The powers that be

In idiomatic English, "the powers that be" (sometimes initialized as TPTB) is a phrase used to refer to those individuals or groups who collectively hold authority over a particular domain.[1] Within this phrase, the word be is an archaic variant of are rather than a subjunctive be. The use of are in this phrase ("the powers that are") is less common. "The powers that were" (TPTW) can also be found.

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".[2] 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." (Rom 13:1),[3] whence it eventually passed into popular language.[4][5]

The phrase comes from a translation of the Greek: αἱ ... οὖσαι [ἐξουσίαι], romanized: hai ... oûsai [exousíai], lit. 'the ... existing [powers]'; ἐξουσίαι is also translated as "authorities" in some other translations.[6]

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

In popular culture

The Public Enemy song "Fight the Power" features a call to "fight the powers that be."[7]
Roger Waters has a song called "The Powers That Be" on his 1987 album Radio Kaos.
Death Grips's fourth studio album is called The Powers That B, which is also a reference to this phrase.
Kendrick Lamar's third studio album To Pimp a Butterfly has the song "King Kunta" which references this phrase.
The Dreadnoughts's album Into the North has the song "Roll Northumbria" which uses this phrase.
Puscifer have a song called "Bread and Circus" on their 2020 album Existential Reckoning, where "powers that be" is mentioned twice in the lyrics - verse 2."[8]
In the lyrics of "Meds" by Placebo "the powers that be" are mentioned

References

"powers that be". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
Tyndale, William (1526). Tyndale Bible. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.
Archived December 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
"The powers that be - meaning and origin". Phrases.org.uk. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
"powers that be - definition of powers that be by The Free Dictionary". Thefreedictionary.com. March 1, 1987. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
Biblos.com. Chain Link Bible. Romans 13:1.
Watrous, Peter (April 22, 1990). "RECORDINGS; Public Enemy Makes Waves - and Compelling Music". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
"Puscifer Lyrics".

External links

The dictionary definition of powers that be at Wiktionary

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[1] "powers that be". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2016.

[2] Tyndale, William (1526). Tyndale Bible. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.

[3] Archived December 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

[4] "The powers that be - meaning and origin". Phrases.org.uk. Retrieved June 2, 2015.

[5] "powers that be - definition of powers that be by The Free Dictionary". Thefreedictionary.com. March 1, 1987. Retrieved June 2, 2015.

[6] Biblos.com. Chain Link Bible. Romans 13:1.

[Watrous-7] Watrous, Peter (April 22, 1990). "RECORDINGS; Public Enemy Makes Waves - and Compelling Music". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved June 7, 2012.

[8] "Puscifer Lyrics".