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    Kingdom (Basileia)

    βασιλεία (basileia)

    Royal rule and reign — God's sovereign authority actively exercised over all creation.

    Greek
    Strong's G932
    Pronunciation: bah-sil-AY-ah
    Quick Answer

    Basileia is the Greek word for kingdom, meaning royal rule, reign, and dominion. The kingdom of God is not primarily a place but a reality — God's sovereign authority breaking into the world through Christ.

    "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." — Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

    Key Verses

    Matthew 6:33

    “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
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    Mark 1:15

    “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
    Read in context

    Luke 17:21

    “The kingdom of God is within you.”
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    Strong's Concordance

    Strong's G932 — Kingdom (Basileia) (βασιλεία (basileia))

    Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where βασιλεία (basileia) appears.

    Open Strong's G932

    Etymology and Original Meaning

    Basileia comes from basileus ('king') and means 'kingship,' 'royal rule,' or 'kingdom.' It emphasizes the dynamic exercise of authority rather than a static territory. The kingdom of God is primarily God's reign — His active, sovereign rule breaking into human affairs. It is less about geography and more about governance — wherever God's will is done, His kingdom is present.

    The Kingdom Announced

    Jesus' first public message was, 'The kingdom of God is at hand' (Mark 1:15). This was electrifying news: God's long-awaited reign was arriving — not through military conquest but through a carpenter's preaching, healing, and dying. The kingdom was 'at hand' because the King was present. Jesus did not just announce the kingdom; He embodied it.

    Already and Not Yet

    The kingdom is both present and future — 'already and not yet.' Jesus said, 'The kingdom of God is within you' (Luke 17:21) — it is present wherever Christ reigns. Yet He taught His disciples to pray, 'Thy kingdom come' (Matthew 6:10) — its full consummation is future. Believers live in the tension: the kingdom has broken in through Christ but awaits its complete unveiling at His return.

    Seeking the Kingdom First

    Jesus commanded, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness' (Matthew 6:33). The kingdom is not one priority among many but the supreme priority that organizes everything else. When God's rule is first, 'all these things' — provision, security, meaning — are added. The kingdom-first life is not anxious but trusting, not grasping but receiving.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the kingdom of God?

    The kingdom of God (basileia) is God's sovereign rule actively exercised in the world. It is not primarily a place but a reality — wherever God's authority is acknowledged and His will is done. It arrived in Jesus and will be fully consummated at His return.

    Is the kingdom of God present or future?

    Both. Jesus said the kingdom is 'at hand' (Mark 1:15) and 'within you' (Luke 17:21) — it is present now through Christ. But its full consummation is future — believers pray 'Thy kingdom come' for its complete unveiling.

    What does "Kingdom (Basileia)" mean in the Bible?

    Royal rule and reign — God's sovereign authority actively exercised over all creation. The underlying Greek word is βασιλεία (basileia) ("bah-sil-AY-ah"), Strong's G932. Basileia is the Greek word for kingdom, meaning royal rule, reign, and dominion.

    Which Bible verse uses the word "Kingdom (Basileia)"?

    Matthew 6:33 — "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (KJV). It also appears in Mark 1:15, Luke 17:21.

    Related Words

    Kingdom
    King
    Righteousness (Tsedaqah)

    Related Reading

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    Word Meaning

    Kingdom (Basileia) (βασιλεία (basileia))

    Royal rule and reign — God's sovereign authority actively exercised over all creation.

    Strong's

    Strong's G932 — Kingdom (Basileia)

    βασιλεία (basileia) • Royal rule and reign — God's sovereign authority actively exercised over all creation.

    Word Meaning

    Kingdom (מַלְכוּת (Malkut) / βασιλεία (Basileia))

    God's sovereign rule and reign over all creation

    Commentary

    Matthew 13:45 Commentary

    In-depth study • The Kingdom Found by the Seeking

    Dream Meaning

    Biblical Meaning of Money in a Dream (KJV)

    Provision, stewardship, and the pull of the heart.

    Strong's

    Strong's G2326 — Harvest

    θερισμός (Therismos) • The harvest — a gathering of crops, and metaphor for gathering souls into God's kingdom.

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