Nasi (Hebrew: נָשִׂיא|nāśī) is a title meaning "prince" in Biblical Hebrew, "Prince [of the [[Sanhedrin]]]" in Mishnaic Hebrew. Certain great figures from Jewish history have the title, including Judah ha-Nasi,[1] who was the chief redactor of the Mishnah as well as nasi of the Sanhedrin.
In Modern Hebrew, its meaning has changed to "president".
The noun nasi (including its grammatical variations) occurs 132 times in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible and is usually translated "prince", or occasionally "captain." The first use is for the twelve "princes" who will descend from Ishmael, in the Book of Genesis (Lech-Lecha, 17:20 HE), and the second use (in Chayei Sarah 23:6 HE), is the Hittites recognising Abraham as "a godly prince" ().
In the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra, 4:22-26 HE), in the rites of sacrifices for leaders who err, there is the special offering made by a nasi.
In the Book of Numbers (Naso 7 HE), the leader of each tribe is referred to as a nasi, and each one brings a gift to the Tabernacle. In 34:16-29 HE, occurring 38 years later in the Biblical story, the nǝśiʾim (Hebrew: נְשִׂיאִים, plural) of each tribe are listed again, as the leaders responsible for apportioning tribal inheritances.
Later in the history of ancient Israel, the title of nasi was given to the Kings of Judah (Ezekiel 44:2-18; Ezra 1:8). Similarly, the Mishnah defines the nasi of Leviticus 4 to mean the king.[2]