Lawful

Lawful - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

LAW'FUL, a.

1. Agreeable to law; conformable to law; allowed by law; legal; legitimate. That is deemed lawful which no law forbids, but many things are lawful which are not expedient.

2. Constituted by law; rightful; as the lawful owner of lands.

Lawless - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

LAW'LESS, a.

1. Not subject to law; unrestrained by law; as a lawless tyrant; lawless men.

2. Contrary to law; illegal; unauthorized; as a lawless claim.

He needs no indirect nor lawless course.

3. Not subject to the ordinary laws of nature; uncontrolled.

He, meteor-like, flames lawless through the void.

Unlawful - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

UNLAW'FUL, a. Not lawful; contrary to law; illegal; not permitted by law.

Unlawful assembly, in law, the meeting of three or more persons to commit an unlawful act.

lo'-fool (usually mishpaT, "relating to judgment," or "a pronounced judgment" tsaddiq, "relating to that which is righteous" or "just"; exesti, eunomos, "that which is authorized according to law," or "a privilege according to legitimate custom" (compare Eze 18:5,19, 21,27; Isa 49:24; Mt 12:10; Ac 16:21; 19:39)): Used of persons: of God, as being righteous both in the punishment of the wicked and the rewarding of the righteous (Ps 145:17 Hebrew); of man, as being just and equitable in all his dealings with his fellow-man (Eze 33:19). It is used of things when the same are in accord with a pronounced judgment or a declared will of God, and thus pleasing in His sight (Mr 3:4). When the course of individual conduct is according to God's law of righteousness, it is declared to be "lawful" (Eze 33:19). The word is used in a forensic sense as declaring the legal status of a person conforming to law. The idea of straighthess, rigid adherence to God's law, whether religious, civil or ceremonial, cannot be excluded from the definition of the word "lawful."

Neither the King James Version nor the American Standard Revised Version is consistent in its translation of the Hebrew and Greek words translated "lawful." Ofttimes the words "just" and "righteous" are used. To arrive at the full and proper meaning of "lawful," therefore, it is necessary that we study the passages containing these synonymous terms. The written Law of God is the recognized standard by which things, actions and persons are to be judged as being lawful or unlawful.

William Evans

lo'-les (anomos): While occurring but once in the King James Version (1Ti 1:9), is translated in various ways, e.g. "without law" (1Co 9:21); "unlawful" (2Pe 2:8 the King James Version); "lawless" (1Ti 1:9); "transgressor" (Mr 15:28; Lu 22:37); "wicked" (Ac 2:23 the King James Version; 2Th 2:8 the King James Version). When Paul claims to be "without law," he has reference to those things in the ceremonial law which might well be passed over, and not to the moral law. Paul was by no means an antinomian. Those are "lawless" who break the law of the Decalogue; hence, those who disobey the commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother," are lawless (1Ti 1:9). The civil law is also the law of God. Those breaking it are lawless, hence, called "transgressors." Those who are unjust in their dealings are also "lawless"; for this reason the hands of Pilate and those who with him unjustly condemned Jesus are called "wicked (unlawful) hands" (Ac 2:23 the King James Version). The most notable example of lawlessness is the Antichrist, that "wicked (lawless) one" (2Th 2:8).

William Evans

Definition

The term “lawful” refers to something that is permitted to be done according to a law or other requirement. The opposite of this is “unlawful,” which simply means “not lawful.”

• In the Bible, something was “lawful” if it was permitted by God’s moral law, or by the Law of Moses and other Jewish laws. Something that was “unlawful” was “not permitted” by those laws.
• To do something “lawfully” means to do it “properly” or “in the right way.”
• Many of the things that the Jewish laws considered lawful or not lawful were not in agreement with God’s laws about loving others.
• Depending on the context, ways to translate “lawful” could include “permitted” or “according to God’s law” or “following our laws” or “proper” or “fitting.”
• The phrase “Is it lawful?” could also be translated as “Do our laws allow?” or “Is that something our laws permit?”

The terms “unlawful” and “not lawful” are used to describe actions that break a law.

• In the New Testament, the term “unlawful” is not only used to refer to breaking God’s laws, but also often refers to breaking Jewish man-made laws.
• Over the years, the Jews added to the laws that God gave to them. The Jewish leaders would call something “unlawful” if it did not conform to their man-made laws.
• When Jesus and his disciples were picking grain on a Sabbath day, the Pharisees accused them of doing something “unlawful” because it was breaking the Jewish laws about not working on that day.
• When Peter stated that eating unclean foods was “unlawful” for him, he meant that if he ate those foods he would be breaking the laws God had given the Israelites about not eating certain foods.

The term “lawless” describes a person who does not obey laws or rules. When a country or group of people are in a state of “lawlessness,” there is widespread disobedience, rebellion, or immorality.

• A lawless person is rebellious and does not obey God’s laws.
• The apostle Paul wrote that in the last days there will be a “man of lawlessness,” or a “lawless one,” who will be influenced by Satan to do evil things.

Translation Suggestions

• This term “unlawful” should be translated using a word or expression that means “not lawful” or “lawbreaking.”
• Other ways to translate “unlawful” could be “not permitted” or “not according to God’s law” or “not conforming to our laws.”
• The expression “against the law” has the same meaning as “unlawful.”

• The term “lawless” could also be translated as “rebellious” or “disobedient” or “law-defying”.
• The term “lawlessness” could be translated as “not obeying any laws” or “rebellion (against God’s laws).”
• The phrase “man of lawlessness” could be translated as “man who does not obey any laws” or “man who rebels against God’s laws.”
• It is important to keep the concept of “law” in this term, if possible.
• Note that the term “unlawful” has a different meaning from this term.

(See also: law, law, Moses, Sabbath)

Bible References

• Matthew 7:21-23
• Matthew 12:2
• Matthew 12:4
• Matthew 12:10
• Mark 3:4
• Luke 6:2
• Acts 2:23
• Acts 10:28
• Acts 22:25
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3
• Titus 2:14
• 1 John 3:4-6

Word Data

• Strong’s: H6530, G01110, G01130, G02660, G04580, G04590, G18320, G35450