Bible Dictionary: Magistrate

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

A public civil officer invested with authority. The Hebrew shophetim, or judges, were magistrates having authority in the land (Deuteronomy 1:16, 17). In Judges 18:7 the word "magistrate" (A.V.) is rendered in the Revised Version "possessing authority", i.e., having power to do them harm by invasion. In the time of Ezra (9:2) and Nehemiah (2:16; 4:14; 13:11) the Jewish magistrates were called seganim, properly meaning "nobles." In the New Testament the Greek word archon, rendered "magistrate" (Luke 12:58; Titus 3:1), means one first in power, and hence a prince, as in Matthew 20:25, 1 Corinthians 2:6, 8. This term is used of the Messiah, "Prince of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5). In Acts 16:20, 22, 35, 36, 38, the Greek term strategos, rendered "magistrate," properly signifies the leader of an army, a general, one having military authority. The strategoi were the duumviri, the two praetors appointed to preside over the administration of justice in the colonies of the Romans. They were attended by the sergeants (properly lictors or "rod bearers").

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) A person clothed with power as a public civil officer; a public civil officer invested with the executive government, or some branch of it.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MAGISTRATE

maj'-is-trat (shephaT, corresponding to shaphaT, "to judge," "to pronounce sentence" (Judges 18:7)): Among the ancients, the terms corresponding to our "magistrate" had a much wider signification. "Magistrates and judges" (shopheTim we-dhayyanim) should be translated "judges and rulers" (Ezra 7:25). ceghanim "rulers" or "nobles," were Babylonian magistrates or prefects of provinces (Jeremiah 51:23, 28, 57 Ezekiel 23:6). In the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Jewish magistrates bore the same title (Ezra 9:2 Nehemiah 2:16; Nehemiah 4:14; Nehemiah 13:11). The Greek archon, "magistrate" (Luke 12:58 Titus 3:1 the King James Version), signifies the chief in power (1 Corinthians 2:6, 8) and "ruler" (Acts 4:26 Romans 13:3).

The Messiah is designated as the "prince (archon) of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5 the King James Version), and by the same term Moses is designated the judge and leader of the Hebrews (Acts 7:27, 35). The wide application of this term is manifest from the fact that it is used of magistrates of any kind, e.g. the high priest (Acts 23:5); civil judges (Luke 12:58 Acts 16:19); ruler of the synagogue (Luke 8:41 Matthew 9:18, 23 Mark 5:22); persons of standing and authority among the Pharisees and other sects that appear in the Sanhedrin (Luke 14:1 John 3:1 Acts 3:17). The term also designates Satan, the prince or chief of the fallen angels (Matthew 9:34 Ephesians 2:2).

In the New Testament we also find strategos, employed to designate the Roman praetors or magistrates of Philippi, a Roman colony (Acts 16:20, 22, 35, 36, 38). A collective term for those clothed with power (Eng. "the powers"), exousiai, is found in Luke 12:11 the King James Version; Romans 13:2, 3 Titus 3:1. The "higher powers" (Romans 13:1) are all those who are placed in positions of civil authority from the emperor down.

In early Hebrew history, the magisterial office was limited to the hereditary chiefs, but Moses made the judicial office elective. In his time the "heads of families" were 59 in number, and these, together with the 12 princes of the tribes, composed the Sanhedrin or Council of 71. Some of the scribes were entrusted with the business of keeping the genealogies and in this capacity were also regarded as magistrates.

Frank E. Hirsch

Greek

4755. strategos -- a general, governor
... governor. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: strategos Phonetic Spelling:
(strat-ay-gos') Short Definition: a general, magistrate, captain of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4755.htm - 7k

758. archon -- ruler, chief
... of archo Definition ruler, chief NASB Word Usage authorities (1), leaders (1),
magistrate (1), official (2), official's (1), prince (1), ruler (1), ruler (13 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/758.htm - 7k

4173. politarches -- the ruler of a city
... Masculine Transliteration: politarches Phonetic Spelling: (pol-it-ar'-khace) Short
Definition: a ruler of a city Definition: a ruler of a city, city magistrate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4173.htm - 6k

746. arche -- beginning, origin
... rulers (6). magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule. From archomai;
(properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/746.htm - 7k

2923. krites -- a judge
... a judge. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: krites Phonetic Spelling:
(kree-tace') Short Definition: a judge Definition: a judge, magistrate, ruler ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2923.htm - 6k

2316. theos -- God, a god
... Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ho) the supreme Divinity; figuratively,
a magistrate; by Hebraism, very -- X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2316.htm - 7k

2012. epitropos -- an administrator (one having authority)
... a steward, guardian Definition: (a) (procurator) a steward, (b) (tutor) a guardian
(appointed for an infant [under 14 perhaps] by the father or by a magistrate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2012.htm - 6k

1849. exousia -- power to act, authority
... sense of ability); privilege, ie (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom,
or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1849.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

8200. shephat -- to judge
... magistrate. (Aramaic) corresponding to shaphat; to judge -- magistrate. see HEBREW
shaphat. 8199, 8200. shephat. 8201 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8200.htm - 6k

6114. etser -- perhaps restraint
... Word Origin from atsar Definition perhaps restraint NASB Word Usage ruler* (1).
magistrate. From atsar; restraint -- + magistrate. see HEBREW atsar. ...
/hebrew/6114.htm - 6k

3423. yarash -- to take possession of, inherit, dispossess
... out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, X
without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) + magistrate, be (make ...
/hebrew/3423.htm - 7k

7101. qatsin -- a chief, ruler
... captain, guide, prince, ruler. From qatsah in the sense of determining; a magistrate
(as deciding) or other leader -- captain, guide, prince, ruler. ...
/hebrew/7101.htm - 6k

