There are sixteen Heb terms. which can be translated this way. The main ones are:
(a) "nasi", "exalted one", which is also translated as "ruler, captain, chief." It is applied to the "princes of the congregation" (Josh. 9:15-21): these would be the heads of families in the various tribes;
(b) "sar", "carry a rule", thus applied to the heads of tribes, "heads of families", which also has several translations; applied as princes to the satraps of the Persian empire (Est. 1:3-21).
In Daniel these same dignitaries are called "achashdarpenayya", "satraps" (Dn. 3:2, 3, 27; 6:1-7). The term "sar" is also used for the Prince of Peace in Is. 9:6, and for the archangel Michael and the prince of Persia who opposed him, as well as for the prince of Greece (Dan. 10:13-21 ).
In the NT the term "prince" is a translation of: (a) "archêgos", "author", "Prince", referring to the Lord Jesus (Acts 5:31); (b) "archipoimên", "Prince of shepherds", also referring to the Lord Jesus (1 Pet. 5:4);
(c) "archõn", "prince" of demons (Mt. 12:24), "prince" of this world (Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), referring to Satan, also translated as "ruler", "magistrate" and, referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, in Rev. 1:5: the "sovereign" of the kings of the earth.
Meaning of PRINCE
(a) "nasi", "exalted one", which is also translated as "ruler, captain, chief." It is applied to the "princes of the congregation" (Josh. 9:15-21): these would be the heads of families in the various tribes.
