κρῐτ-ής G2923
A judge — one who renders legal decisions, arbitrates disputes, or exercises divine judgment.
Designates a person who renders judicial decisions, whether in human courts or as a title for God. In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus warns about being handed over to the judge (Matt 5:25; Luke 12:58), using the courtroom scenario as a parable for eschatological urgency. Acts applies it to Israel's pre-monarchic leaders, the 'judges' whom God raised up as deliverers (Acts 13:20). James warns the rich not to drag the poor before judges (Jas 2:6) yet also warns believers against becoming 'judges with evil thoughts' (Jas 2:4). Most strikingly, Hebrews calls God 'the Judge of all' (12:23), and James declares there is 'one Lawgiver and Judge' (4:12). Spanish distinguishes uppercase 'Juez' for God from lowercase 'juez' for human officials.
Senses
1. judge (one who judges/decides) — One who judges, decides cases, or renders authoritative verdicts. Applied to human magistrates and arbiters in legal proceedings (Matt 5:25; Luke 12:58; Acts 24:10), to Israel's pre-monarchic deliverer-judges (Acts 13:20), and supremely to God as the cosmic Judge of all (Heb 12:23; Jas 4:12; 2 Tim 4:8). Spanish capitalizes 'Juez' when referring to God and lowercases it for human judges, revealing the theological weight the title carries. French and German uniformly use 'juge' and 'Richter.' 19×
AR["الدَّيّانُ", "القَاضِي", "الْقَاضِي", "دَيَّان", "دَيَّانُ", "دَيّانينَ", "قاضي", "قاضيًا", "قاضٍ", "قَاضِيًا", "قُضاةً", "قُضَاةً"]·ben["বিচারক", "বিচারক;", "বিচারকর্তাদের", "বিচারকের", "বিচারকের,"]·DE["Richter"]·EN["Judge", "a-judge", "judge", "judges", "to-Judge"]·FR["juge"]·heb["שׁוֹפְטִים", "שׁוֹפְטֵי", "שׁוֹפֵט"]·HI["न्यअयि;", "न्यअयेए", "न्यायी", "न्यायी-को"]·ID["Hakim", "hakim", "hakim,", "hakim-hakim", "hakim."]·IT["giudice"]·jav["Hakim", "Hakim;", "hakim", "hakim,", "hakim."]·KO["사사들을", "심판자-가", "재판관", "재판관-이다", "재판관들이", "재판관에게", "재판관으로", "재판관이", "재판관이나", "판단자,", "판단자-이다."]·PT["de-Juiz", "juiz", "juízes"]·RU["Судие", "Судья", "Судья,", "Судьёй", "судей", "судье", "судьи", "судья", "судья.", "судьями", "судьёй"]·ES["Juez", "a-Juez", "como-juez", "jueces", "juez"]·SW["Hakimu", "hakimu", "waamuzi"]·TR["Yargıcı", "Yargıç", "Yargıç'a", "yargıca", "yargıç", "yargıçlar", "yargıçları", "yargıçlarınız"]·urd["قاضی", "قاضی٬", "قاضی۔", "منصف"]
Matt 5:25, Matt 5:25, Matt 12:27, Luke 11:19, Luke 12:14, Luke 12:58, Luke 12:58, Luke 18:2, Luke 18:6, Acts 10:42, Acts 13:20, Acts 18:15 (+7 more)
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)H7561 1. condemn, declare guilty (Hifil) (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κρῐτ-ής, οῦ, ὁ, vocative Refs 6th c.BC+: (κρίνω):—judge, umpire, Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. τῶν ἀληθῶν, opposed to δοξαστής, Refs 5th c.BC+; at Athens, usually of the judges in the poetic contests, LXX+5th c.BC+ Latin judex datus, Refs 2nd c.AD+ judex selectus, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 κ. ἐνυπνίων interpreter of dreams, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II κριτάς· ὀδόντας, Refs 5th c.AD+