εκατονταρχου 1543 N-GSM δε 1161 CONJ τινος 5100 X-GSM δουλος 1401 N-NSM κακως 2560 ADV εχων 2192 5723 V-PAP-NSM ημελλεν 3195 5707 V-IAI-3S-ATT τελευταν 5053 5721 V-PAN ος 3739 R-NSM ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S αυτω 846 P-DSM εντιμος 1784 A-NSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Centurion (ekatontarcou). From ekaton, a hundred, and arcw, to command. Commander of a hundred men. Mark uses kenturiwn, a Graecized form of the Latin word centurio. A centuria was originally a division consisting of a hundred things of a kind; and thence came to mean any division, whether consisting of a hundred or not. In military language it meant a division of troops, a company, not necessarily of a hundred, the caption of which was called centurio. The numbers of a century varied from about fifty to a hundred. The Roman legion consisted of ten cohorts or speirai, bands, as "the Italian band," of which Cornelius was a centurion (Acts x. 1). The commanders of these cohorts were called chiliarchs, or chief captains (John xviii. 12, Rev.). Each cohort contained six centuries, or companies, of which the commanders were called centurions. The duty of the centurion was chiefly confined to the regulation of his own corps, and the care of the watch. The badge of his office was the vitis, or vine-stock. He wore a short tunic, and was also known by letters on the crest of his helmet. Dean Howson ("Companions of St. Paul") remarks on the favorable impression left upon the mind by the officers of the Roman army mentioned in the New Testament, and cites, besides the centurion in this passage, the one at the cross, and Julius, who escorted Paul to Rome. See, further, on Acts x. 1.Servant (doulov). A bond-servant. Matthew has paiv, a servant, which occurs also at ver. 7.
Dear (entimov). Lit., held in honor or value. It does not necessarily imply an affectionate relation between the master and the servant, though such may well have existed. It may mean only that he was a valuable servant. See on 1 Pet. ii. 4. In this case Luke omits the mention of the disease, which is given by Matthew.
Beseeching (erwtwn). Too strong. Better asking, as Rev. The word to beseech (parakalew) occurs in the next verse. See on Matt. xv. 23.
Heal (diaswsh). Better as Rev., save. See on ch. vi. 19.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:2 {Centurion's servant} (hekatontarcou tinos doulos). Slave of a certain centurion (Latin word centurio, commander of a century or hundred). #Mr 15:39,44 has the Latin word in Greek letters, kenturiwn. The centurion commanded a company which varied from fifty to a hundred. Each cohort had six centuries. Each legion had ten cohorts or bands (#Ac 10:1). The centurions mentioned in the N.T. all seem to be fine men as Polybius states that the best men in the army had this position. See also #Lu 23:47. The Greek has two forms of the word, both from hekaton, hundred, and arcw, to rule, and they appear to be used interchangeably. So we have hekatontarcos; here, the form is -arcos, and hekatontarces, the form is -arces in verse #6. The manuscripts differ about it in almost every instance. The -arcos form is accepted by Westcott and Hort only in the nominative save the genitive singular here in #Lu 7:2 and the accusative singular in #Ac 22:25. See like variation between them in #Mt 8:5,8 (-arcos) and #Mt 8:13 (arcei). So also -arcon (#Ac 22:25) and -arces (#Ac 22:26). {Dear to him} (autwi entimos). Held in honor, prized, precious, dear (#Lu 14:8; 1Pe 2:4; Php 2:29), common Greek word. Even though a slave he was dear to him. {Was sick} (kakws ecwn). Having it bad. Common idiom. See already #Mt 4:24; 8:16; Mr 2:17; Lu 5:31, etc. #Mt 8:6 notes that the slave was a paralytic. {And at the point of death} (emellen teleutain). Imperfect active of mellw (note double augment ) which is used either with the present infinitive as here, the aorist (#Re 3:16), or even the future because of the future idea in mellw (#Ac 11:28; 24:15). He was about to die.
