The Definition of the word Captain

Captain

(1.) Heb. sar (1 Sam. 22:2; 2 Sam. 23:19). Rendered chief," "Gen. 40:2; 41:9; rendered also "prince," Dan. 1:7; "ruler," "Judg. 9:30; "governor,' 1 Kings 22:26. This same Hebrew word" denotes a military captain (Ex. 18:21; 2 Kings 1:9; Deut. 1:15; "1 Sam. 18:13, etc.), the "captain of the body-guard" (Gen." "37:36; 39:1; 41:10; Jer. 40:1), or, as the word may be rendered," chief of the executioners (marg.). The officers of the king's body-guard frequently acted as executioners. Nebuzar-adan (Jer. 39:13) and Arioch (Dan. 2:14) held this office in Babylon. "The "captain of the guard" mentioned in Acts 28:16 was the "Praetorian prefect, the commander of the Praetorian troops." "(2.) Another word (Heb. katsin) so translated denotes sometimes "a military (Josh. 10:24; Judg. 11:6, 11; Isa. 22:3 "rulers;" "Dan. 11:18) and sometimes a civil command, a judge, magistrate," "Arab. kady, (Isa. 1:10; 3:6; Micah 3:1, 9)." "(3.) It is also the rendering of a Hebrew word (shalish) meaning "a third man, or "one of three." The LXX. render in plural by" "tristatai; i.e., "soldiers fighting from chariots," so called" "because each war-chariot contained three men, one of whom acted" as charioteer while the other two fought (Ex. 14:7; 15:4; 1 Kings 9:22; comp. 2 Kings 9:25). This word is used also to denote the king's body-guard (2 Kings 10:25; 1 Chr. 12:18; 2 Chr. 11:11) or aides-de-camp. "(4.) The "captain of the temple" mentioned in Acts 4:1 and 5:24 "was not a military officer, but superintendent of the guard of" priests and Levites who kept watch in the temple by night. "(Comp. "the ruler of the house of God," 1 Chr. 9:11; 2 Chr." 31:13; Neh. 11:11.) "(5.) The Captain of our salvation is a name given to our Lord "(Heb. 2:10), because he is the author and source of our" "salvation, the head of his people, whom he is conducting to" "glory. The "captain of the Lord's host" (Josh. 5:14, 15) is the" name given to that mysterious person who manifested himself to "Abraham (Gen. 12:7), and to Moses in the bush (Ex. 3:2, 6, etc.)" the Angel of the covenant. (See [101]ANGEL.)