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King of Kings

/kɪŋ əv kɪŋz/
Christological title

Etymology & Webster 1828

Greek Basileus basileōn. A Hebraic superlative construction ("X of Xs" meaning "the supreme X"), built into imperial language of the ancient Near East — Persian emperors styled themselves shah-en-shah, "king of kings." The Bible strips the title from human emperors and gives it to the Lamb. It appears three times in Revelation (17:14, 19:16) and once applied to God the Father (1 Timothy 6:15).

Biblical Meaning

King of kings is a direct political claim. Every earthly throne is sub-throne; every parliament is sub-parliament; every constitution lives under a higher constitution whose author is Christ. In Revelation 19 He rides out on a white horse, His robe dipped in blood, and written on the robe and on the thigh is Basileus basileōn kai Kyrios kyriōn — King of kings and Lord of lords. Handel caught it exactly: the Hallelujah Chorus isn't just praise, it's coronation. Modern Christians who treat political loyalty as equal-rank with loyalty to Christ have fundamentally misread the title. Caesar gets coin; Christ gets crown. Every knee bows (Philippians 2:10-11), willingly or eventually; the nations are His inheritance (Psalm 2:8). The only question is whether you kiss the Son now in faith or later in terror.

Key Scriptures

"On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."— Revelation 19:16
"He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords."— 1 Timothy 6:15
"Now therefore, O kings, be wise... Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way."— Psalm 2:10-12

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