δεσπότης

δεσπότης, -ου, ὁ

[in LXX chiefly for אָדוֹן, אֲדֹנָי; in Jdt 9,17, δ. τ. οὐρανῶν κ. τ. γῆς];

a master, lord, correlative of δοῦλος, οἰκέτης: 1 Tim 6,1, 2, 2 Tim 2,21, Tit 2,9, 1 Pet 2,18; as title of God, voc., δέσποτα (so usually in LXX), Luk 2,29, ApG 4,24; ὁ δ. = voc. δέσποτα (cf. B1., § 33, 4), Åb 6,10 of Christ, 2 Pet 2,1, Jud 4, R, txt. (but cf. mg.).†

SYN.: κύριος (which see), implying limitation of authority and a more general relation than δ., which "denoted absolute ownership and uncontrolled power" (Thayer).