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Saturday, December 21st, 2024
the Third Week of Advent
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ôr´dẽr ( ערך , ‛ārakh , "to arrange"; τάσσειν , tássein ( diatássein , táxis , tágma )): "Order" in Biblical phrases may indicate (1) arrangement in rows, (2) sequence in time, (3) classification and organization, (4) likeness or manner, (5) regulation, direction or command, or (6) the declaring of a will. In many passages it is difficult if not impossible to determine from the English text alone in which of these senses the word is used.
1. Arrangement in Rows:
The fundamental idea suggested by the Hebrew, Greek and English words is that of arrangement in rows. Thus "order" is used in the Bible of arranging wood for an altar (Leviticus 1:7; 1 Kings 18:33; compare Hebrew Genesis 22:9; Isaiah 30:33 ); of laying out flax-stalks for drying (Joshua 2:6 ); of preparing offerings (Leviticus 1:8 , Leviticus 1:12; compare Leviticus 6:5; Judges 6:26 ); of arranging lamps (Exodus 27:21; Exodus 39:37; Leviticus 24:3 , Leviticus 24:4; compare Psalm 132:17 ); of placing the shewbread on the table (Exodus 40:4 , Exodus 40:23; Leviticus 6:12; Leviticus 24:8; 2 Chronicles 13:11 ); of drawing up the battle array (1 Chronicles 12:38 (Hebrew 39, ‛ādhar )); and of arranging weapons in order for battle (Jeremiah 46:3 , the American Standard Revised Version "prepare"). As a verb "to order" in the older versions usually has the obsolete sense "to arrange" and not the more usual English meanings, "to demand" or "to direct." Thus: "In the tent of meeting shall Aaron order it" (Leviticus 24:4 , the American Standard Revised Version "keep in order"); "Order ye the buckler and shield" (Jeremiah 46:3; compare Psalm 119:133; Job 23:4 , the American Standard Revised Version "set in order"; Judith 2:16; The Wisdom of Solomon 8:1; 15:1; Ecclesiasticus 2:6). The Hebrew pa‛am (literally, "hoof-beat," "occurrence," "repetition") in the plural conveys the idea of an architectural plan (Ezekiel 41:6 ). Another word, shālabh , literally, "to join," in connection with the tabernacle, has in some versions been translated as including the idea of orderly arrangement (Exodus 26:17 ). The word "order" standing by itself may mean orderly or proper arrangement (1 Esdras 1:10; The Wisdom of Solomon 7:29; 1 Macc 6:40; Colossians 2:5 ). Akin to the idea of arranging things in a row is that of arranging words (Job 33:5; Job 37:19; Psalm 5:3 ), of recounting things in order (Isaiah 44:7; Luke 1:1 the King James Version ( diatassein ); Luke 1:3; Acts 11:4 ( kathexḗs )), of setting forth a legal case (Job 23:4; Job 13:18; compare Psalm 50:21 ). From the idea of arranging in order for the purpose of comparison the Hebrew ‛ārakh acquires the meaning "to compare" (Isaiah 40:18; Psalm 89:7 ). This is clearly the meaning of 'ēn ‛ărōkh 'ēlekhā (Psalm 40:5 (Hebrew 6)), where "They cannot be set in order unto thee" must be interpreted to mean "There is nothing that can be compared unto thee."
2. Sequence in Time:
As the fundamental meaning of ‛ārakh is arrangement in space, that of ṣādhar is order or sequence in time. In later Hebrew ṣēdher was used in the sense of "program." In Job 10:22 lō' ṣedhārı̄m , absence of regularity, in the description of the uncertain period that follows death probably means "confusion in time." (The Septuagint (φέγγος , phéggos ) suggests, in the place of ṣedhārı̄m , a word for "light," possibly cohŏrayim .) In the New Testament we find "order" used of time in connection with the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23 ( tagma )) and of a succession of places visited (Acts 18:23 ( kathexes )). The phrase "in order unto" (Psalm 119:38 ) expresses causal sequence and hence, purpose.
