ἀρχιποίμην
the chief shepherd
Definition
The word ἀρχιποίμην means 'chief shepherd' or 'head shepherd.' It refers to the one who holds supreme authority over a flock, not merely as a hired hand but as the ultimate owner and leader. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively as a title for Jesus Christ, emphasizing his supreme pastoral care and authority over the church, his people. This term combines the ideas of leadership (chief) and tender, guiding care (shepherd) into a single, powerful concept.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 5:4. Here, it appears as a future promise and title for Jesus Christ: 'And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.' The context is Peter's exhortation to church elders to shepherd God's flock willingly and eagerly, with the ultimate accountability and reward coming from Christ himself, the chief Shepherd.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek words ἀρχή (archē, G746), meaning 'chief' or 'ruler,' and ποιμήν (poimēn, G4166), meaning 'shepherd.' It is a compound noun that literally means 'chief-shepherd' or 'ruler-shepherd.' The prefix intensifies the role of the shepherd to one of supreme authority.
Semantic Range
This title is theologically significant as it directly identifies Jesus Christ as the supreme leader and caretaker of the church. It connects to the rich biblical imagery of God as shepherd (Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34) and Jesus as the good shepherd (John 10:11, 14). It underscores Christ's ownership, authority, and loving provision for his people, while also implying the delegated, subordinate role of human church leaders who serve under him. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the perfect, ultimate pastoral care believers have in Christ.
In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman world, shepherding was a common metaphor for leadership and kingship. A 'chief shepherd' would be understood as the owner of the flock or the primary authority over other shepherds, responsible for its protection, guidance, and welfare. This cultural context makes the title a powerful claim of Jesus's sovereign, caring lordship.
ποιμήν (poimēn, G4166) — the more general term for 'shepherd,' used for both human leaders and Christ. ποιμαίνω (poimainō, G4165) — the verb 'to shepherd' or 'to tend a flock.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
Full methodology & sources →