7860. shoter -- official, officer
... unused root probably meaning to write; properly, a scribe, ie (by analogy or
implication) an official superintendent or magistrate -- officer, overseer, ruler. ...
/hebrew/7860.htm - 6k

6414. palil -- a judge
... Word Origin from palal Definition a judge NASB Word Usage judge (1), judges (2).
judge. From palal; a magistrate -- judge. see HEBREW palal. 6413, 6414. ...
/hebrew/6414.htm - 6k

Library

Letter Lxxxiii. To a Magistrate.
... Letter LXXXIII. To a Magistrate. ... [2286] Placed in 372. [2287] Censitor, ie the
magistrate responsible for rating and taxation in the provinces. [2288] cf. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter lxxxiii to a magistrate.htm

Psalm 101:1. LM The Magistrate's Psalm.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 101:1. LM The Magistrate's psalm.
1 Mercy and judgment are my song; And since they both to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 101 1 0 l m the.htm

Psalm 101 the Magistrate's Psalm.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 101 The magistrate's Psalm. LM The magistrate's Psalm.
Mercy and judgment are my song; And since they both to thee belong,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 101 the magistrates psalm.htm

Death of a Magistrate or Public Man.
... MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS. 1004. " Death of a Magistrate or Public Man.
1004. HM JG Adams. Death of a Magistrate or Public Man. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/1004 death of a.htm

The Fourteenth Proposition. Concerning the Power of the Civil ...
... THE FOURTEENTH PROPOSITION. Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate, in
matters purely Religious, and pertaining to the Conscience. ...
/.../the fourteenth proposition concerning the.htm

Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters Purely ...
... Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters purely Religious,
and pertaining to the Conscience. Concerning the Power ...
/.../proposition xiv concerning the power.htm

On Magistracy
... The chief magistrate is not correctly denominated political or secular, because
those epithets are opposed to the ecclesiastical and spiritual power.2. In the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/on magistracy.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 56, 58, "Ye Know How to ...
... know how to interpret the face of the Earth and the Heaven," etc.; and of the words,
"for as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lix on the words.htm

On Councils
... If she is under the sway of a Christian magistrate, who makes an open profession
of religion, or who publicly tolerates it, then we transfer this power to such ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lviii on councils.htm

That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in ...
... If it be said, in case the magistrate command it not, we think that strange divinity,
that the sole command of the magistrate should make that our duty, which ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iv that it is.htm

Thesaurus

Magistrate (9 Occurrences)
... In Judges 18:7 the word "magistrate" (AV) is rendered in the Revised Version
"possessing authority", ie, having power to do them harm by invasion. ...MAGISTRATE. ...
/m/magistrate.htm - 15k

Opponent (13 Occurrences)
... terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with him on the way to
the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the magistrate against you ...
/o/opponent.htm - 10k

Appointed (385 Occurrences)
... (WEY DBY). Acts 7:27 "But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference,
and asked, "'Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us? (WEY). ...
/a/appointed.htm - 35k

Governor (78 Occurrences)
... 2; 3:32). These dignities appear to have been elective, not hereditary.
(3.) Hebrews pakid, an officer or magistrate. It is used ...
/g/governor.htm - 48k

Ruler (329 Occurrences)
... 4:14, 19; 5:7, 17; Nehemiah 7:5; Nehemiah 12:40; Nehemiah 13:11 Isaiah 41:25 Ezekiel
23:6) always used in plural (5) qatsin, "a judge" or "magistrate" (Isaiah 1 ...
/r/ruler.htm - 50k

Judicial (2 Occurrences)
... Both phrases vividly bring out the baneful effect of bribery-a magistrate otherwise
upright and honest-open-eyed and wise-may be unconsciously yet effectively ...
/j/judicial.htm - 25k

Rome (12 Occurrences)
... true cornerstone of Roman liberty was thought to be the lexicon Valeria, which provided
that no citizen should be put to death by a magistrate without being ...
/r/rome.htm - 43k

Judge (297 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews shophet, pl. shophetim), properly a magistrate
or ruler, rather than one who judges in the sense of trying a cause. ...
/j/judge.htm - 46k

Yet (1244 Occurrences)
... terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with him on the way to
the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the magistrate against you ...
/y/yet.htm - 35k

Obtain (63 Occurrences)
... terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with him on the way to
the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the magistrate against you ...
/o/obtain.htm - 24k

Bible Concordance

Magistrate (9 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Thou shalt not commit murder', and whoever commits murder will be answerable to the magistrate.
(WEY)

Matthew 5:22 But I say to you that every one who becomes angry with his brother shall be answerable to the magistrate; that whoever says to his brother 'Raca,' shall be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and that whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the Gehenna of Fire.
(WEY)

Matthew 5:25 Come to terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with him on the way to the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the magistrate against you, and the magistrate should give you in custody to the officer and you be thrown into prison.
(WEY)

Luke 12:58 For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 4:1 And as they are speaking unto the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees --
(YLT)

Acts 5:24 And as the priest, and the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these words, they were doubting concerning them to what this would come;
(YLT)

Acts 5:26 then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;
(YLT)

Acts 7:27 "But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked, "'Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?
(WEY)

Acts 7:35 "The Moses whom they rejected, asking him, 'Who appointed you magistrate and judge?' --that same Moses we find God sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
(WEY)

Subtopics

Magistrate

Magistrate: An officer of Civil Law

Magistrate: Obedience To, Enjoined

Related Terms

Opponent (13 Occurrences)

Appointed (385 Occurrences)

Governor (78 Occurrences)

Ruler (329 Occurrences)

Judicial (2 Occurrences)

Rome (12 Occurrences)

Judge (297 Occurrences)