Elder

The elders are the tribal representatives who hold the authority to formalize the covenant with David — their coming to Hebron is the official, institutional act that makes him king over all Israel.

The elders of Israel march alongside David and the military commanders to bring the Ark home — their presence represents the full civic and social leadership of the nation joining the act of worship.

The elders are present with David when he sees the angel, and they join him in tearing their clothes and falling to the ground in sackcloth — sharing in the king's posture of grief and repentance.

The elders of Judah are the recipients of David's gifts — local leaders throughout the region who receive a share of the victory spoil as an acknowledgment of their prior support.

The elders are Israel's senior leaders who respond to the defeat by proposing a theological shortcut — bringing the Ark to battle rather than examining why God allowed the loss in the first place.

Elder is the title of the tribal leaders who formally present the demand for a king — their collective authority makes this a constitutional moment, not just a popular complaint.

Elders are the subject of Paul's two-sided instruction here — they deserve honor and pay commensurate with their work, but persistent sin must be called out openly to preserve the integrity of the whole community.

The elders represent seasoned, experienced advisors who had served under Solomon and understood how authority actually works — their counsel to lead with kindness is the wisdom Rehoboam tragically ignores.

The elders are the first leaders Josiah summons here — assembling the respected community leaders of Judah and Jerusalem as the initial audience before gathering the full national assembly at the Temple.

The elders are summoned here as representatives of the entire nation, their presence signaling that this is not Solomon's private ceremony but a collective moment for all of Israel.

John identifies himself by this title rather than his name, signaling his role as a mature, authoritative shepherd whose concern for this community carries the weight of long experience and apostolic responsibility.

The elders are among Samaria's power brokers entrusted with raising Ahab's sons, and their immediate surrender to Jehu's letter reveals how hollow the dynasty's loyalty network actually was.

Elders are summoned as the first wave of Josiah's national assembly — the established leaders of Judah who must be present to witness and participate in the covenant renewal at the Temple.

The elders are seated with Elisha at this critical moment — their presence signals that Elisha is not alone or hiding, but holding a public meeting with community leadership even as an assassin is en route to kill him.

The elders appear here as David's household leaders who try to coax him off the ground during his fast — their inability to move him underscores the depth of his grief and determination.

The elders of Israel are functioning here as Absalom's war council, the senior leadership whose collective approval lends Ahithophel's strike plan political legitimacy.

The elders of Judah are the tribal leaders whose endorsement David needs to legitimize his return — without their buy-in, the homecoming risks looking like a military imposition.

The elders are the tribal gatekeepers Abner must win over — their endorsement is essential for a legitimate transfer of power from Saul's house to David.

Elder is the title John chooses for himself here — not apostle, not authority — signaling that this letter is personal and pastoral, written from a place of earned wisdom rather than institutional rank.

Elders are appointed in every church on the return journey — Paul and Barnabas are deliberately building durable leadership structures so these communities can thrive independently after the missionaries move on.

The Elders are summoned alongside the Apostles to hear the case — their inclusion signals that this is a matter for the whole leadership of the Jerusalem church, not just the inner circle.

The elders are the church leaders Paul has summoned from Ephesus to Miletus — the people he personally trained and is now entrusting with the churches he can no longer oversee.

The elders are assembled with James to receive Paul's report — the governing body of the Jerusalem church whose concerns about Jewish-Christian unity will shape the compromise they propose.

The elders function here as the community's judicial body — the parents cannot act alone, and the case must be heard publicly at the city gate, ensuring collective discernment rather than private vengeance.

The elders stand alongside Moses as co-authorities delivering these commands, representing the community's leadership structure that will carry on after Moses is gone.

The elders are designated alongside the priests as recipients of the Law here — tribal leaders charged with ensuring the seven-year public reading happens across every community in Israel.

The elders are the tribal and clan leaders Moses convenes to distribute the Passover instructions — serving here as the relay point between Moses and every household in Israel.

The elders are summoned here as official witnesses to the miracle at Horeb, ensuring Israel's leadership sees firsthand that water from a rock is God's provision, not Moses' trick.

Elders appear here as Israel's senior leaders who join Jethro at the sacred meal — their presence alongside this foreign priest signals the community's acceptance of his worship as legitimate.

The elders function here as the representative assembly through whom Moses communicates God's covenant offer to the entire nation — their gathering signals the formal, communal weight of Israel's collective response.