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The powers that be

Phrase referring to those who hold authority

Phrase referring to those who hold authority

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. 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". 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." (), whence it eventually passed into popular language.

The phrase comes from a translation of the ; ἐξουσίαι is also translated as "authorities" in some other translations.

Examples

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

  • Governments, both central and local, and the accompanying civil service
  • The upper management of a business
  • Those who control the dissemination of information
  • Controlling bodies in any organization i.e corporation or activity
  • Secret societies and cabals

References

References

  1. (2011). "powers that be". Farlex.
  2. Tyndale, William. (1526). "Tyndale Bible".
  3. [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10/10-h/10-h.htm] {{webarchive. link. (December 18, 2014)
  4. "The powers that be - meaning and origin". Phrases.org.uk.
  5. (March 1, 1987). "powers that be - definition of powers that be by The Free Dictionary". Thefreedictionary.com.
  6. Biblos.com. Chain Link Bible. [http://scripturetext.com/romans/13-1.htm Romans 13:1].
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english-language-idioms new-testament-words-and-phrases 16th-century-neologisms 16th-century-quotations english-phrases
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