Individuals responsible for the administration of justice and/or the operation of government. In the OT the term “judge” is also used in a special sense meaning a leader of Israel. God is portrayed in Scripture as the judge of all the earth; in the NT Jesus Christ is presented as the judge appointed by God.
Judges as leaders of Israel
1 Samuel 7:15 See also Judges 2:16–19, Judges 3:9–11, Judges 4:4–10; Ruth 1:1; 2 Kings 23:22
So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
The role of judges
Judicial and punitive
Deuteronomy 25:1–2 See also Genesis 19:6–9; Exodus 18:13–26, Exodus 22:7–9; Numbers 25:5; Deuteronomy 1:16, Deuteronomy 19:16–21, Deuteronomy 21:1–2; 2 Chronicles 19:5–7; Ezekiel 44:24; Luke 12:14; 1 Corinthians 6:2–5; Revelation 20:4
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. If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall have him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes his crime warrants.
Administrative
Exodus 21:2–6; Ezra 10:14; Acts 24:10
The status of judges in ancient Israel
Joshua 8:33 See also Joshua 23:1–24:1; 2 Kings 23:22; 2 Chronicles 1:2–3
All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel.
The jurisdiction of judges
Local judges
Deuteronomy 16:18 See also 2 Chronicles 19:5
You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
Judges with national authority
1 Samuel 7:15–17 See also Deuteronomy 17:8–9; 2 Samuel 15:4
So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.
Regulations relating to judges
Deuteronomy 1:16 See also Deuteronomy 17:12, Deuteronomy 25:2–3
At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.
Corrupt judges
Micah 7:3 See also Luke 18:2–8
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
Levitical judges
Ezekiel 44:24 See also 1 Chronicles 23:3–4, 1 Chronicles 26:29
In any dispute, they shall officiate as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They must keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed feasts, and they must keep My Sabbaths holy.
Judges during periods of foreign rule
Under the Babylonian empire
Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
Under the Medo-Persian empire
And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates — all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.
Under the Roman Empire
Matthew 27:19 See also Matthew 5:25 parallel Luke 12:58; John 19:13; Acts 24:10
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”
God as judge
Isaiah 33:22 See also Judges 11:27; 1 Samuel 24:12, 1 Samuel 24:15; 1 Kings 8:31–32; 1 Chronicles 16:33; Job 9:15; Psalm 58:11, Psalm 94:2; John 8:50, John 12:48; Hebrews 12:23
For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.
The righteousness of God's judgment
Genesis 18:25 See also Psalm 7:11, Psalm 50:6
Far be it from You to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Jesus Christ appointed as judge
Acts 10:42 See also John 5:22, John 5:27, John 5:30; Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:8
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.