3. Classification and Organization:
The idea of classification is present in the Hebrew tāḳan , translated "set in order," with reference to a collection of proverbs ( Ecclesiastes 12:9 ). The same stem is used with reference to the arranging of singers before the altar (Hebrew Ecclesiasticus 47:9), The classification of priests according to their service is spoken of as "ordering" (1 Chronicles 24:3 , 1 Chronicles 24:19 , Hebrew pāḳadh ). Next to the high priests ranked priests of the second order (mishneh , 2 Kings 23:4; compare 2 Kings 25:18 parallel Jeremiah 52:24 ). The related concept of organization is present where the Hebrew kūn (literally, "to establish".) is translated "order" (Isaiah 9:7 the King James Version, "to establish" the American Standard Revised Version; Psalm 119:133; 2 Chronicles 29:35; compare 1 Macc 16:14). A similar use of the term "order" is found in the New Testament in connection with the organization of the affairs of the church (1 Corinthians 16:1 ( diatassein ); Titus 1:5 ( epidiorthóō ); 1 Corinthians 11:34 ).
4. Likeness or Manner:
"Order," in the sense of likeness or manner, is used in the phrase "after the order of Melchisedek" to translate the Hebrew ‛al dibherath , or rather the archaic form ‛al dibherāthı̄ ( Psalm 110:4 ), which in other passages is translated "because of" (compare Ecclesiastes 3:18; Ecclesiastes 7:14; Ecclesiastes 8:2 ). This well-known phrase is rendered in Septuagint katá tḗn táxin , a translation adopted in Hebrews 5:6 , Hebrews 5:10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:11 , Hebrews 7:17 , where the passage from Psalm is made the basis of an extended argument, in the course of which "order" is taken in the sense of "likeness" (Hebrews 7:16 ).
5. Regulation, Direction, Command:
In the sense of regulation, we find "order" as a translation of mishpāṭ (which is literally, "the ruling of a shōphēṭ ," whether as a judicial decree or legislative act) in connection with the conduct of priests ( 1 Chronicles 6:32 (Hebrew 17); 2 Chronicles 30:16; compare Luke 1:8; 1 Esdras 1:6), and with reference to the Nazirite regulations in the story of Samson (Judges 13:12 , the Revised Version (British and American) "manner"), church services (1 Corinthians 14:40 ) and, in the older English VSS , with reference to other ritual matters (1 Chronicles 15:13; 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 8:14 , the American Standard Revised Version "ordinance"). The phrase ‛al yadh , literally, "according to the hand of," translated in Ezra 3:10; 1 Chronicles 25:2 , 1 Chronicles 25:3 , 1 Chronicles 25:6 twice in various ways, means "under the direction of," or "under the order of," as translated in the last instance. The modern sense of "command" is suggested here and in several other instances (1 Esdras 8:10; 1 Macc 9:55). He "that ordereth his conversation aright" ( sām derekh , Psalm 50:23 ) is probably one who chooses the right path and directs his steps along it. "Who shall order the battle?" (1 Kings 20:14 ) is corrected in the American Standard Revised Version: "Who shall begin the battle?" (compare 2 Chronicles 13:3 , Hebrew'āṣar , literally, "to bind," hence, "to join" or "begin"; compare proelium committere ).
6. Declaring of Last Will:
The phrase "to set one's house in order" (Isaiah 38:1 parallel 2 Kings 20:1; 2 Samuel 17:23 ), used of Hezekiah and Ahithophel, in contemplation of death, means to give final instructions to one's household or to make one's will. The Hebrew cāwāh used in this phrase is the stem found in the later Hebrew cawwā'āh , "a verbal will" (Bābhā' Bathrā' 147a, 151b; BDB ). Great moral weight was attached in Biblical times to the charges laid upon a household by a deceased father or remoter ancestor, not only as to the disposition of property but also as to personal conduct. (Compare the case of the Rechabites, where the same Hebrew expression is used, ciwwāh ‛ālēnū , Jeremiah 35:6 .)
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Order'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/o/order.html. 1915.
