Christians 'suffer' in law courts

Martyrs are sentenced to death

The Great Tribulation is a legal trial

Excerpts from The Smith&Smith Scripture Commentaries, available without

any cost, for download, at...
http://sites.google.com/site/freecommentary

Many people think of the Bible as a 'legalistic' book, and of God as a 'judgmental'
God. This is the wrong side of a story, and negatively expressed. You may also
have heard that the Latin translation of the scriptures has lent a 'legalese' slant to
our translations, thanks to the legal focus of the Roman empire (famous for its
law-code). This is only half-true.

Yes, God is concerned with judgment -- that's what Gods do, don't you know --
but judgment is about praise and rewards as its primary goal, with harsh
judgment against the unfaithful, only as a disincentive. It is a positive thing that
God is concerned with righting wrongs and removing evil. The judgment goes
against 'the devil and his angels', but not against Joe Citizen.

In Hebrew 'judge' means 'deliver justice to'.

1Sa 7:15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Psa 82:3 Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and
destitute.

In English 'judge' means to condemn, punish.

It is our legalsitic mindset and our misinterpretation of the 'don't judge' sayings,
which shut out the positive meanings to 'judgment'.

The Law is central to the Book, yes, but the law says to do good, to turn away
from evil, to love God and to love your neighbour. It is only the penalties for law-
breakers which people think of when they bad-mouth the Bible.

Our translations are legalistic, yes, thanks to (mis-)translators, yes, but the Bible
is not inherently judgmental and legalistic -- quite the opposite, for those who
catch the spirit of Christ. The preponderance of legal terminology is naturally
there in the fabric of the Bible, but for for other and better reasons -- to explain
the freedom from condemnation under the law.

The plot gets deeper when you acknowledge the state of the world and God's plan
to conquer its evil: There is a fundamental conflict between the spirit of God and
the spirit of... (What could the spirit 'opposite to freedom' be?) ..guess what... of
legalism! of religion ('-lig-' means 'bind', as in 'law; leg-al' = binding'); the spirit
of 'moral' ('mores' is Latin for 'law') 'rules', derived from the Book, derived from
religion and derived from the Law. This makes the distinction between good and
God, spirit and law, a vexed debate, as claimed.

Since the conflict is between the spirit and legalism, it follows that the conflict on
earth will be between the legalists and the Christians; and will be played out as a
legal battle, where the legalists try to use the divine law to condemn the innocent,
for performing miracles in Christ's name! This would only repeat what has
already occurred in the first centuries.

You can now appreciate that the 'legal judgmental nature' of the content of the
Bible, is more about what comes against God's people than from them. The
'Accuser of the brethren' is one title for Satan, not for the God who offers
forgiveness, and who provides a legal Advocate for us. It's the religious, not the
faithful, who are over-judgmental -- and the difference is, in reality, hard to pick.

The result is that the Bible is a book with much reference to the law, to legal
trials, to judges, governors, kings and emperors (that's surely what shapes our
world, don't you know, politics and law and religious belief) -- and such power-
brokers are fully immersed in legal concerns).
And in heaven, God is a God sitting on a judgment throne, with Satan standing
as an accuser of the Christians, with Christ as their legal advocate, and the Spirit
as their legal helper on earth. Yes it is all thoroughly legal-in-nature.

At this stage you may say 'Oh, yes, we knew all that already, really', and so you
did, but still, the implications take us by surprise, as the title tries to capture --
The 'suffering' of a Christian 'by the sword' is actually by the state 'sword' of
Justice. The sword comes after, and as a result of the trial -- It's the legal usage of
ordinary words which we have tended to miss.

(The catch-your-breath comes when you admit that more-of-the-same is

prophesied to 'completely break the power' of the people of Christ in the end-
times. 'Babylon' will apply the law mercilessly against the saints of Christ.)

There is a run-down on legal usage of ordinary words below; some are familiar,
some are not...

The New Testament usage of 'suffer' is: 'suffer trials in court, and penalties
from court.

Suffer means in court, in prison chains, (to death) in the cause of Christ
The Bible does not answer the general question of why there is suffering in the
world. Instead, the suffering in the New Testament is like that of Christ --
trial, imprisonment, shame, for his name's sake.

Rom 8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
 Rom 8:33-34 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God
that justifieth; 34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died,
yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us. ...
36 Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

2Ti 1:12 For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for
I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard
that which I have committed unto him against that day. ...
16 The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed
me, and was not ashamed of my chain;

Act_5:41, Act_9:15-16, Php_1:13+Php_1:29 (Paul was imprisoned in Rome,

awaiting trial), 2Ti_1:8, 2Ti_2:9, Heb_10:32-34, 1Pe_2:23+Luk_21:12-13
(Christ's trial), 1Pe_4:13-19, Rev_2:10

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Mat_24:9, Jas_5:13

Related scriptures:
Luk_21:12-13 persecute, testimony
Jas_1:2 temptations (trials)+Jas_2:6 judgment-seats

The above paragraphs on 'suffer' are excerpted from the Smith and Smith
Dictionary of Bible Word Meanings.
More are appended below for the sake of 'proper evidence'.
(If you download the Smith&Smith Commentary package, the Bible verses will
become hyperlinks for easy cross-reference.)

But first, here are some other points about the litigative nature of persecution...

The Old Testament prophets -- as an early example of the same conflict --

were legally convicted by kings and chief priests in religious courts -- all very
'legal' and very little 'justice'.

The idea here is that the men of the Spirit have always been treated to shame by
the religious rulers. Christianity is not a new spirit. The previous martyrs were
anointed, with the same spirit of Christ, before the religion of the 'anointed ones'
-- 'Christ'ians.

The Bible is arranged around contracts, law, judgments.

The theme of 'Covenants' is central to God's dealings with man. A 'covenant', or

love-contract, is an offer of mercy, of love, with a binding law of faithfulness -- as
any marriage contract has -- and with a legally enforcable penalty for breach of
faith. The Biblical jargon for success or failure in abiding by the covenant, is 'a
blessing and a curse'. Around these ideas, the whole legal story plays out. The
positive side is the primary goal; the penalties are as a codicil added to deal only
with bad-faith resulting in evil-doing.

Jesus himself suffered the death-sentence as a result of a religious accusation

of blasphemy.

You can't get a better example of religious-court-persecution as proof, than the

example set by the one who said: 'Follow me; Take up your cross; Don't be
ashamed of my name when you are dragged before synagogue rulers, judges and
kings'.

Jesus warned the apostles of religious-court-trials (not of suffering in general

or outside of a gospel context).

It's immediately noticeable when you re-read the gospels with this in mind -- that
Jesus specified that their trials and sufferings would be under religious laws.

Stephen was killed by a court.

The first Christian martyr (if Lazarus wasn't, Joh_12:10), was condemned to
death for seeing a vision while his judges ground their teeth in miff.

Act 6:15 And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his
face as it had been the face of an angel.
Act 7:56-57 and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man
standing on the right hand of God. 57 But they cried out with a loud voice,
and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord;

Paul first dragged Christians to court and then himself was dragged through
the courts as a Christian.

Act 26:10-11 And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the
saints in prisons, having received [legal] authority from the chief priests, and
when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. 11 And punishing
them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and
being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign
cities.

The context behind all that Paul wrote is clearly persecution of Christians by
religious Jews, who dragged the Christians before Jewish courts, or incited the
pagans to drag the Christians before Roman courts. Paul was in a position to
know this inside out. It was all fuelled by him, and others like Stephen before
him, performing many and unusual miracles.

The Book of Acts is mainly about court trials arising from the apostles
performing miracles. The 'Acts' were 'miracles' aplenty. The re-action was
 riots aplenty. The book is split about half and half between these two actions.
The results -- legal persecutions -- are the more important half -- there are 7
trials recorded.
'Acts' is a book of high drama -- of miracles and riots -- and of high legal
drama.

