -- sum. see GREEK kephale. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2774.htm - 6k

1936. epithesis -- a laying on, an assault
... It is the principal means of "ordaining" someone to ministry, but should also be
a regular practice in the church when helping someone confirm (discover) God's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1936.htm - 7k

3379. mepote -- never, lest ever
... Definition: lest at any time, lest, perhaps Definition: lest at any time, lest;
then weakened: whether perhaps, whether at all; in a principal clause: perhaps. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3379.htm - 6k

5225. huparcho -- to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, participle,
adverb or preposition, or as an auxiliary to a principal (verb) -- after ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5225.htm - 8k

4413. protos -- first, chief
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: protos Phonetic Spelling: (pro'-tos) Short
Definition: first, before Definition: first, before, principal, most important ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4413.htm - 8k

2532. kai -- and, even, also
... 2532 () is never , ie it never means "however" ("but") -- unlike the principal
conjunction () in OT Hebrew (G. Archer).]. Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2532.htm - 7k

3383. Yarden -- the principal river of Pal.
... 3382, 3383. Yarden. 3384 . the principal river of Pal. ... Word Origin from yarad
Definition the principal river of Pal. NASB Word Usage Jordan (182). Jordan. ...
/hebrew/3383.htm - 6k

7795. sowrah -- perhaps a row
... 7794, 7795. sowrah. 7795a . perhaps a row. Transliteration: sowrah Phonetic
Spelling: (so-raw') Short Definition: principal. principal ...
/hebrew/7795.htm - 5k

7225. reshith -- beginning, chief
... 16), first fruits (7), foremost (2). beginning, chiefest, firstfruits, part,
time, principal thing. From the same as ro'sh; the first ...
/hebrew/7225.htm - 6k

8291. saruq -- vine tendrils or clusters
... principal plant. Passive participle from the same as soreq; a grapevine -- principal
plant. See saruq, soreq. see HEBREW soreq. see HEBREW saruq. see HEBREW soreq ...
/hebrew/8291.htm - 6k

3548. kohen -- priest
... priests (301), priests' (5). chief ruler, own, priest, prince, principal officer.
Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating ...
/hebrew/3548.htm - 6k

1. ab -- father
... chief, principal. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application) -- chief, (fore-)father ...
/hebrew/1.htm - 6k

8269. sar -- chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
... 1), rulers (10), taskmasters* (1). chief captain, general, governor, keeper,
lord, taskmaster, principal,. From sarar; a head person ...
/hebrew/8269.htm - 6k

117. addir -- majestic
... adar; wide or (generally) large; figuratively, powerful -- excellent, famous, gallant,
glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty(- ier one), noble, principal, worthy. ...
/hebrew/117.htm - 6k

7218. rosh -- head
... things), company, end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,
height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor, principal, ruler, sum ...
/hebrew/7218.htm - 6k

8636. tarbith -- increment, interest, usury
... increase, unjust gain. From rabah; multiplication, ie Percentage or bonus in addition
to principal -- increase, unjust gain. see HEBREW rabah. 8635, 8636. ...
/hebrew/8636.htm - 6k

The Principal Works of St. Jerome
The Principal Works of St. Jerome. <. The Principal Works of St. Jerome St.
Jerome. Schaff, Philip (Editor) Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jerome/the principal works of st jerome/

Whether These are the Four Principal Passions: Joy, Sadness, Hope ...
... OF THE ORDER OF THE PASSIONS TO ONE ANOTHER (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether these are
the four principal passions: joy, sadness, hope and fear? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether these are the four.htm

List of the Principal Bishops
... The ECCLESIASTICAL HistorY of Theodoret. Book I. Chapter II."List of the
Principal Bishops. Of the church of Rome at this period ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter ii list of the principal.htm

Of the Sacraments' Principal Effect, which is Grace (Six Articles)
... OF THE SACRAMENTS' PRINCIPAL EFFECT, WHICH IS GRACE (SIX ARTICLES). We have
now to consider the effect of the sacraments. First of ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of the sacraments principal effect.htm

Of the Third and Principal Way by which God Teaches Internal ...
... CHAPTER IV. Of the third and principal way by which God teaches internal livers? ...
1. Of the third and principal way by which God teaches internal livers, viz. ...
/.../chapter iv of the third.htm

Question Twenty-Seven of the Principal Act of Charity, which is to ...
... Question Twenty-Seven OF THE PRINCIPAL ACT OF CHARITY, WHICH IS TO LOVE.
OF THE PRINCIPAL ACT OF CHARITY, WHICH IS TO LOVE There ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/question twenty-seven of the principal.htm

The Matter of Principal Importance
... Chapter XLI. The matter of principal importance. But the matter of principal
importance is to endeavour with all accuracy to make ...
/.../tatian/tatians address to the greeks/chapter xli the matter of.htm

Whether any Other virtues Should be Called Principal Rather than ...
... OF THE CARDINAL VIRTUES (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether any other virtues should
be called principal rather than these? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether any other virtues should.htm

The Principal Bishops who Flourished at that Time.
... Book V. Chapter III."The Principal Bishops who flourished at that Time.
Now at this time Damasus who had succeeded Liberius then ...
/.../chapter iii the principal bishops who.htm

Translations. The Principal Latin Versions have Been Referred to ...
... The principal Latin versions have been referred to in 1. Of those in foreign
languages it is not easy to procure adequate information. Fialon. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 2 translations the principal.htm

Principal (28 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable
or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government ...
/p/principal.htm - 18k

Chief (696 Occurrences)
... of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family;
a person in authority who directs the work of others; the principal actor or ...
/c/chief.htm - 45k

Main (17 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. ... 10. (v.)
principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp. ...
/m/main.htm - 12k

Leader (183 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A performer who leads a band or choir in music; also, in an orchestra, the
principal violinist; the one who plays at the head of the first violins. ...
/l/leader.htm - 35k

Beam (17 Occurrences)
... In 1 Samuel 17:7, it means a weaver's frame or principal beam; in Habakkuk 2:11,
a crossbeam or girder; 2 Kings 6:2, 5, a cross-piece or rafter of a house; 1 ...
/b/beam.htm - 17k

Ashtoreth (3 Occurrences)
... The moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature,
their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal ...
/a/ashtoreth.htm - 14k

Elamites (2 Occurrences)
... The exact position of Saul's forces may be a matter of speculation, but the late
Principal Miller of Madras, who made a special study of the locality (Least of ...
/e/elamites.htm - 39k

Ezranehemiah
... 1. Name: The books of Ezra and Nehemiah, by whomsoever written, are properly so
named according to analogy from the principal persons mentioned in them. ...
/e/ezranehemiah.htm - 22k

Ezra-nehemiah
... 1. Name: The books of Ezra and Nehemiah, by whomsoever written, are properly so
named according to analogy from the principal persons mentioned in them. ...
/e/ezra-nehemiah.htm - 22k

Clean (298 Occurrences)
... make shining"; zakh, etc., "bright," "clean" "pure"; naqi, "free from," "exempt";
Taher, "clean," "pure," "empty," "bright" (?) the principal root, rendered ...
/c/clean.htm - 44k

Summary of the Book of Proverbs - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

How many wives did Abraham have? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Moses in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Principal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus