Judge

Judge - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(Heb. shophet, pl. shophetim), properly a magistrate or ruler, rather than one who judges in the sense of trying a cause. This is the name given to those rulers who presided over the affairs of the Israelites during the interval between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul (Judg. 2:18), a period of general anarchy and confusion. "The office of judges or regents was held during life, but it was not hereditary, neither could they appoint their successors. Their authority was limited by the law alone, and in doubtful cases they were directed to consult the divine King through the priest by Urim and Thummim (Num. 27:21). Their authority extended only over those tribes by whom they had been elected or acknowledged. There was no income attached to their office, and they bore no external marks of dignity. The only cases of direct divine appointment are those of Gideon and Samson, and the latter stood in the peculiar position of having been from before his birth ordained to begin to deliver Israel.' Deborah was called to deliver Israel, but was already a judge. Samuel was called by the Lord to be a prophet but not a judge, which ensued from the high gifts the people recognized as dwelling in him; and as to Eli, the office of judge seems to have devolved naturally or rather ex officio upon him." Of five of the judges, Tola (Judg. 10:1), Jair (3), Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (12:8-15), we have no record at all beyond the bare fact that they were judges. Sacred history is not the history of individuals but of the kingdom of God in its onward progress.

In Ex. 2:14 Moses is so styled. This fact may indicate that while for revenue purposes the "taskmasters" were over the people, they were yet, just as at a later time when under the Romans, governed by their own rulers.

Judge - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

JUDGE, n. [L. judex, supposed to be compounded of jus, law or right, and dico, to pronounce.]

1. A civil officer who is invested with authority to hear and determine causes, civil or criminal, between parties, according to his commission; as the judges of the king's bench, or of the common pleas; judges of the supreme court, of district courts, or of a county court. The judge of a court of equity is called a chancellor.

2. The Supreme Being.

Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Gen 18.

3. One who presides in a court of judicature.

4. One who has skill to decide on the merits of a question, or on the value of any thing; one who can discern truth and propriety.

A man who is no judge of law, may be a good judge of poetry or eloquence, or of the merits of a painting.

5. In the history of Israel, a chief magistrate, with civil and military powers. The Israelites were governed by judges more than three hundred years, and the history of their transactions is called the book of Judges.

6. A juryman or juror. In criminal suits, the jurors are judges of the law as well as of the fact.

JUDGE, v.i. [L. judico.]

1. To compare facts or ideas, and perceive their agreement or disagreement, and thus to distinguish truth from falsehood.

Judge not according to the appearance John 7.

2. To form an opinion; to bring to issue the reasoning or deliberations of the mind.

If I did not know the originals, I should not be able to judge, by the copies, which was Virgil and which Ovid.

3. To hear and determine, as in causes on trial; to pass sentence. He was present on the bench, but could not judge in the case.

The Lord judge between thee and me. Gen 16.

4. To discern; to distinguish; to consider accurately for the purpose of forming an opinion or conclusion.

Judge in yourselves; is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 1 Cor 11.

JUDGE, v.t. To hear and determine a case; to examine and decide.

Chaos shall judge the strife.

1. To try; to examine and pass sentence on.

Take ye him and judge him according to your law.

John 18.

God shall judge the righteous and the wicked. Eccl 3.

2. Rightly to understand and discern.

He that is spiritual, judgeth all things. 1 Cor 2.

3. To censure rashly; to pass severe sentence.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. Mat 7.

4. To esteem; to think; to reckon.

If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord--

Acts 16.

5. To rule or govern.

The Lord shall judge his people. Heb 10.

6. To doom to punishment; to punish.

I will judge thee according to thy ways. Ezek 7.

Judgment - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

JUDG'MENT, n. The act of judging; the act or process of the mind in comparing its ideas, to find their agreement or disagreement, and to ascertain truth; or the process of examining facts and arguments, to ascertain propriety and justice; or the process of examining the relations between one proposition and another.

1. The faculty of the mind by which man is enabled to compare ideas and ascertain the relations of terms and propositions; as a man of clear judgment or sound judgment. The judgment may be biased by prejudice. Judgment supplies the want of certain knowledge.

2. The determination of the mind, formed from comparing the relations of ideas, or the comparison of facts and arguments. In the formation of our judgments, we should be careful to weigh and compare all the facts connected with the subject.

3. In law, the sentence of doom pronounced in any cause, civil or criminal, by the judge or court by which it is tried. Judgment may be rendered on demurrer, on a verdict, on a confession or default, or on a non-suit. Judgment, though pronounced by the judge or court, is properly the determination or sentence of the law. A pardon may be pleaded in arrest of judgment.

4. The right or power of passing sentence.

5. Determination; decision.

Let reason govern us in the formation of our judgment of things proposed to our inquiry.

6. Opinion; notion.

She, in my judgment, was as fair as you.

7. In Scripture, the spirit of wisdom and prudence, enabling a person to discern right and wrong, good and evil.

Give the king thy judgments, O God. Psa 72.

8. A remarkable punishment; an extraordinary calamity inflicted by God on sinners.

Judgments are prepared for scorners. Prov 19. Isa 26.

9. The spiritual government of the world.

The Father hath committed all judgment to the Son.

John 5.

10. The righteous statutes and commandments of God are called his judgments. Psa 119.

11. The doctrines of the gospel, or God's word. Mat 12.

12. Justice and equity. Luke 11. Isa 1.

13. The decrees and purposes of God concerning nations.

Rom 11.

14. A court or tribunal. Mat 5.

15. Controversies, or decisions of controversies. 1 Cor 6.

16. The gospel, or kingdom of grace. Mat 12.

17. The final trial of the human race,when God will decide the fate of every individual, and award sentence according to justice.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Eccl 12.

Judgment of God. Formerly this term was applied to extraordinary trials of secret crimes, as by arms and single combat, by ordeal, or hot plowshares, _c.; it being imagined that God would work miracles to vindicate innocence.

juj (shopheT; New Testament dikastes, krites): In the early patriarchal times the heads of families and the elders of the tribes were the judges (compare Ge 38:24), and their authority was based on custom. In the wilderness Moses alone was the judge until Jethro suggested a scheme of devolution. On his advice Moses divided the people into groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and over each group a wise and good man was set as a judge. Thereafter only the most important cases were brought before Moses (Ex 18:13-26; De 1:9-17). This arrangement ceased to be practicable when the children of Israel settled down in Canaan. Although David took counsel with the heads of thousands and hundreds (1Ch 13:1), it need not be assumed that this was a continuation of the plan adopted by Moses. Probably the local courts were not organized till the time of David. In the days of the Judges justice was ministered by those who had risen by wisdom or valor to that rank (Jud 4:5). An organized circuit court was established by Samuel, who judged cases himself, and also made his sons judges (1Sa 7:16; 8:1). After the monarchy was instituted, the king tried all cases, when requested to do so by the wronged person, in the palace gate (1Ki 7:7; Pr 20:8). There was no public prosecutor (2Sa 14:4; 15:2-6; 1Ch 18:14; 1Ki 3:16; 2Ki 15:5). Under David and Solomon there were probably local courts (1Ch 23:4; 26:29). Jehoshaphat organized a high court of justice (2Ch 19:8). The prophets often complain bitterly that the purity of justice is corrupted by bribery and false witness (Isa 1:23; 5:23; 10:1; Am 5:12; 6:12; Mic 3:11; 7:3; Pr 6:19; 12:17; 18:5). Even kings sometimes pronounced unjust sentences, especially in criminal cases (1Sa 22:6-19; 1Ki 22:26; 2Ki 21:16; Jer 36:26). An evil king could also bend local courts to do his will, as may be gathered from the case of Naboth's vineyard (1Ki 21:1-13).

The first duty of a judge was to execute absolute justice, showing the same impartiality to rich and poor, to Jew and foreigner. He was forbidden to accept bribes or to wrest the judgment of the poor (Ex 23:6-8; De 16:19). He must not let himself be swayed by popular opinion, or unduly favor the poor (Ex 23:2,3).

The court was open to the public (Ex 18:13; Ru 4:1,2). Each party presented his view of the case to the judge (De 1:16; 25:1). Possibly the accused appeared in court clad in mourning (Zec 3:3). The accuser stood on the right hand of the accused (Zec 3:1; Ps 109:6). Sentence was pronounced after the hearing of the case, and the judgment carried out (Jos 7:24,25). The only evidence considered by the court was that given by the witnesses. In criminal cases, not less than two witnesses were necessary (De 19:15; Nu 35:30; De 17:6; compare Mt 18:16; 2Co 13:1; 1Ti 5:19). In cases other than criminal the oath (see OATH) was applied (Ex 22:11; compare Heb 6:16). The lot was sometimes appealed to (Jos 7:14-18), especially in private disputes (Pr 18:18), but this was exceptional. When the law was not quite definite, recourse was had to the Divine oracle (Le 24:12; Nu 15:34).

Paul Levertoff

Definition

A judge is a person who decides what is right or wrong when there are disputes between people, usually in matters that pertain to the law.

• In the Bible, God is often referred to as a judge because he is the one perfect judge who makes the final decisions about what is right or wrong.
• After the people of Israel entered the land of Canaan and before they had kings to rule them, God appointed leaders called “judges” to lead them in times of trouble. Often these judges were military leaders who rescued the Israelites by defeating their enemies.
• The term “judge” could also be called “decision-maker” or “leader” or “deliverer” or “governor,” depending on the context.

(See also: governor, judge, law)

Bible References

• 2 Timothy 4:8
• Acts 7:27
• Luke 11:19
• Luke 12:14
• Luke 18:1-2
• Matthew 5:25
• Ruth 1:1

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0148, H0430, H1777, H1778, H1779, H1781, H1782, H6414, H6416, H6419, H8199, G03500, G12520, G13480, G29190, G29220, G29230

Definition

The terms “judge” and “judgment” often refer to making a decision about whether or not something is good, wise, or right. However, these terms can also refer to actions performed by a person as the result of a decision, usually in the context of deciding that something is bad, wrong, or evil.

• The terms “judge” and “judgment” can also mean “to cause harm to” (usually because God has decided a person or nation’s actions are wicked).
• The “judgment of God” often refers to his decision to condemn something or someone as sinful.
• God’s judgment usually includes punishing people for their sin.
• The term “judge” can also mean “condemn.” God instructs his people not to judge each other in this way.
• Another meaning is “arbitrate between” or “judge between,” as in deciding which person is right in a dispute between them.
• In some contexts, God’s “judgments” are what he has decided is right and just. They are similar to his decrees, laws, or precepts.
• “Judgment” can refer to wise decision-making ability. A person who lacks “judgment” does not have the wisdom to make wise decisions.

Translation Suggestions

• Depending on the context, ways to translate to “judge” could include to “decide” or to “condemn” or to “punish” or to “decree.”
• The term “judgment” could be translated as “punishment” or “decision” or “verdict” or “decree” or “condemnation.”
• In some contexts, the phrase “in the judgment” could also be translated as “on judgment day” or “during the time when God judges people.”

(See also: decree, judge, judgment day, just, law, law)

Bible References

• 1 John 4:17
• 1 Kings 3:9
• Acts 10:42-43
• Isaiah 3:14
• James 2:4
• Luke 6:37
• Micah 3:9-11
• Psalm 54:1

Examples from the Bible stories

• __19:16 The prophets warned the people that if they did not stop doing evil and start obeying God, then God would judge__ them as guilty, and he would punish them.
• __21:8 A king is someone who rules over a kingdom and judges the people. The Messiah would come would be the perfect king who would sit on the throne of his ancestor David. He would reign over the whole world forever, and who would always judge__ honestly and make the right decisions.
• __39:4 The high priest tore his clothes in anger and shouted to the other religious leaders, “We do not need any more witnesses! You have heard him say that he is the Son of God. What is your judgment__?”
• __50:14 But God will judge__ everyone who does not believe in Jesus. He will throw them into hell, where they will weep and grind their teeth in anguish forever.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0148, H0430, H1777, H1778, H1779, H1780, H1781, H1782, H2940, H4055, H4941, H6414, H6415, H6416, H6417, H6419, H6485, H8196, H8199, H8201, G01440, G03500, G09680, G11060, G12520, G13410, G13450, G13480, G13490, G29170, G29190, G29200, G29220, G29230, G42320