Act 4:7-10 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what
power, or in what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy
Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, 9 if we this day are
examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means
this man is made whole; 10 be it known unto you all, and to all the people of
Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom
God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you
whole.

Act 5:40-41 And to him they agreed: and when they [the council] had called
the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the
name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 They therefore departed from the
presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
dishonor for the Name.

It is clear from reading Paul and Acts and Peter and James and all the Christian
teachers, that the Christians did not actively engage in trouble-making, and did
not incite rioting, and were not guilty of bad behaviour or of irreligious beliefs or
practices. The astounding thing therfore emerges, that the preaching and
demonstration of the gospel is in itself bound to cause a riotous reaction from
the unbelievers.

The accusation seems to be that the disciples performed miracles 'in the name
of Jesus', and when asked by what authority they did such things, they
confessed that it was done 'in the name of Jesus who is the Christ'; and
further, 'in the name of Messiah', Jesus, they were proclaiming the
resurrection of the dead, Act_4:1-2. In the first century AD, the Jewish rulers
had outlawed anybody who 'confessed the name' of Jesus as Christ, Joh_9:22,
had outlawed the teaching of the resurrection, and had officially forbidden
the apostles to preach 'in the name of Jesus', Act_4:17-18, Act_5:28-30,
Act_5:40-41. The phrases therefore, 'suffering in my name, for my sake, in the
name of Jesus, for the sake of the gospel', refer to deliberate disobedience to
legal authorities, to testifying in court to the divinity of Jesus, to despising the
death-penalty, to refusing to renounce the name of Jesus or to recant faith 'in
his name' -- that is, in the names 'Christ, Saviour, Son of God', and especially
'Judge' of all men.
In other words 'in the name' has a thoroughly legal taste to it, something we
are not normally aware of.

A little thought shows that the charges brought against the new breed, called
'Christians', who were referred to as a 'sect' ('heresy'), came from the Old
 Testament law -- Christians now did many things which were not considered
'right', such as mixing with Gentiles (unlawful Act_10:28), eating 'unclean'
food, teaching against the necessity of circumcision for the attaining of
righteousness, teaching against the temple since they now formed a spiritual
temple, meeting on a day other than the sabbath, teaching about the abolition
of sacrifices, about changes in the law of Moses, and so on. Many of these
charges carried a death penalty.

The 'martyrs' in Revelation are 'faithful' in their legal witness to Christ,

despite the death-penalty. The word 'martyr' means 'witness; testimony'. They
were 'killed dead' only because of their 'testimony'.

Rev 12:10-11 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the
salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of
his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them
before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the
blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved
not their life even unto death.

The implication for Christians in later times is that a replay of Jewish legal
persecution is in store, and a replay of Roman-style martyring of Christians.
'Babylon' (a.k.a. Jerusalem) is envisioned as holding in her hand a cup of blood of
the saints -- This 'hand' (an idiom for 'under her control; in her power' and for
'holding a sword') represents the power and authority of religious law to
condemn the faithful with the death-penalty.

Here is a second except from 'Biblical Word Meanings':

Martyr means death-penalty in court

Because of Islam we have a hugely distorted idea of 'martyrs' (as dead militant
fanatics for any cause). The word, as used originally in the Bible, means
'witnesses'. The original 'witnesses' were giving legally witnessed testimony in
a religious court, to Christ as God's Son, in the face of threats and pressure to
recant. They were 'harmless as doves', killed by legally 'shrewd serpents'; They
were unarmed; unresisting; unhateful, prophets with backing from God.

Luk 21:12-13 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you,
and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons,
bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 It shall
turn out unto you for a testimony.
16 But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk,
and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. Mat_10:21;
Mar_13:12

Rev 12:10-11 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the
salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of
 his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them
before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the
blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved
not their life even unto death.

Mat_10:28-39 (confess before men), Mat_24:9 (delivered up); Luk_21:17 (my

name); Act_9:14 (legal authority); Act_26:10-11; Rev_2:13 (killed by a king
for being faithful in witness), Rev_6:9

The epistles talk in legal language when encouraging the 'persecuted'

Christians.

Again, it is a case of re-reading the accounts with an eye for legal language
passing under the radar. Then you see it where it was invisible before.

Ordinary words like 'say, speak, hear, ask, bring, tell, come,
gather, stand, sit, find, answer, know, give' take on a new light...

When the context is a judge 'sitting' on a 'throne', or 'holding court' in a

praetorium, or 'place of hearing', or in a judgment 'place', or 'in the gate', in front
of 'gathered' legal 'witnesses' eager to 'hear' the case, then it is a case of 'bringing'
in the defendant 'before' the court and 'inviting' him to 'face' his accusers and to
'answer' the accusations brought by the accusers 'standing' alongside. What is
'said' then becomes very important, so that all may 'know' the truth; and what the
judge 'speaks' at the 'end' of the appointed 'time', breaking the 'silence', is 'given'
as life-and-death stuff.
Jesus and Pilate weren't just chatting, in Mat_27:11, and Agrippa and Festus were
not simply having a tea-room natter, in Act_26:30-32.

There is a list to follow, of some of these special usages...

Listing: Specific Legal Usage of Common Words

(Browse the first few lines of each entry)

Let's start with a startling departure from what we expect...

Afflicted, destitute, needy, oppressed, poor means those without rights,

robbed of justice, judged unfairly
The 'afflicted' (widows, orphans, Messiah, prophets, martyrs) are oppressed
in court;
The 'destitute' have been left that way by having their goods unjustly
confiscated.

Psa_82:3 Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and
destitute.
 The 'needy' are in need of legal help;
The 'poor' have been robbed of their legal rights;

Isa_10:2 to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my
people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make
the fatherless their prey!
Isa_10:1 explains the official nature of the injustice.

Psa_10:18, Psa_72:4+Psa_72:2, Psa_82:3, Psa_103:6, Psa_140:12, Pro_31:5,

Pro_31:9, Isa_1:17, Isa_5:7, Isa_11:3-4, Isa_29:19 meek=afflicted,
poor+Isa_29:21, Isa_53:8, Jer_22:16, Hos_5:11, Hos_12:6-7, Amo_5:12,
Mal_3:5, Jas_2:6

Related scriptures:
Psa_94:6+Psa_94:2 widow, sojourner, fatherless, judge
Luk_18:1-3 faint, widow, judge

..and a similar entry...

Afflicted; needy; oppressed; outcasts; poor; sorrowful; terrible; tribulation means

war, slaughter, captives, slaves, foreigners; and also prophetically refers
to the religiously persecuted (not financially poor); often Christ Jesus.
There must be overlap when the faithful are afflicted for their faith, and so
become poor, or when Israel is afflicted for its covenant-breaking, and so is
conquered. The import of this is that terms such as 'humble and afflicted' do
not of themselves justify a social gospel of help to the poor and sick.

War; captives; slaves; foreigners... mainly OT

Exo 1:11-12 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with
their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and
Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and
the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of
Israel.

Exo 3:7 And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that
are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I
know their sorrows;... 9 And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is
come unto me: moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the
Egyptians oppress them.

