Court

Usually, a legal body dispensing justice, but the word may also refer to a royal court, the original function of which was the dispensation of justice by the monarch.

Courts of law

Provision for and procedures of courts

Exodus 18:25–26; Deuteronomy 1:15–17, Deuteronomy 17:9; Ruth 4:2–5; 1 Chronicles 26:29; 2 Chronicles 19:8–11

Justice dispensed by the court

Deuteronomy 25:1 See also Job 11:10; Amos 5:15; Zechariah 8:16–17

If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

Disputes settled in court

Judges 4:4–5 See also Exodus 21:22; Job 5:4, Job 9:32–35; Proverbs 25:7–8, Proverbs 29:9; Matthew 5:25–26 parallel Luke 12:58–59; Acts 18:12–17, Acts 19:38–39, Acts 25:1–26:27

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment.

Provision for a court of appeal

Deuteronomy 17:8–13

If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case. You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you. But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will no longer behave arrogantly.

Corruption in the court

Proverbs 22:22–23 See also Exodus 23:1–3, Exodus 23:6–8; Job 31:21–22; Isaiah 29:20–21; Amos 5:7–15; James 2:6

Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.

The divine lawcourt

Daniel 7:9–10 See also Isaiah 3:13–17; Daniel 7:23–27; 1 Corinthians 4:2–5

As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

Royal courts

Egyptian

Genesis 50:4–7

When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh that my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.” Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.” Then Joseph went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh accompanied him — the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt —

Israelite

Jeremiah 29:2 See also 1 Kings 3:15; Jeremiah 34:19–20, Jeremiah 41:16

(This was after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had been exiled from Jerusalem.)

Babylonian

Daniel 2:48–49 See also Daniel 1:3–5

Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

Persian

Esther 4:11 See also Esther 5:1–2

“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned— that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

The divine courts

Psalm 84:10 See also Psalm 65:4, Psalm 84:1–2, Psalm 92:12–13, Psalm 96:8, Psalm 100:4

For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.