Kurios

Kurios, written in Greek as Κύριος, is a noun meaning "lord," "master," or "owner." In classical Greek, it was used to address a person with authority over others, such as a master or ruler, and could also refer to deities in appropriate contexts.

In religious literature, kurios is used to translate Hebrew terms for sovereign lord in the Septuagint. In the New Testament, it serves as the title of God the Father and of Jesus Christ, signaling lordship and divinity. Early Christian writers frequently employ Kyrios to affirm Jesus' authority and divine status.

The use of kurios carries theological significance, indicating sovereignty, authority, and worship. It underpins Christological and devotional language, and appears in Christian liturgy and hymnody in various languages. In English translations of the Bible, the Greek Kyrios is typically rendered as "the Lord."

Scholars distinguish between the broader social sense of "lord" and the religious sense when Kyrios designates God or Jesus. The term is central to studies of biblical Greek, translation choices, and the development of Christian doctrine.