Deu_16:3, Deu_26:6, Jdg_4:3, Jdg_16:5, 2Sa_7:10, Job_34:28, Psa_82:3,

Pro_22:22, Neh_9:9, Job_34:28, Psa_14:6-7, Psa_72:4, Psa_72:11-14,
Psa_74:19-23, Psa_106:42, Psa_109:16, Psa_146:7, Pro_14:31, Isa_14:2,
Isa_14:4, Isa_14:31-32, Isa_19:20, Isa_49:12-13, Isa_64:11-12, Jer_2:34,
Jer_4:26, Jer_50:16, Jer_50:33, Lam_1:3, Lam_1:9, Lam_3:31-33,
Dan_4:27+Dan_5:19, Zep_3:12, Zep_3:18-20
 Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_41:1, Psa_69:33, Psa_72:4,
Psa_94:5-6, Ecc_6:8, Ecc_9:15, Isa_30:20, Isa_41:17, Jer_22:16, Zec_10:2

Religiously persecuted (by the proud and prosperous one)

Mar 4:17 and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then,
when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway
they stumble.

Act 20:23 save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that
bonds and afflictions abide me.

Psa_9:12-13, Psa_34:6, Psa_109:16, Ecc_9:15, Isa_11:4,

Dan_4:27+Dan_5:19+Dan_3:4-6, Zec_11:7, Act_12:1-4, 2Th_1:4, 2Th_1:6

Related scriptures:
Luk_18:1-3+Luk_18:8 faint, widow, faith

Here is a good example of an ordinary word with a specific legal usage, easily
missed in the gospels:

Answer means judgment in a court, a plea, a defense, a verdict, a legal

decision
The Greek word ('apo-krinee' 'reversal from-judgment') implies responding to
an accusation.
The implication of this definition is that when, during his trial, Jesus 'held his
peace' (Mat_26:63, Mat_27:12, Mat_27:14), it was because he offered no plea
-- perhaps because he was 'bearing our sins' for which there could be no
defence -- so he 'opened not his mouth', Isa_53:4-7.

Verdict
Mat 26:58-66 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high
priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end. 59 Now the
chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that
they might put him to death;
65 Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken
blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have
heard the blasphemy: 66 what think ye? They answered and said, He is
worthy of death.

1Ki_3:27-28, Zec_3:4+Zec_3:1, Psa_143:1-2, Joh_19:7, Joh_19:22,

Act_25:12

Plea, Defense, Response

Act_24:10 And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul
answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge
unto this nation, I cheerfully make my defense:
 Mat_26:62, Mat_27:12, Act_4:14 say nothing against, Act_5:29, Act_24:10

Legal decision or decree, response in court

Act_5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the
council. And the high priest asked them, 29 But Peter and the apostles
answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.

Act 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the

judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time;
and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.

Job_9:32, Act_4:19+Act_4:6, Act_25:12, Act_25:15-16

Arise; awake, lift up means for judgment

Deu 17:8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between
blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being
matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up
unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose;

Psa 7:6 Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger; Lift up thyself against the rage of
mine adversaries, And awake for me; thou hast commanded judgment.

Psa_9:19, Psa_76:9, Psa_82:8, Psa_94:2, Jer_51:9, Mic_6:1-2 controversy,

Mat_12:42

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_10:12, Psa_12:5, Psa_17:13,

Isa_33:10

Before, bring before, bring forth, stand before means judgment (in court,
before the council), for accusation
Act 18:12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord
rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,

Act 25:9-10 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul
and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things
before me? 10 But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat,
where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also
very well knowest.

Gen_18:22-23+Gen_18:25, Gen_31:37, Exo_28:30, Num_27:21, Num_35:12,

Deu_17:12, Deu_19:17, Deu_25:2, Jos_20:6, 1Sa_7:6, 1Ki_3:16+1Ki_3:28,
1Ch_16:33, 2Ch_1:10, 2Ch_20:9, Job_23:4, Job_34:23, Psa_50:21, Psa_76:7,
Psa_96:13, Psa_98:9, Isa_3:13-14, Isa_41:1, Nah_1:6, Dan_7:10,
Mal_3:2+Mal_3:5, Mat_10:17-18, Mat_27:11, Luk_12:58, Luk_21:12-14,
Luk_23:1-2, Luk_23:10, Act_5:27, Act_18:17, Act_23:30, Act_25:9-10,
Act_25:26, Act_26:6, Act_27:24, Rom_2:12-13, Rom_14:10, Rom_14:22,
 2Co_5:10, Jas_2:6, Jas_5:9, 2Pe_2:11, Rev_20:12

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Job_13:15, Job_35:14, Psa_42:2,

Psa_79:10-11, Psa_90:8, Psa_109:15 (iniquities and sin), Isa_43:8,
Hab_2:20, Mat_10:32-33, Luk_12:8, Luk_12:11, Luk_21:12, Luk_21:36,
Act_9:15, Rom_4:2, 1Co_15:1, Rev_12:10

Related scriptures:
Job_33:5
Luk_23:10 stand = to accuse
Act_12:4 bring him forth

Books, written means judgment, throne, court, legal decrees

Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of
thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood
before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book
written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.

Psa_149:9, Isa_10:1-2, Rev_5:7, Rev_20:12

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Dan_12:1, Rev_10:2

Related scriptures:
Rev_22:10+Rev_22:12 book, rewards (at judgment)

Come means as judge, judgment

'Come' is used either about the judge coming, 1Ch_16:33, or about others
coming to the judge for judgment, Exo_18:16, and even about a matter
'coming for judgment', 2Sa_15:2.

Mal 3:1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before
me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the
messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah
of hosts. 2 But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand
when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap: ... 5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against
the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and
against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the
fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me,
saith Jehovah of hosts.

Joh 5:24 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and
men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

Deu_17:9, Deu_25:1, 2Sa_15:4, Job_9:32, Psa_50:3-4, Psa_96:13, Psa_98:9,

 Isa_41:1, Jer_48:21, Dan_7:13, Joe_3:12, Oba_1:21, Mat_16:27, Joh_3:19,
Joh_16:8, Act_23:15, Act_25:17, Rev_2:16, Rom_3:4, 1Co_4:5, 1Co_11:34,
1Co_14:24, Jas_5:7+Jas_5:9, Rev_14:7, Rev_18:10

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Pro_10:24, Isa_5:19, 2Pe_1:16,

2Pe_3:4

See also: 'Gather' means 'judgment'.

Condemnation means death

Of course you can be found guilty without being put to death, but there are
many places in the Bible where condemnation assumes a death penalty. The
condemnation to death is the upshot of a court trial. Note the contrast with
'life'...

Rom 5:16-17 And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the
judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many
trespasses unto justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death
reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus
Christ.

Rom 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ
Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the
law of sin and of death.

Psa_94:21 blood, Mat_12:7+Mat_12:1 (working on the sabbath carried a

death penalty), Mat_20:18, Mar_10:33, Mar_14:64, Luk_24:20,
Rom_8:34+Rom_8:36 killed, Rom_13:2 judgment+Rom_13:4 sword

Related scriptures:
Rev_12:10-11 death penalty because of being 'accused' (in court)

Confess (or deny) means before the council, kings, and rulers (judges),
before God (as the heavenly judge)
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in
their synagogues they will scourge you; 18 yea and before governors and
kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the
Gentiles.
Mat 10:32-33 Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him
will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whosoever
shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is
in heaven.

1Ti 6:12-13 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal,
whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight
of many witnesses. 13 I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all
 things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good
confession;

1Ki_8:32-33, Neh_1:6, Dan_9:20, Heb_4:14+Heb_4:16, Rev_3:5

The implication is that the disciples are brought to book for confessing the
name of Jesus as the Christ, and that it was and will be illegal to preach Jesus
as the Messsiah.

Creation, beginning and end, alpha and omega, first and last means judgment
at the coming of Christ (wrath, rewards, redemption, deliverance)
Verses mentioning various aspects of the creation -- Sun, Moon, mountains,
seas, winds etc -- tell us that God has had judgment in mind since the
Creation of the world.

Isa 41:1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the peoples renew their
strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together
to judgment... 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations
from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he.

