How did Thomas Hobbes describe the powers of a sovereign in Leviathan?

In his seminal work Leviathan (1651), Thomas Hobbes argues that the sovereign must possess absolute power to maintain peace and prevent a return to the chaotic "war of all against all" inherent in the state of nature.12

Hobbes describes the sovereign's powers as follows:

• Supreme Authority: The sovereign is the ultimate source of law, acting as the supreme interpreter of both civil law and scripture. The sovereign's will is law, and they are not bound by the laws they create.13
• Control of Governance: The sovereign determines property rights, regulates the economy, appoints public officials, and defines crimes and punishments.1
• Military Command: The sovereign serves as the supreme commander of the army, ensuring the physical safety and security of the subjects.1
• Ecclesiastical Control: The sovereign holds authority over any national church, as there is no power higher than the sovereign within the state.1

Because the sovereign is not a party to the social contract but rather its beneficiary, their power is absolute unless they fail to protect the lives of their subjects, at which point the obligation to obey may dissolve.13