Bible Dictionary: Lawyer

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

Among the Jews, was one versed in the laws of Moses, which he expounded in the schools and synagogues (Matthew 22:35; Luke 10:25). The functions of the "lawyer" and "scribe" were identical. (see DOCTOR.)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients, or to advise as to prosecution or defense of lawsuits, or as to legal rights and obligations in other matters. It is a general term, comprehending attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, sergeants, and advocates.

2. (n.) The black-necked stilt. See Stilt.

3. (n.) The bowfin (Amia calva).

4. (n.) The burbot (Lota maculosa).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LAWYER

lo'-yer (nomikos, "according or pertaining to law," i.e. legal; as noun, "an expert in law," "about the law," "lawyer" (Matthew 22:35 Luke 7:30; Luke 10:25; Luke 11:45, 46, 52; Luke 14:3 Titus 3:13)): The work of the "lawyers," frequently spoken of as "scribes," also known as "doctors" of the law (Luke 2:46 margin), was first of all that of jurists. Their business was threefold:

(1) to study and interpret the law;

(2) to instruct the Hebrew youth in the law;

(3) to decide questions of the law. The first two they did as scholars and teachers, the last as advisers in some court.

By virtue of the first-named function, they gradually developed a large amount of common law, for no code can go into such detail as to eliminate the necessity of subsequent legislation, and this usually, to a great extent, takes the form of judicial decisions founded on the code rather than of separate enactment. And so it was among the Hebrews. The provisions of their code were for the most part quite general, thus affording much scope for casuistic interpretation. As a result of the industry with which this line of legal development had been pursued during the centuries immediately preceding our era, the Hebrew law had become a very complicated science; and since it was forbidden to record these judicial decisions, a protracted study was necessary in order to commit them to memory.

But since the law must have universal application, the views of the individual scribe could not be taken as a standard; hence, the several disciples of the law must frequently meet for discussion, and the opinion of the majority then prevailed. To these meetings the youth interested in the study would be invited, that they might memorize the formulas agreed upon and might clear up the points upon which they were uncertain by asking questions of the recognized doctors (Luke 2:46).

Such centers of legal lore, of course, would seldom be found in rural communities; the authorities would naturally gather in large centers of population, especially-until 70 A.D.-in Jerusalem. While the deliverances of these law schools were purely theoretical, yet they stood in close relation to the practical. Whenever doubt arose regarding the application of the law to a particular case, the question was referred to the nearest lawyer; by him to the nearest company of lawyers, perhaps to the Sanhedrin; and the resultant decision was henceforth authority. Thus the lawyers became law makers, and after the destruction of Jerusalem, which brought an end to the existence of the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical doctors were recognized as the absolute authority in such matters. Frequently a single lawyer of great rank, as for instance Hillel or Gamaliel I, might pronounce dicta of unquestioned recognition with as much authority as a supreme court in our day, though sometimes his opinions were received and corrected by the legal tribunal, especially the Sanhedrin. Of course, frequently, these tribunals were under the sway of such a man's influence, so that what he said upon his own authority would be ratified in the assembly of the doctors.

The second function of the lawyers was that of teachers. The renowned rabbis always sought to gather a company of pupils about them whose business it was to repeat the teachers' law formulas until they had "passed into their flesh and blood." For the purposes of such instruction as well as for the discussion of the teachers and the students, there were special schoolhouses, which are often mentioned in connection with the synagogues as places of special merit and privilege. In Jerusalem, these law schools were conducted in the temple-probably in the hall dedicated to this special purpose (Matthew 21:23; Matthew 26:55 Mark 14:49 Luke 2:46; Luke 20:1; Luke 21:37 John 18:20). The students during the lectures sat on the floor, the teacher on a raised platform, hence, the expression "sitting at the feet of" (Acts 22:3 Luke 2:46). Finally, the lawyers were called upon to decide cases in court or to act as advisers of the court. Before the destruction of Jerusalem, technical knowledge of the law was not a condition of eligibility to the office of judge. Anyone who could command the confidence of his fellow-citizens might be elected to the position, and many of the rural courts undoubtedly were conducted, as among us, by men of sterling quality but of limited knowledge. Naturally such men would avail themselves of the legal advice of any "doctor" who might be within reach, especially inasmuch as the latter was obliged to give his services gratuitously. And in the more dignified courts of large municipalities; it was a standing custom to have a company of scholars present to discuss and decide any new law points that might arise. Of course, frequently, these men were elected to the office of judge, so that practically the entire system of jurisprudence was in their hands.