2Pe 3:4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming [as Judge]? for,
from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from
the beginning of the creation... 7 but the heavens that now are, and the earth,
by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day
of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Psa_36:6, Psa_50:1-2+Psa_50:4, Psa_72:2-3, Psa_136:6-10, Psa_146:6-7,

Isa_40:27-28, Isa_44:6, Dan_7:9-10 (creator), Amo_4:12-13, Mic_6:1-2,
Hab_1:12, Rom_1:18+Rom_2:1-2, Rev_1:7-8, Rev_21:6-8,
Rev_22:13+Rev_22:12

Related scriptures: A variety of expressions may be used to describe the

original Creation, and the judgments...

Psa_55:19 of old, no changes

Eze_38:20+Eze_38:22 birds, beasts, men
Dan_7:9 thrones, ancient of days
Amo_5:8-9 maketh, Pleiades, Orion, day, night, sea
Hab_1:12 everlasting
Zec_12:1-2 heavens, earth, spirit, reeling
Zep_1:2-3 utterly consume, man birds, fishes
Rev_14:7, made the heavens, earth, sea, fountains
Mat_24:21+Rev_16:18 tribulation=earthquake; beginning of world= men on
earth
Rev_1:4 who is and who was and who is to come, throne
Rev_1:7-8 clouds (as Judge), who is and who was and who is to come
Rev_4:8-9 who was and who is and who is to come, sitteth on the throne
 Rev_16:5 who art and who wast, judge

Day, days means judgment

Jer_51:47 Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will execute judgment
upon the graven images of Babylon; and her whole land shall be confounded;
and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.

Dan_7:22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the
saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the
kingdom.

Jer_51:52, Mat_10:15, Mat_11:22, Mat_11:24, Mat_12:36, Joh_12:48,

Act_17:31, Rom_2:5, Rom_2:16, 2Ti_4:8, 2Pe_2:9, 2Pe_3:7, 1Jn_4:17,
Jud_1:6, Rev_18:8

See also: 'Times' means 'judgment'.

Deliver means to court or council, to prison, to death

Mat_5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in
the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge
deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Mat_10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and
in their synagogues they will scourge you;

Mar_10:33 chief priests and scribes, Luk_24:7, Luk_24:20, Joh_18:30,

Joh_18:35, Joh_19:16, Act_3:13, Act_7:25-27, Act_12:4, Act_22:4, Act_27:1,
Act_28:17-18 examined (in court)

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Mat_24:9

End means judgment (not the end of the world), e.g. a judgment of mercy,
rewards, vengeance
Jas 5:11 Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the
patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of
pity, and merciful.

1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind,
and be sober unto prayer:
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God:
and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the
gospel of God?

Dan_7:26, Dan_12:13 (lot), Neh_9:31, Jer_5:31+Jer_5:29,

Jer_51:13+Jer_51:6, 2Co_11:15 (according to works=judgment)
 Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Pro_25:8, Dan_12:4, Amo_8:2,
Mat_26:58, Luk_21:9, Rom_6:21, 1Pe_1:9, Heb_6:8

Related scriptures: Pro_16:4 day (of judgment)

See also: 'Times' means 'judgment'.

Exalted, high means judge on his throne

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of
Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be
exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it... 4 And he will
judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-
hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn
war any more.

Isa_14:13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt
my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of
congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;

Job_36:7, Psa_89:13-14, Psa_97:8-9, Psa_99:2+Psa_99:4, Isa_5:16, Isa_6:1,

Isa_30:18, Isa_33:5, Jer_17:12

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Isa_33:10

Related scriptures:
Isa_33:5 exalted, high, justice and righteousness

Face, sight means judgment, throne

To 'appear before' the throne is a figure of speech, meaning to appear before
the face of him who sits on the throne.

Deu_1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small
and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the
judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto
me, and I will hear it.

Eze_20:35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there
will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

Deu_25:2, Job_9:24, Psa_9:19, Psa_10:5, Psa_51:4, Psa_89:14 throne,

Psa_143:2, Isa_11:3, Jer_26:14 [do what is right=judge], Act_3:13, Act_4:19,
Act_25:16, 2Th_1:9, 2Ti_4:1, Heb_9:24+Heb_9:27, Rev_6:16, Rev_20:11

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: 2Ch_7:14, Psa_31:16

See also: 'Show face' means 'favour'.

 Related scriptures:
Job_14:3 open eyes, judgment
Pro_20:8 judgment, eyes
Isa_11:3 judge after the sight of his eyes
Act_25:16 accused, face to face, defense

False witness, lie means betray to death

'Lying and 'false witness' are set in a context of administering death
penalties for breaches of the commandments, i.e. perjury in a capital trial.

Psa 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries: For false
witnesses are risen up against me, And such as breathe out cruelty.

Mat 26:60 and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But
afterward came two, [to try to betray Christ to death]

1Ki_21:10, Psa_27:12-13, Psa_35:11+Psa_35:4, Psa_63:11+Psa_63:9,

Pro_14:25, Pro_25:18, Act_6:13+Act_7:58

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Exo_20:16, Pro_6:19

Find, found means judgment from the throne; guilt

It is part of our language that judges hand down their 'findings'.

Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he
went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is
written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail
when thou comest into judgment.

Rev 3:2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were
ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. 3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and
repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt
not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Gen_18:26 find+Gen_18:28-32 find, found+Gen_18:25 judge, Isa_24:6,

Jer_23:11, Dan_6:22, Mat_26:58-60, Luk_23:13-14, Joh_18:38, Joh_19:4,
Act_13:28, 1Co_4:2-4, 1Pe_2:22 guile not found, Rev_5:4 found worthy,
Rev_18:24 found the blood of prophets, Rev_20:11

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_75:2, Gal_2:17, Php_3:9,

Heb_4:16

Gather, assemble, approach, come, come near, coming, draw near, near, pray,
presence, reason together, seek, supplication, together means for trial, to the
court or council of the high priest, for judgment, to the judgment
throne, priestly service to Yahweh, seek vindication, vengeance

Gather
Joe 3:2 I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of
Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment upon them there for my people
and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and
they have parted my land,

Heb 12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are
enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made perfect,

1Sa_7:6, Ezr_10:14, Psa_50:4-6, Psa_94:20-21 throne, Isa_50:8, Isa_58:2,

Jer_26:9-10, Joe_3:11-12, Mat_25:31-32, Mat_27:17+Mat_27:19, Mar_14:53-
54, Act_23:15

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Isa_43:9, Isa_44:11, Dan_6:15,

Mat_18:20

Draw near
Dan 7:9 I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days
did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure
wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire... 13 I
saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven
one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they
brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and
glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should
serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass
away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Gen_18:23+Gen_18:25, Est_5:1-2, Isa_57:3, Isa_58:2, Mal_3:5,

Jas_4:8+Jas_4:11-13+Jas_5:1

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Dan_6:12, 1Ti_6:16 unapproachable,

Heb_10:22

Near
Isa 51:5 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms
shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall
they trust.

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Isa_5:19, Isa_34:1

Together
Job 9:32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we
 should come together in judgment.

Mar_14:53, Act_25:17, 1Co_11:34 (pun)

Coming
Jas 5:7-9 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold,
the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over
it, until it receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; establish your
hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Murmur not, brethren, one
against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the
doors.

Isa_1:18; Jas_4:11-13+Jas_5:1

Judgment throne, courts, reason together

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.

Gen_45:4, Exo_16:9, Exo_24:14, Jos_7:14, Jos_10:24, Psa_65:4,

Psa_119:169, Isa_1:18, Isa_41:1, Isa_43:26, Isa_50:8, Mal_3:5, Heb_7:25,
Heb_10:22, Heb_11:6 reward, Heb_12:5, Heb_12:22-23

Related scriptures: Paul 'reasoning' in the 'gatherings', and judging them

Act_19:8-9

Priestly service to Yahweh

Lev 21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed
throughout their generations that hath a blemish, let him not approach to
offer the bread of his God.

