Meaning
denotes (a) "to be elder or eldest, prior in birth or age;" (b) "to be an ambassador," 2Co 5:20, Eph 6:20; for Phm 1:9 see under AGED. There is a suggestion that to be an "ambassador" for Christ involves the experience suggested by the word "elder." Elder men were chosen as "ambassadors."
primarily, "age, eldership, rank," hence, "an embassy or ambassage," is used in Luk 14:32; in Luk 19:14, RV, "ambassage," for AV, "message."