Frank E. Hirsch

Greek

2211. Zenas -- "Zeus-given," Zenas, a Christian lawyer
... "Zeus-given," Zenas, a Christian lawyer. Part of Speech ... of Zeus and doron Definition
"Zeus-given," Zenas, a Christian lawyer NASB Word Usage Zenas (1). Zenas. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2211.htm - 6k

3544. nomikos -- relating to law, learned in the law
... Spelling: (nom-ik-os') Short Definition: about law, one learned in the Law Definition:
(a) adj: connected with law, about law, (b) noun: a lawyer, one learned ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3544.htm - 8k

3547. nomodidaskalos -- a teacher of the law
... 3547 ("Scripture-lawyer") does not occur in ancient secular Greek (, ), but is used
three times in the NT (Lk 5:17; Ac 5:34; 1 Tim 1:7). It suggests a highly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3547.htm - 8k

3875. parakletos -- called to one's aid
... the situation. 3875 ("advocate, advisor-helper") is the regular term in
NT times of an (lawyer) -- ie someone . Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3875.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

8614. tiphtaye -- (title of an official) perhaps magistrates
... sheriff. (Aramaic) perhaps from shaphat; judicial, ie A lawyer -- sheriff. see HEBREW
shaphat. 8613, 8614. tiphtaye. 8615 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8614.htm - 6k

Library

Letter xv. --To Adelphius the Lawyer .
... VI."Letters. Letters . Letter XV."To Adelphius the Lawyer . I write you
this letter from the sacred Vanota, if I do not do the ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/letter xv to adelphius the lawyer.htm

Parable of the Good Samaritan.
... C Luke 10:25-37. ^c 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of
him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxiv parable of the good.htm

Neighbours Far Off
... 'And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall
I do to inherit eternal life? 26. ... Did Jesus adopt this lawyer's summary? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/neighbours far off.htm

At the House of Martha --The Good Shepherd.
... While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem a lawyer came and asked Him questions. ... "This
do and thou shalt live.". "And who is my neighbor?" said the lawyer. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxix at the house.htm

The Parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke, X. , 25, Seq. )
... The Saviour does not prescribe, as the lawyer, perhaps, expected, any new and special
command, but refers him to the law itself, which he had made his ...
/.../section 250 the parable of.htm

The Good Samaritan
... As Christ was teaching the people, "a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him,
saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" With breathless ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 54 the good samaritan.htm

The Second Series of Parables - the Two Parables of Him who is ...
... Luke. 1. The Parable of the Good Samaritan. [4413] - This Parable is connected with
a question, addressed to Jesus by a lawyer' - not one of the Jerusalem ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv the second series.htm

The Tables Turned: the Questioners Questioned
... 35. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and
saying, 36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the tables turned the questioners.htm

The Two Great Commandments
... Once a lawyer asked Jesus, "What is the most important of all the commandments?"
Jesus answered, "The most important is: 'The Lord our God is one Lord; and you ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the two great commandments.htm

Titus iii. 11-Aug
... Now Nicopolis [1519] is a city of Thrace. Ver.14. "Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos
on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.". ...
/.../homily vi titus iii 11-aug.htm

Thesaurus

Lawyer (5 Occurrences)
... The functions of the "lawyer" and "scribe" were identical. (see DOCTOR.). Noah
Webster's Dictionary. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LAWYER. ...
/l/lawyer.htm - 14k

Zenas (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A disciple called "the lawyer," whom Paul wished Titus
to bring with him (Titus 3:13). Nothing more is known of him. Int. ...
/z/zenas.htm - 10k

Tempting (12 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS YLT). Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked
him a question, tempting him, and saying, (KJV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/t/tempting.htm - 9k

Test (105 Occurrences)
... hypocrites? (WEB NAS RSV). Matthew 22:35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him
a question, testing him. (Root in WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/test.htm - 35k

Trying (68 Occurrences)
... (WEY NIV). Matthew 22:35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying
him: (ASV). Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ...
/t/trying.htm - 24k

Sheriff
... sher'-if (Aramaic tiphtaye' "judicial," "a lawyer," "a sheriff" (Daniel 3:2 f):
Probably a "lawyer" or "jurist" whose business it was to decide points of law. ...
/s/sheriff.htm - 6k

Courts (59 Occurrences)
... of the "Doctors." Whenever a case arose concerning which there had been no clear
legal decision, the question was referred to the nearest lawyer; by him, to ...
/c/courts.htm - 33k

Judicial (2 Occurrences)
... of the "Doctors." Whenever a case arose concerning which there had been no clear
legal decision, the question was referred to the nearest lawyer; by him, to ...
/j/judicial.htm - 25k

Question (153 Occurrences)
... RSV NIV). Matthew 22:35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing
him. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew ...
/q/question.htm - 37k

Office (64 Occurrences)
... or service for others is transacted; a house or apartment in which public officers
and others transact business; as, the register's office; a lawyer's office. ...
/o/office.htm - 30k

Bible Concordance

Lawyer (5 Occurrences)

Matthew 22:35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 10:25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 24:1 After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.
(See NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
(WEB)

Titus 3:13 Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Lawyer

Lawyer: Jesus' Remarks Against

Lawyer: Test Jesus With Questions

Lawyer: Zenas

Related Terms

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Tempting (12 Occurrences)

Test (105 Occurrences)

Trying (68 Occurrences)

Sheriff

Courts (59 Occurrences)