Exo_19:22, Exo_24:1-2, Exo_28:43, Exo_30:20, Lev_21:18, Num_4:19,

Num_16:40, Deu_21:5, 2Ch_29:31, Isa_34:1-2, Jer_30:21, Eze_40:46,
Eze_44:15-16, Eze_44:13, Eze_45:4

Related scriptures:
Eze_11:9 among
Eze_35:11 among
Heb_6:20 entered

Give/ take away, render means judgment, rewards (according to works),

recompense, vengeance

Give
The idea of 'give' is payment for damages done. The Biblical idea of justice
does not leave victims without legal compensation. (We would say 'award' --
compensation, damages or costs.)
 2Ti 4:8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me
only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

Rev 11:18 And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of
the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the
great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.

Gen_30:6, Deu_32:43, Rth_2:12, 1Sa_26:23 righteousness, 1Sa_24:15,

1Ki_3:25, 1Ki_3:27-28, 1Ki_8:32, Job_36:31, Psa_28:4, Psa_79:10-12,
Isa_61:8, Jer_25:31, Eze_16:52, Eze_29:20, Dan_7:11+Dan_7:9, Dan_7:22,
Dan_7:26-27, Joh_5:21-22, Rom_11:35, Rom_12:19, 1Co_7:25, 2Co_8:10,
Rev_2:23, Rev_11:18, Rev_22:12

The following references to 'give' are not explicit that they are referring to
judgment. However that would seem to be the obvious meaning intended:

Dan_7:14, Rev_2:7, Rev_2:17, Rev_2:28, Rev_3:9, Rev_3:21, Rev_16:19,

Rev_18:6-8, Rev_21:6 ('Alpha and Omega' hints at a final judgment)

Possibly this is what is intended in: Dan_7:11, Joh_1:12, Rev_12:14, Rev_19:8

Take away
Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of
thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood
before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan 7:12 And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet
their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

Isa_53:8, Dan_7:26, Mat_25:28-29+Mat_25:19 reckoning, Act_8:33

Forth, come forth, go forth means justice; righteousness; salvation

The idea is 'like the dawn; like the king; like a command'

Psa 37:6 And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, And
thy justice as the noon-day.

Isa 51:4 Attend unto me, O my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for
a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the
peoples. 5 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine
arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm
shall they trust.

Isa_45:23, Isa_58:8, Isa_62:1, Jer_51:10, Hos_6:5, Hab_1:4, Mal_4:2,

Mat_24:27, Act_13:26, Rom_3:25
 Related scripture:
Psa_109:7 come forth guilty
Zep_3:5 bring

God, gods means judgment; deliverance of a nation/king, victory in war,

salvation; or conversely the defeat of a nation/king
The victory or defeat of an army is seen as resulting from the triumph or
weakness of a God/gods.
The terms 'kings' and 'gods' are not so very separate in concept -- One of the
idols was called 'Moloch' or 'king', Amo_5:26 cf Act_7:43. See also 'great King
above all gods', Psa_95:3.

Isa 44:17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image; he
falleth down unto it and worshippeth, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver
me; for thou art my god.

Jer_2:28

Victory over a king is seen as equivalent to victory over a god:

Jer 46:25 Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saith: Behold, I will punish
Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods, and her kings; even
Pharaoh, and them that trust in him:

Yahweh
Deu_3:21-24, Deu_33:29, 1Sa_4:3, 1Sa_4:6-9, 1Sa_17:46-47, 2Ch_32:13-17,
2Ch_32:15, 2Ch_32:17, Psa_96:4-5, Isa_19:1, Isa_43:11-12, Isa_45:21

The prime example is Yahweh delivering Israel from Egypt.

Exo 12:12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite
all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the
gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Jehovah.

Num_33:4

Egyptian -- Amon
Deu_4:34, Jos_24:7, 2Sa_7:23, Jer_46:25, Eze_30:13

Samaria
Isa_10:11

Num_21:28-29, Jdg_11:24, Jer_48:46, Jer_49:3

Philistines -- Dagon, Ashtaroth, Baal

Jdg_16:23-24, 1Sa_5:3, 1Sa_5:7, 1Sa_6:5, 1Sa_7:3, 1Sa_31:9, 2Sa_5:21,
1Ch_10:9, 1Ch_14:10-12, Zep_2:11
 Canaanites -- Baal
1Ki_18:39-40, Jer_11:12

Assyrians
2Ki_19:17-18, Isa_37:12, Isa_37:18-19, Nah_1:14,

Edomites
2Ch_25:14-15, 2Ch_25:20,

Syrians
2Ch_28:23

Babylonian -- Bel, Nebo

Isa_21:9, Isa_46:1-2, Jer_50:2, Jer_51:44, Jer_51:47, Jer_51:52-53

War god
Dan_11:8, Dan_11:36-38

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Hos_10:5

Good/evil means judgment, discernment, justice

1Ki_3:9 Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy
people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge
this thy great people?

Ecc_12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden
thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Deu_17:12, 2Sa_14:17, 2Sa_19:35, Psa_51:4, Psa_119:66, Pro_18:5,

Pro_20:8, Pro_24:23, Ecc_8:5, Amo_5:14-15, Joh_3:19, Joh_5:29,
2Co_5:10, Heb_5:14, Jas_2:4

Hand, arm means judgment, throne

Exo 7:4 But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay my hand upon
Egypt, and bring forth my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the
land of Egypt by great judgments.

Deu_32:41 If I whet my glittering sword, And my hand take hold on

judgment; I will render vengeance to mine adversaries, And will recompense
them that hate me.

Exo_6:6, Deu_32:27, Jdg_3:10, 1Sa_24:12, 2Ch_24:24, Psa_58:1-2,

Psa_109:27, Isa_51:5, Eze_39:21, Heb_10:26-31, Rev_5:1, Rev_5:7

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_31:15, Jer_26:14, Rev_10:2,

Rev_17:4.
Hear means legal hearing, in a court room, in the council
The examples come from court trials, or trials before the Sanhedrin. 'Hear' is
one of a number of very ordinary words in the Bible which takes on a technical
meaning. Since the courts had authority to condemn to death, a 'hearing'
could be a life-or-death drama. A court 'hearing' is far more emotive than we
readily imagine. Condemnation to death was a possible outcome for the major
trials in the book of Acts.

Act 6:15 And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his
face as it had been the face of an angel.
Act 7:2 And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory
appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he
dwelt in Haran,

Act_22:1 Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto
you.

1Ki_8:32, Psa_143:1-2, Joh_5:24, Joh_5:28-29, Joh_5:30(he hears God's

judgments), Joh_8:26 (hear the judgments), Act_23:35, Act_24:4,
Act_25:22, Act_25:23 place of hearing=court-room, Act_26:3, Act_26:29

Related scriptures:
Psa_80:1 give ear, sittest (as judge)

Help (for the oppressed) means testifying in court, the legal advocate of
the Holy Spirit
Those who need help are the oppressed such as widows and orphans. God
provides the Holy Spirit for them:

Joh 14:16-18 (EMTV) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another
Helper, so that He may abide with you forever, 17 the Spirit of truth, whom
the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you
know Him, because He abides with you and shall be in you. 18 I will not
leave you orphans; I am coming to you.

Isa 50:7-8 For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been
confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall
not be put to shame. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with
me? let us stand up together: who is mine adversary? let him come near
to me.

