H8200 H8200
judges, magistrates; Aramaic term for judicial officials who administer justice and teach law
This Aramaic participle functions as a noun meaning judges or magistrates, appearing in Ezra 7:25 in Artaxerxes's decree to Ezra. The Persian king authorizes Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges who will administer justice for all the people beyond the River who know God's law, and to teach those who do not. The term denotes officials with both judicial and instructional authority, responsible for maintaining order according to divine and royal law.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Refers to judges or magistrates with authority to decide legal cases in Ezra 7:25. The Aramaic participial form שפטין (shaptin) is plural, literally 'judges' or 'those who judge.' English renders 'magistrates,' Spanish 'magistrados,' while French and German retain the bracketed Hebrew/Aramaic form. King Artaxerxes commands Ezra to 'appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all who know the laws of your God.' These officials would combine judicial and educational functions—deciding cases according to Torah and teaching those unfamiliar with God's law. The Persian authorization shows remarkable support for Jewish self-governance according to religious law within the empire. 1×
AR["قُضاة"]·ben["বিচারক"]·DE["[שפטין]"]·EN["magistrates"]·FR["[שפטין]"]·heb["שפטין"]·HI["न्यायाधीश"]·ID["hakim-hakim"]·IT["[שפטין]"]·jav["para-hakim"]·KO["재판관들"]·PT["juízes"]·RU["судей"]·ES["magistrados"]·SW["mahakimu"]·TR["hakimler"]·urd["قاضیوں"]
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×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
‡ † [שְׁפַט] vb. judge (BH שָׁפַט);— Pe. Pt. as n.pl. abs. שָֽׁפְטִין Ezr 7:25 judges.