'Authority' in the Bible

The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority.

Joseph found favor in his master’s sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.

He left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.

But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority.

The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there.

The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful.

Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh’s authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food.

The priest will require the woman to take an oath and will say to her, ‘If no man has slept with you, if you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, be unaffected by this bitter water that brings a curse.

But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has slept with you’—

“This is the law regarding jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,

Confer some of your authority on him so that the entire Israelite community will obey him.

the two people in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and judges in authority at that time.

From Asaph’s sons:Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under Asaph’s authority, who prophesied under the authority of the king.

From Jeduthun: Jeduthun’s sons:Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six—under the authority of their father Jeduthun, prophesying to the accompaniment of lyres, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s authority.

Uzziah had an army equipped for combat that went out to war by division according to their assignments, as recorded by Jeiel the court secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders.

Under their authority was an army of 307,500 equipped for combat, a powerful force to help the king against the enemy.

Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were deputies under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of God’s temple.

Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests were to faithfully distribute it under his authority to their brothers by divisions, whether large or small.

Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid to them.

Next to them the repairs were done by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River.

Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote this second letter with full authority to confirm the letter about Purim.

Who gave Him authority over the earth?Who put Him in charge of the entire world?

Do you know the laws of heaven?Can you impose its authority on earth?

No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; there is no furlough in battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape.

All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one man has authority over another to his harm.

I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will put your authority into his hand, and he will be like a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah.

The prophets prophesy falsely,and the priests rule by their own authority.My people love it like this.But what will you do at the end of it?

So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. I have even given him the wild animals to serve him.

So the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Cushite, “Take from here 30 men under your authority and pull Jeremiah the prophet up from the cistern before he dies.”

So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went to the king’s palace to a place below the storehouse. From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

“While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads and was given authority to rule.

As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.

He was given authority to rule,and glory, and a kingdom;so that those of every people,nation, and languageshould serve Him.His dominion is an everlasting dominionthat will not pass away,and His kingdom is onethat will not be destroyed.

because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He told the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God who had given such authority to men.

Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.

When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?”

Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.

Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He told the paralytic,

and to have authority to drive out demons.

He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

and asked Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority to do these things?”

Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.

The Devil said to Him, “I will give You their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want.

They were astonished at His teaching because His message had authority.

Amazement came over them all, and they kept saying to one another, “What is this message? For He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!”

But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal diseases.

Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you.

But I will show you the One to fear: Fear Him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear!

Therefore He said: “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then return.

“At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those slaves he had given the money to, so he could find out how much they had made in business.

“‘Well done, good slave!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over 10 towns.’

and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so they could catch Him in what He said, to hand Him over to the governor’s rule and authority.

But He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’

So the Jews replied to Him, “What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things?”

for You gave Him authorityover all flesh;so He may give eternal lifeto all You have given Him.

So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?”

“You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.

And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

“Therefore,” he said, “let the men of authority among you go down with me and accuse him, if there is any wrong in this man.”

I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

“I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests.

Since I am speaking to those who understand law, brothers, are you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives?

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.

So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does.

If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more?However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.

What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.

This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power.

For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed.

This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.

Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority

especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority.Bold, arrogant people! They do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones;

Nevertheless, these dreamers likewise defile their flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme glorious ones.

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

The one who is victorious and keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—

And I looked, and there was a pale green horse. The horseman on it was named Death, and Hades was following after him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:The salvation and the powerand the kingdom of our Godand the authority of His Messiahhave now come,because the accuser of our brothershas been thrown out:the one who accuses thembefore our God day and night.

The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear’s, and his mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.