Joh_15:26 Comforter=Helper], Job_30:28, Act_26:22

Related scriptures:
Rom_8:34 condemneth, maketh intercession for us.
Holy means judge, judgment
God is a holy judge -- separating good from evil.
The judge lives in a holy place -- separated from unrighteousness.
Those who approach Him must be holy.
He judges unholiness.

Psa_68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in his
holy habitation.

Rev_6:10 and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell
on the earth?

Exo_28:29, Lev_10:1-3, Isa_5:16, Eze_28:22 sanctified, Hab_1:12,

Mar_13:11, Heb_10:29, 1Pe_1:15-17, Rev_16:5

How long? means no deliverance, no judgment; reproach

God asks how long will sinners sin; Man asks how long will God allow sin
against us; sinners ask how long will God punish us.
Psa 79:4-5 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and
derision to them that are round about us. 5 How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou
be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

Rev 6:10 and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell
on the earth?

Exo_10:3, Psa_13:1-2, Psa_35:17, Psa_74:9-10, Psa_79:5, Psa_82:2,

Psa_89:46, Psa_94:3, Jer_4:21, Jer_12:4, Jer_13:27, Hab_1:2, Zec_1:12

Related: Psa_119:84

Impartial; no repecter of persons; n0t men-pleasers means in judgment;

between races or religious or social groups (not impartial between
individuals)
See Questionable Doctrines\ "Individuality".

Act 10:34-35 And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that
God is no respecter of persons: 35 but in every nation he that feareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.

Rom 2:10-11 but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good,
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: 11 for there is no respect of
persons with God.

Deu_1:17, Deu_16:19, Eph_6:9, Col_3:22-24, Jas_2:1-2

Judge means deliver justice (not condemn; punish)
2Sa_15:4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that
every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do
him justice!

1Ki_3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged;
and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to
do justice.

Job_36:17, Psa_72:2, Psa_82:3, Pro_31:9, Isa_1:17, Isa_16:5, Isa_28:6,

Jer_22:15-16

Judge means king; deliverer; saviour; warrior; ruler; one who reigns;
to rescue
The roles of a judge and king and warrior are separate in modern western
societies, but in the Bible they are seamlessly joined to each other.

Exo 2:14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Thinkest
thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said,
Surely the thing is known.
Act 7:35-36 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler
and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the
hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them
forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in
the wilderness forty years.

Jdg 3:9-10 And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah
raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel
the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of Jehovah came
upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah
delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his
hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim.

Jdg_2:16, Jdg_2:18, Jdg_3:10, Jdg_10:1-2, Jdg_11:27, 1Sa_8:5, 1Sa_8:20,

2Sa_15:3-4, 1Ki_3:28, 2Ch_1:11, Psa_82:1-4, Psa_99:4, Psa_110:6, Pro_8:15-
16, Pro_16:10, Pro_29:14, Pro_31:4+Pro_31:9, Isa_33:22, Eze_20:33-35,
Hos_13:10, Amo_2:3, Oba_1:21, Act_7:7, Act_7:27+Act_7:25, Rev_20:4

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Jdg_4:4, Psa_2:10, Psa_10:16,

Psa_58:1-2, Psa_82:1-2

Related scriptures:
Psa_96:10 reigneth, judge
Isa_6:5 Isaiah's words are those of a man who is guilty before a judge, yet he
has come before the King.

Judgment; justice; punishment; vengeance; visit iniquity means earthly

punishments (not hellfire forever); death, mourning, famine, war; or
peace

War
Deu 32:41-43 If I whet my glittering sword, And my hand take hold on
judgment; I will render vengeance to mine adversaries, And will recompense
them that hate me. 42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, And my
sword shall devour flesh; With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the head of the leaders of the enemy. 43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his
people: For he will avenge the blood of his servants, And will render
vengeance to his adversaries, And will make expiation for his land, for his
people.

Jer 50:15 Shout against her round about: she hath submitted herself; her
bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance
of Jehovah: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

Exo_12:12, Lev_18:25, Jdg_11:27, 2Ch_20:12, 2Ch_22:8, Psa_110:6,

Isa_34:5, Isa_47:3, Jer_1:15-16, Jer_46:10, Jer_50:15, Jer_50:27-28,
Jer_50:30-31, Jer_51:6, Jer_51:11, Jer_51:35-36, Eze_11:10-11,
Eze_20:35+Eze_20:38, Eze_21:30-33, Eze_23:10, Eze_23:24, Eze_25:12-14,
Eze_36:19, Eze_38:21-22, Joe_3:11-12, Hab_1:11-12, Zec_14:17-19, Rev_16:4-
7, Rev_18:8, Rev_19:2, Rev_19:11

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Exo_34:7, Jer_50:18, Eze_39:21

Peace
Isa 2:4 And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning
many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their
spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

Psa_122:5-6, Isa_9:7, Isa_59:8, Jer_23:5-6 justice, dwell safely, Zec_8:16

Related topics: 'Wrath' means 'earthly punishment'.

Judgment also means rewards, recompense, praise, resurrection,

eternal life
Reward, praise, salvation, recompense -- these words are not negative at all,
and only a hair's breadth from the word 'Judgment', which is usually felt as
negative, because of such verses as...

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment,
but hath passed out of death into life.

Joh 5:29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
judgment.

But that is not the only way in which the 'judgment' is used.

Judgment of Praise... This is 'good news':

God will praise your heart intentions at the Judgment. That is because He has
circumcised our hearts:

Rom 2:16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to
my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly [lit. 'secretly']; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is
not of men, but of God.

1Co 4:4-5 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified:
but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Wherefore judge nothing before the
time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of
darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each
man have his praise from God.

Judgment of rewards
Psa 58:11 So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous:
Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Pro 11:18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth
righteousness hath a sure reward.

Judgment of Life
The Judgment is one of Resurrection itself. Resurrection is the Judgment.

Joh 5:21-22 For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so
the Son also giveth life to whom he will. 22 For neither doth the Father
judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;

Joh 5:25-27 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when
the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to
have life in himself: 27 and he gave him authority to execute judgment,
because he is a son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in
which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth;
they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have
done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.

Joh 12:48-50 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one
that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last
day. 49 For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath
given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50
And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore
which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.

Rom 2:5-7 but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for
thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of
God; 6 who will render to every man according to his works: 7 to them that
by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal
life:

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the
throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in
the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead that
were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and
they were judged every man according to their works.

If any were able to stay in the presence of the king, the judgment of life had
already been passed. These verses in Revelation are chronologically recursive.
E.g. expanding Rev_20:4-5, and expanding each phrase within the same
verses. It is describing the judgment and the resurrection to life as much the
same thing.

The judgment to eternal death and everlasting contempt, spoken of by

Daniel, Dan_12:2, and Jesus, Joh_5:29, should not at all concern you, unless
you wish to be classed with
the Devil and his angels
The Beast and his army
Rev_20:10-11
the persecutors of Christians
Mat_25:41

Jesus seemed to talk of the second resurrection when he described sorting out
all the nations; the Christian hope seems to be in the first resurrection, having
"passed judgment" Joh_5:24. Therefore, for us the word 'judgment' cannot
take on the meaning of 'condemnation', and indeed does take on all the
positive dimensions of a good hope. Even if you are in the second
resurrection, why would you worry and not rejoice, if you had served God and
His Christ rather than the anti-God? This is the time for evil to be conquered!

Notice the either/or categories in...

Rom 2:6-11 who will render to every man according to his works: 7 to them
that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption,
eternal life: 8 but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, 9 tribulation and
anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of
the Greek; 10 but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh
 good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: 11 for there is no respect of
persons with God.

..and apply them to this verse...

Heb 11:35 Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were
tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
They refused to recant. It's the same theme as Revelation.

