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Bible Dictionaries
Lawgiver
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
or LAWGIVER. The word is found six times in the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] of the OT ( Genesis 49:10 , Numbers 21:18 , Deuteronomy 33:21 , Psalms 60:7; Psalms 108:8 , Isaiah 33:22 ). The Heb. mÄ•chôqçq , which it translates, is from a root meaning to ‘cut’ or ‘engrave,’ and hence to ‘enact’ a law, afterwards to be engraved on the public archives. The Heb. word appears to have two meanings: (1) ‘ruler’; so in Deuteronomy 33:21 , where RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] gives ‘ruler,’ and in Isaiah 33:22 , where the parallelism shows the meaning ‘Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver.’ (2) ‘Ruler’s staff’; so in Genesis 49:10 , where the word is parallel to ‘sceptre,’ and in Psalms 60:7; Psalms 108:8 , where the RV [Note: Revised Version.] renders it ‘Judah is my sceptre.’
In the NT the word ‘lawgiver’ (Gr. nomothetçs ) is found once only ( James 4:12 ); there it is applied to God as ‘the lawgiver and judge,’ who is regarded as the Supreme Source of all law. Other passages ( Hebrews 7:11 , Romans 9:4 ) where kindred Gr. words are used, have a reference to the law of Moses, or, to be more exact, the law of Israel.
T. A. Moxon.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Lawgiver'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdb/l/lawgiver.html. 1909.
