Prince - Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words
Usage Number: 1
Part Of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: H5387
Original Word: nasî’
Usage Notes: "prince; chief; leader." This noun appears 129 times in biblical Hebrew. An early occurrence of nasî’ is in Gen. 23:6: "Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us…." The books of Numbers and Ezekiel use the word most frequently. Elsewhere it rarely occurs.
Though the origin and meaning of nasî’ are controversial, it is clearly associated with leadership, both Israelite and non-Israelite. M. Noth proposed the idea that the nasî’ was originally a tribal representative or a "deputy, chief." Ishmael was promised to give rise to twelve "princes" (Gen. 17:20; cf. Gen. 25:16); the Midianites had "princes" (Num. 25:18), as well as the Amorites (Josh. 13:21), the peoples of the sea (Ezek. 26:16), Kedar (Ezek. 27:21), Egypt (Ezek. 30:13), and Edom (Ezek. 32:29). Also Israel had her "princes" ("rulers"): "… On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses" (Exod. 16:22). The "princes" ("leaders") of Israel did not only participate in the civil leadership; they were also regarded as pillars in Israelite religious life, the upholders of the covenantal way of life: "And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them" (Exod. 34:31; cf. Josh. 22:30). Hence, Israel was to obey her "leaders": "Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people" (Exod. 22:28).
The Septuagint translation is archon ("ruler; lord; prince; authority; official"), and the kjv has these translations: "prince; captain; chief; ruler."
Another noun, nesî’îm, is related to nasî’. The word, which is found 4 times, means "clouds": "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain" (Prov. 25:14; cf. Psa. 135:7; Jer. 10:13; Jer. 51:16).
Usage Number: 2
Part Of Speech: Verb
Strong's Number: H5375
Original Word: nasa’
Usage Notes: "to lift up, carry." This verb appears 654 times in the Old Testament; once in Gen. 44:1: "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry…."