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What Does “Tetrarch” Mean in the Bible?

Office or title

The ruler of one part of a kingdom. The word means “ruler of a fourth part.”

Today

Like the governor of a region, under the rule of Rome.

Where it appears in the Bible

Luke 3:1; Luke 3:19

What the Bible says

Luke 3:1

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina;

Luke 3:19

But Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done;

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

Source: NABRE note on Luke 3:1

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