TYRANT. This Word is commonly taken in an odious Sense in most modern Languages, for a Prince that abuses his Authority to oppress his Subjects, and to disturb his Neighbours. But in the Greek and Latin, Tyrannus is often taken in a good Sense, and formerly there was no Distinction or Difference of Signification between Tyrannus and Rex: Nihil intererat apud majores inter Tyrannum & Regem.1 Afterwards the Word Tyrant became a Word of Reproach and Detestation, especially in free Cities.
The sacred Authors sometimes make use of the Word Tyrannus, to express a Prince or King. For example, Esth. vi. 9. Primus de Regiis Principibus ac Tyrannis. The Hebrew reads it Parthumim,2 which seems to answer to the Greek Word Paratimios, an illustrious Man. We read the same Word Parthumim in Daniel, i. 3. where it is also translated by Tyrannus in the Vulgate. But in the same Daniel, iii. 2, 3. we read in the Hebrew, Gedabræ3, instead of Tyrannus, as it is in the Greek and Latin. In Job, xxxiv. 19. Tyrannus answers to the Hebrew Word Shar, a Prince; and in xxxv. 9. it answers to Rabbim, great Men. In Ezekiel, xxiii. 23. Tyrannus is put for the Hebrew Word Shuah.4 In Habakkuk, i. 10. Tyrannus is put for the Hebrew Word Rasen, which signifies a Lord, a Governor; and is probably the same as Saren or Suren, a great Lord. I shall not speak of the Books that are written in Greek, as the Book of Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, and the Maccabees, where the Word Tyrannus is used sometimes in a good Sense, and sometimes in a bad one, as by other Greek Authors.
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