H8201 H8201
Judgments, acts of divine justice — punitive acts executed by God against nations or the wicked
A masculine noun used exclusively in the plural (shephatim) to denote God's punitive acts of justice, distinct from the more common mishpat. It appears first in the Exodus narrative, where God promises to bring Israel out of Egypt 'by great acts of judgment' (Exod 6:6; 7:4) and executes judgments against all the gods of Egypt (Exod 12:12; Num 33:4). Ezekiel dominates its usage, employing the phrase 'execute judgments' (asah shephatim) repeatedly to announce divine punishment against Jerusalem and the nations (Ezek 5:10, 15; 11:9; 16:41; 25:11; 28:22, 26; 30:14, 19). Ezekiel 14:21 names God's four judgments — sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence. Proverbs 19:29 extends the term to the judicial consequences awaiting the scoffer. French 'jugements' and German 'Gerichte' both render the plural force of punitive divine acts.
Senses
1. Judgments, judicial acts — Acts of divine judgment or judicial punishment, always in the plural שְׁפָטִים, denoting God's punitive interventions against Egypt (Exod 6:6; 7:4; 12:12; Num 33:4), Jerusalem, and foreign nations (Ezek 5:10, 15; 11:9; 25:11; 28:22, 26; 30:14, 19). Distinct from the more general mishpat ('ordinance, case law'), this noun emphasizes the executory, retributive dimension of divine justice. Ezekiel 14:21 catalogues four specific judgments — sword, famine, wild beasts, pestilence — while Proverbs 19:29 applies the term to human scorners who face inevitable judicial reckoning. 16×
AR["أحْكامٌ", "أَحْكامًا", "أَحْكَامًا", "أَحْكَامِي", "بِأَحْكَامٍ", "وَبِأَحْكَامٍ"]·ben["আমার-বিচার", "ও-বিচারে", "বিচার", "বিচারগুলি", "বিচারগুলো", "বিচারে", "শাস্তি"]·DE["Gericht", "Gerichte", "[שפטים]", "mit-Gerichte", "und-mit-Gerichte"]·EN["and-with-judgments", "judgments", "judgments-my", "with-judgments"]·FR["[שפטים]", "avec-jugements", "et-avec-jugements", "jugement", "jugements", "שפטים"]·heb["ב-שפטים", "ו-ב-שפטים", "שפטי", "שפטים"]·HI["और-न्यायों-से", "दंड", "दण्ड", "न्याय", "न्यायों-से", "मेरे-न्याय"]·ID["-penghukuman", "-penghukuman-Ku", "dan-dengan-penghakiman-penghakiman", "dengan-penghakiman-penghakiman", "penghakiman", "penghakiman-penghakiman", "penghakiman-penghakiman,", "penghakiman-penghakiman;"]·IT["[שפטי]", "[שפטים]", "con-giudizi", "e-con-giudizi", "giudizi", "judgments"]·jav["kanthi-pangadilan-pangadilan", "lan-kanthi-pangadilan-pangadilan", "pangadilan", "pangadilan-pangadilan", "paukuman", "paukuman-Kula", "paukuman-paukuman"]·KO["-로", "그리고-심판들로", "나의-심판들을", "심판들을", "심판들이"]·PT["com-juízos", "e-com-juízos", "julgamentos", "juízos", "meus-juízos"]·RU["и-судами", "судами", "судов", "судов-Моих", "суды"]·ES["con-juicios", "juicios", "juicios-de-mí", "y-con-juicios"]·SW["hukumu", "kali", "kwa-hukumu", "na-kwa-hukumu"]·TR["cezalar", "hükümler", "içinde", "ve-yargılarla", "yargılamalar", "yargılar", "yargılarla", "yargılarım"]·urd["اور-عدالتوں-سے", "سزائیں", "عدالتوں-سے", "عدالتیں"]
Exod 6:6, Exod 7:4, Exod 12:12, Num 33:4, 2 Chr 24:24, Prov 19:29, Ezek 5:10, Ezek 5:15, Ezek 11:9, Ezek 14:21, Ezek 16:41, Ezek 25:11 (+4 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×)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
† [שֶׁ֫פֶט] n.m. Ex 6:6 judgment;—pl. שְׁפָטִים Ex 6:6 +, sf. שְׁפָטַי Ez 14:21;—acts of judgment (cf. משׁפטים), בשׁפטים גדלים by great acts of judgment Ex 6:6; 7:4 (P); c. בְּ, עשׂה שׁפטים 12:12; Nu 33:4 (P), Ez 5:10, 15; 11:9; 16:41; 25:11; 28:22, 26; 30:14, 19 (all of God); men Ez 16:41; c. את, 2 Ch 24:24 (Syrians against Joash); שׁפטים of God (four: sword, famine, wild beasts, pestilence) Ez…