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Ordain

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

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Dictionaries
American Church Dictionary
• Ordain, Ordination
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
• Ordain
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
• Ordain
Holman Bible Dictionary
• Ordination, Ordain
King James Dictionary
• Ordained
• Ordain
Morrish Bible Dictionary
• Ordain
Vines' Expository Dictionary
• Ordain
Webster Dictionary
• Ordainment
• Ordaining
• Ordainer
•   (only first 3 shown)
Encyclopedias
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Ordain; Ordination
Lexicons
• διαταγή
• διατάσσω
• καθιστάνω , καθίστημι
•   (only first 3 shown)
• יָד
• יָסַד , יָסַד
• יוצֵר , יָצַר
•   (only first 3 shown)

Though a common word in the traditional language of the church, ‘ordain’ is not common in the Bible. It is not present at all in most modern versions. The word usually means ‘appoint’, as for example when Jesus appointed apostles (Mark 3:13-14; John 15:16; see APOSTLE), and the apostles appointed church leaders (Acts 6:3; Acts 6:6; Acts 14:23; see DEACON; ELDER).

People were not to make such appointments hastily. They had to have confidence that those appointed possessed the God-given gifts for the tasks, and they expressed that confidence through the ceremony of laying on hands (Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:22; see LAYING ON OF HANDS).