Bible Encyclopedias
Officer

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

of´i - sẽr : In the King James Version the term is employed to render different words denoting various officials, domestic, civil and military, such as סריס , ṣārı̄ṣ , "eunuch," "minister of state" ( Genesis 37:36 ); פּקיד , pāḳı̄dh , "person in charge," "overseer" (Genesis 41:34 ); נציב , necı̄bh , "stationed," "garrison," "prefect" (1 Kings 4:19 ); שׁטר , shōṭēr , "scribe" or "secretary" (perhaps arranger or organizer), then any official or overseer. In Esther 9:3 for the King James Version "officers of the king" the Revised Version (British and American) has (more literal) "they that did the king's business."

In the New Testament, "officer" generally corresponds to the Greek word ὑπηρέτης , hupērétēs , "servant," or any person in the employ of another. In Matthew 5:25 the term evidently means "bailiff" or exactor of the fine imposed by the magistrate, and corresponds to πράκτωρ , práktōr , used in Luke 12:58 .