There are graded rewards described for servants of God, but it concludes:
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be
taken away.

Know means legally establish, firmly determine

Joh 7:51 Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and
know what he doeth?

Joh 9:19-21 and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born
blind? How then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered and said, We
know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 but how he now
seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of
age; he shall speak for himself.
[John 9 is an inquisition]
Joh_9:25 He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one
thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
Joh_9:29, Joh_9:31

Gen_18:21+Gen_18:25, Act_4:9-10, 1Co_4:4-5

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Mat_7:16,

Law means prophecy; requiring fulfilment

Law is not a matter of us keeping the commandments. It is a prophecy waiting
to be fulfilled Rom_3:21, and Christ is the one who fulfils it.

Mat 5:17-18 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I
came not to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law,
till all things be accomplished.

Rom 3:31 Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid:
nay, we establish the law.

Pro_29:18, Isa_1:10, Isa_5:24 (rejected the prophecies of God coming as

judge, Isa_5:19), Isa_8:16, Pro_29:18, Isa_30:9-10, Jer_26:4-5, Eze_7:26,
Mat_11:13, Luk_2:22, Luk_16:16-17, Luk_24:44, Joh_1:45, Act_28:23,
 Rom_8:3-4, Rom_10:4

Related scripture: Isa_8:16-21 (see notes), Jer_8:8-10, Zec_1:6

Law means Psalms and Prophets; other OT writings (other than the
Pentateuch); God's words

Psalm 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words
of my mouth.

Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are
gods?
..from a psalm: Psa 82:6 I said, Ye are gods, And all of you sons of the
Most High.

Joh 12:34 The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the
law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man
must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
..from the prophet Daniel:
Dan 7:13-14 I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the
clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the
ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was
given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples,
nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall
not be destroyed.

Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is
written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
..from a psalm: Psa_35:19

1Co_14:21 from a prophet: Isa_28:11

Psa 40:7-8 Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of
me: 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart.
Here 'law' means written prophecy, of Christ, and specifically not the
requirements of the Law of Moses.

Isa_2:3 (his ways, his paths, his word, set in New Covenant context)
Dan_9:10 (plural prophets, not just Moses)
Zec_7:7 + Zec_7:12 (law and prophets are treated equally; addressed to
practising religious Israelites, priests and prophets)
Mat_5:18 (law= law and prophets Mat_5:17)
Rom_3:21 'witnessed by the law' -- the examples given are about Abraham, in
the book of Genesis
Gal_4:21-22 (from Genesis -- Gen_16:3)
1Co_14:21 (Isa_28:11), Isa_8:16+Isa_8:20 (law, testimony, this word=this
 prophecy)

Law means teaching (not a law book), instruction, words spoken

BDB Definition: "torah

1) law, direction, instruction
1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
1a1) body of prophetic teaching
1a2) instruction in Messianic age
1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction
1a4) body of legal directives
1b) law
1b1) law of the burnt offering
1b2) of special law, codes of law
1c) custom, manner
1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law"

Exo 24:12 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and
be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the
commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.

2Ch 17:9 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah
with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught
among the people.

Exo_18:20, Lev_14:57, Deu_17:11, Deu_33:10, 2Ki_17:27, 2Ch_15:3,

Ezr_7:10, Ezr_7:25, Neh_8:9, Job_22:22 mouth; cannot mean 'Moses Law',
Psa_94:12, Pro_1:8, Pro_4:2, Isa_2:3, Eze_43:11-12, Mat_22:36, Mar_12:14,
Luk_5:17, Luk_10:25, Luk_11:45, Act_21:28, Rom_2:20, 1Ti_1:7

In several places there is a word-play to say 'not the law you might think of,
but the law of the gospel': Jas_2:8, Jas_2:12, Jas_1:25. Pro_31:26.

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Isa_8:16 (the following scripture
Isa_8:18 applies to Christ and his brethren/disciples Heb_2:9-13),
Luk_5:17

Lift up head means released from prison to have your case settled;
meeting the Judge and judgment; an end of shame, restoration,
salvation, subjugation of enemies; pride and rebellion
The idea is of having dignity restored, of walking upright as a man rather than
as an animal, bowed down in service -- Lev_26:13

Gen 40:13 within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore
thee unto thine office: and thou shalt give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after
the former manner when thou wast his butler.
Gen 40:19 within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee,
 and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
Gen 40:20-22 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's
birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head
of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And
he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup
into Pharaoh's hand: 22 but he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had
interpreted to them.

2Ki 25:27-28 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the
captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and
twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year
that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of
prison; 28 and he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the
throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,

Jdg 8:28 So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they
lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days
of Gideon.

Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with
power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look
up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

Psa_3:3+Psa_3:7, Psa_27:6, Zec_1:21

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Job_10:15, Psa_3:3, Psa_24:7,

Psa_110:7

Light, shining means justice, law

Deu 33:2 And he said, Jehovah came from Sinai, And rose from Seir unto
them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And he came from the ten
thousands of holy ones: At his right hand was a fiery law for them.

Joh_3:17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but
that the world should be saved through him... 19 And this is the judgment,
that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than
the light; for their works were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth
the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. 21
But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made
manifest, that they have been wrought in God.

Psa_37:6, Psa_43:1+Psa_43:3, Psa_50:1-4, Psa_94:1-2, Psa_112:4-5,

Isa_51:4-5, Hos_6:5, Zep_3:5, Joh_8:12+Joh_8:16, Joh_12:46-47, 1Co_4:5

Related scriptures:
Psa_80:1 sittest above [enthroned, as judge], shine forth
2Co_5:10-12 judgment-seat, manifest, glorying
Light, sun, moon means witness
E.g. The moon is a witness to the light of the sun.

Joh 1:7 The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light,
that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came that he
might bear witness of the light.

Psa 89:36-37 His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before
me. 37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, And as the faithful
witness in the sky. Selah

Joh_5:33-36, Joh_8:12-14

Presence means judgment of sin, punishment, forgiveness, throne

Like the word 'visit' which is often used about blessings or punishments, this
may or may not entail a physical presence.
A related idion is 'draw near' for judgment.

2Co 13:2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was
present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned
heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

2Th 2:8 And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus
shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the
manifestation of his coming [presence];

Psa_97:5+Psa_97:2, Act_3:19, Act_5:41, 1Co_14:25, 2Co_2:10

Related scriptures:
Mat_18:20 in the midst
1Co_5:4-5 my spirit
Jas_5:9

Priest means judge, deliverer

Num 27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for
him by the judgment of the Urim before Jehovah: at his word shall they go
out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel
with him, even all the congregation.

2Ch 19:8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and the
priests, and of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel, for the judgment of
Jehovah, and for controversies. And they returned to Jerusalem.

Deu_17:9, Deu_17:12, Deu_19:17, Isa_28:7, Mic_3:11, Heb_4:15-16 throne,

Rev_20:6+Rev_20:4
 Related scriptures:
Exo_2:14 (prince and judge=priest)
Psa_110:4-5 (judgment through war)
Mat_10:17-18 (councils=courts; synagogues; testimony)
Act_4:1-3 (authority to imprison)

Prince means judge

Exo 2:14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Thinkest
thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said,
Surely the thing is known.

Pro 8:16 By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Psa_148:11, Isa_1:23, Isa_40:23, Hos_13:10, Amo_2:3, Mic_7:3, Zep_3:3

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Isa_9:6

Prophets means judges

A prophet's words were impending judgments upon Israel.

Jdg 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel
at that time.

Isa 28:7 And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; the
priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine,
they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Eze_20:4, Eze_22:1-2, Eze_23:36, Hos_6:5, Act_13:20, 1Co_14:24

Prophets 'stand' to deliver a prophecy, like accusers stand up in court to

delver their witness.

