CategoryPeople / Roman Military Term
Modern EquivalentRoman officer over soldiers.
KJV Word TypeMilitary title / people term
DefinitionA Roman military officer, commonly understood as one who commanded about one hundred soldiers.
Key Verses"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him." (Matthew 8:5); "Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man." (Luke 23:47)
KJV Usage NoteIdentifies a Roman military officer; several centurions in the New Testament are portrayed with notable faith, authority, or recognition of Jesus.
Common MisunderstandingIt refers to a Roman officer associated with command over soldiers, not a ruler of a century of time.
EtymologyFrom Latin centurio, from centum ("hundred").