In the biblical context, a judge is a person appointed to deliver justice, make decisions, and lead the people according to God's laws. The role of a judge is both judicial and, at times, military, as seen in the Book of Judges. The character and precepts relating to judges are deeply rooted in the principles of righteousness, wisdom, and impartiality as outlined in the Scriptures.

Character of a Judge:

1. Righteousness and Justice:
Judges are called to embody righteousness and justice, reflecting God's own character. In Deuteronomy 16:18-20, the Israelites are instructed: "Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality; and do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous."

2. Wisdom and Understanding:
Judges must possess wisdom and understanding to discern right from wrong. Solomon, known for his wisdom, is a prime example. In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon prays, "Give Your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?"

3. Impartiality:
Impartiality is a critical trait for judges, ensuring that decisions are made fairly and without favoritism. Leviticus 19:15 commands, "You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly."

4. Fear of the Lord:
A judge must fear the Lord, recognizing that ultimate justice comes from God. In 2 Chronicles 19:6-7, Jehoshaphat instructs the judges, "Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful in what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery."

Precepts Relating to Judges:

1. Appointment and Authority:
Judges are appointed by God or His representatives to lead and make decisions. In Exodus 18:21, Moses is advised to "select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens."

2. Role in Society:
Judges play a crucial role in maintaining order and justice within society. They are to ensure that God's laws are upheld and that the community lives in harmony. Judges 2:16 states, "Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders."

3. Accountability:
Judges are accountable to God for their actions and decisions. They must act with integrity, knowing that they will be judged by God. In Romans 14:10, it is written, "For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat."

4. Guidance and Instruction:
Judges are to provide guidance and instruction to the people, helping them understand and follow God's laws. In Deuteronomy 17:9-11, the people are instructed to go to the Levitical priests and the judge in office at the time for decisions, and they must act according to the decisions given.

The biblical portrayal of judges emphasizes their critical role in upholding justice and righteousness, serving as instruments of God's will on earth. Their character and actions are to reflect divine principles, ensuring that justice prevails in accordance with God's commands.Exodus 18:21,22
Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
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Exodus 22:9,28
For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challenges to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double to his neighbor.
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Leviticus 19:15
You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
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Deuteronomy 1:12-17
How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?
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Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Judges and officers shall you make you in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, throughout your tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
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Deuteronomy 17:8-11
If there arise a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates: then shall you arise, and get you up into the place which the LORD your God shall choose;
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Deuteronomy 19:16-19
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
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Deuteronomy 25:1-3
If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
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1 Samuel 2:25
If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they listened not to the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
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1 Samuel 8:3
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
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1 Kings 3:9
Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this your so great a people?
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2 Chronicles 19:5-10
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
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Psalm 58:1,2
Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?
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Psalm 72:1,2,4,12-14
Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
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Psalm 82:2-4
How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
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Proverbs 24:23
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
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Isaiah 5:22,23
Woe to them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
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Isaiah 28:5,6
In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people,
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Ezekiel 44:24
And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
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Daniel 9:12
And he has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing on us a great evil: for under the whole heaven has not been done as has been done on Jerusalem.
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Micah 7:3
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a reward; and the great man, he utters his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
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Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
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John 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
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Reflections Upon the Preceding Account.
... But, in order to judge of the argument which is ... of its morality, the purity of its
precepts, the eloquence ... If the character and circumstances under which the ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/section ii reflections upon the.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... of this and the other particular precepts that follow ... The moral character of the
transactions recorded by ... such examples expositors will judge differently; but ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

The Evidences of Christianity, Deduced from the New Testament ...
... freedom, surely no candid and equitable judge would lightly ... and to receive a set
of precepts, most directly ... all opportunities to sink his character and destroy ...
/.../the evidences of christianity/the evidences of christianity deduced.htm

On Justice and Goodness.
... Him a judge, He appears to be a judge not so ... By such procedure would be indicated,
not the character of a ... by its fruits, ie, by the language of its precepts. ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter v on justice and goodness.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... But how rarely should we condemn or judge one another ... They do not bear that awful
character; nor are ... of old revealed to mankind, and whatsoever precepts God has ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 30 upon our lords.htm

A More Particular view of the Several Branches of the Christian ...
... say, "This is my temper and character." Happy in ... and enable you "so to judge yourself;
that ... God, his perfections, his providences his precepts, his threatenings ...
/.../the rise and progress of religion in the soul/chapter xiv a more particular.htm

The Council of Jerusalem.
... But their public character remained; and as they stood in ... their earliest years, to
regard those precepts as divine ... But let us not judge according to appearances ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xvi the council of.htm

The Apostolic Witnesses
... As Paul said, on Mars Hill, 'He will judge the world ... of His, and of our estimate
of the character of Him ... the dead, and we have left beautiful precepts, and fair ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the apostolic witnesses.htm

Summa Theologica
Summa Theologica. <. Summa Theologica Saint Thomas Aquinas. Table
of Contents. Title Page. Whether, besides philosophy, any ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts[11 ... Josiah's conduct on this
discovery marks his character. ... king of Israel; so little may we judge of God's ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

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Judge: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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