The powers that be explained

In idiomatic English, "the powers that be" is a phrase used to refer to those individuals or groups who collectively hold authority over a particular domain.[1] Within this phrase, the word be is an archaic variant of are rather than a subjunctive be.

Origin

The phrase first appeared in the Tyndale Bible, William Tyndale's 1526 translation of Romans Chapter 13 verse 1 in the New Testament, as: "Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. There is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God".[2] In the 1611 King James Version it became, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: The powers that be are ordained of God." (13:1 kjv),[3] whence it eventually passed into popular language.[4] [5]

The phrase comes from a translation of the Greek, Modern (1453-);: αἱ ... οὖσαι [ἐξουσίαι]|hai ... oûsai [exousíai]|lit=the ... existing [powers]; Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἐξουσίαι is also translated as "authorities" in some other translations.[6]

Examples

"The powers that be" can refer to a variety of entities that depend on the domain, including

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: powers that be. The Free Dictionary. Farlex. 2011. June 5, 2016.
  2. Book: Tyndale, William. William Tyndale. Tyndale Bible. 1526. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927164124/https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10553/10553-h/10553-h.htm. September 27, 2013.
  3. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10/10-h/10-h.htm
  4. Web site: The powers that be - meaning and origin . Phrases.org.uk . June 2, 2015.
  5. Web site: powers that be - definition of powers that be by The Free Dictionary . Thefreedictionary.com . March 1, 1987 . June 2, 2015.
  6. Biblos.com. Chain Link Bible. Romans 13:1.