1Co 14:29-30 And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others
discern. 30 But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep
silence.

2Ch_24:20

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Dan_9:12, Mic_5:1, Mat_7:1-2,

1Co_4:5

Related scriptures:
Isa_3:2
Isa_6:8+Isa_6:11 send, waste
Mic_3:11
1Co_6:5
Question, ask means law-court or council inquiry, legal examination
Act_23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the
other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son
of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in
question.

Mat_27:11, Mar_14:61, Luk_23:9-10, Joh_18:19, Act_4:7, Act_24:21

Remember/ forget means to judge

Psa 9:8 And he will judge the world in righteousness, He will minister
judgment to the peoples in uprightness... 12 For he that maketh inquisition
for blood remembereth them; He forgetteth not the cry of the poor.

Psa 9:18-19 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten, Nor the expectation of
the poor perish for ever. 19 Arise, O Jehovah; let not man prevail: Let the
nations be judged in thy sight.

Psa_10:11

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_13:1

..The right and left sides of parliament have a Biblical origin...

Right hand means salvation (judgment)

Some salvation is via an advocate standing alongside the accused:

Psa 109:31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from
them that judge his soul.

Some salvation is via war or from war:

Psa 44:3 For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither
did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light
of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them.

There is often not much difference between divine judgment and war, but
divine salvation takes a variety of forms.

Job_40:14 (+Job_40:9), Psa_17:7, Psa_20:6, Psa_60:5-6, Psa_108:6,

Psa_138:7, Act_5:31

Right, left; this side, that side means God's throne (in heaven, in his
kingdom)
On the right side of God is the river of life, Eze_47:1-2.
On the left side of God's throne is a fiery stream of punishment, Mat_25:41
The terms are part of the legal jargon surrounding the judgment seat of God
 (an accuser stands on the right of the accused, Zec_3:1-2, Psa_109:6; the
intercessor is on his left -- at the right side of the judge). It may also have
some roots in the astronomical imagery which likens God and the angelic
hosts around the throne, to the Sun and the starry hosts either side of sunrise
and sunset (See Imagery\ Lights A).
Christ sat down at the right side of God on the throne, Act_2:33.
But the left hand is not always the wrong place to be, Mat_20:21.
God's angels stand on the right and the left, 1Ki_22:19.
The two witnesses (a legal role -- standing to testify; in agreement) stand each
side, Zec_4:11-14.

Heb 8:1 Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this: We
have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens,

Rev 22:1-2 And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal,

proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the midst of the
street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life,
bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves
of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

1Ki_2:19, 1Ki_22:19, 2Ch_18:18, Psa_89:25+Psa_89:29, Mat_20:21-23,

Psa_45:4+Psa_45:6, Psa_109:31, Mat_25:32-33, Mar_10:37, Mar_16:19,
Heb_12:2, Rev_5:1, Rev_5:7

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Dan_12:5, Rev_10:2

Related scripture:
2Sa_16:6 king
Psa_109:6 adversary (legal accuser), right hand

Righteous; wicked means judgment

Implicit in these words, particularly when they appear together, is the idea of
judgment.

Gen 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous
with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far
from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Psa 1:5-6 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners
in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For Jehovah knoweth the way of the
righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish.

Deu_25:1, 1Ki_8:32, 2Ch_6:23, Psa_1:5, Pro_18:5, Ecc_3:17

Righteousness; truth means Yahweh's throne; judgment

Righteousness, truth and justice are what Yahweh's throne is founded upon.
 Psa 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne:
Lovingkindness and truth go before thy face.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to
uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever.
The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.

1Ki_3:6, 1Ki_10:9, 2Ch_9:8, Psa_89:14, Psa_96:13, Psa_97:2, Pro_16:12,

Pro_20:28, Pro_25:5, Isa_11:4, Isa_16:5, Zec_8:16, Rom_2:2, Rev_6:10,
Rev_19:2, Rev_19:11

See, hear, know, understand, believe means be a legal witness to, prophet,
seer
The trio of see, hear, know is a common one, and is used in legal context of
being Yahweh's witnesses, of His deeds, prophecies and salvations.
Isaiah's curse, on eyes, ears and mind, took away Israel's place as witnesses to
Yahweh, and gave the prophethood to the disciples of the New Covenant,
Isa_8:16.

Isa 43:8-11 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have
ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be
assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things?
let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear,
and say, It is truth. 10 Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant
whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I
am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11
I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. 12 I have
declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange
god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am
God.
Isa 44:7-8 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order
for me, since I established the ancient people? and the things that are
coming, and that shall come to pass, let them declare. 8 Fear ye not, neither
be afraid: have I not declared unto thee of old, and showed it? and ye are
my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not
any.

Isa 29:10-14 For Jehovah hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep,
and hath closed your eyes, the prophets; and your heads, the seers, hath he
covered. 11 And all vision is become unto you as the words of a book that is
sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee;
and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed: 12 and the book is delivered to him
that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not
learned. 13 And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me,
and with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but have removed their
 heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath
been taught them; 14 therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous
work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the
wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent
men shall be hid.

Act 22:14-15 And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know
his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 15
For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and
heard.

Gen_18:21+Gen_18:25, Deu_32:36, 1Sa_24:15, Psa_17:1-2 [sentence=be my

judge BBE], Jer_11:20, Lam_3:59, Eze_9:9

Related scriptures:
Exo_3:7 see, hear, know -- and judge
Psa_94:7+Psa_94:9+Psa_94:2
Jer_12:1+Jer_12:3 righteous cause, knowest, seest

See (hear, know) means judge

See also: 'Hear' means 'judge; 'Know means 'legally establish'; 'See, hear,
know' means 'legal witness'.
God acts as a witness to any oaths sworn in His name, and avenges broken
covenants.

These words are used about a judge investigating a legal matter, to 'see' for
himself if what he has heard is right.
When those involved in wrong-doing, say 'Yahweh will not see', they are
saying that He will not judge them.

Gen 18:20-21 And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is
great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see
whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come
unto me; and if not, I will know.
Gen 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous
with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far
from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Lam_3:59 O Jehovah, thou hast seen my wrong; judge thou my cause.

Deu_32:36, 1Sa_24:15, Psa_94:7+Psa_94:9+Psa_94:2, Hab_1:12-13

Related scriptures:
Exo_3:7-8 see, hear, know, deliver (judge)
Jer_12:1+Jer_12:3 righteous cause, knowest, seest

Shame, confounded means in judgment, in court, prison

 Isa 50:7-8 For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been
confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall
not be put to shame. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with
me? let us stand up together: who is mine adversary? let him come near
to me.

2Ti 1:8 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me
his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of
God;

Psa_119:31, Psa_119:46, Jer_51:47, Eze_16:52, 2Ti_1:16 chain

Silent means lack of judgment, before the throne, waiting for

deliverance
Psa 35:22-24 Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence: O Lord, be not
far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice due unto me, Even
unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O Jehovah my God,
according to thy righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me.

Psa 50:3-4 Our God cometh, and doth not keep silence: A fire devoureth
before him, And it is very tempestuous round about him. 4 He calleth to the
heavens above, And to the earth, that he may judge his people:

Psa_28:1+Psa_28:3 wicked, Psa_50:21, Psa_58:1, Psa_62:1, Psa_62:5,

Isa_65:6, Amo_5:12-13, Hab_1:12-13 holdest thy peace, Rev_8:1+Rev_8:3

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Rev_8:1

Related scripture:
Isa_42:14-15 lay waste
Isa_57:11-12 held my peace
Hab_2:20 others keep silence before God

Sin means requiring judgment

This is almost too obvious to say, but it is easily forgotten. The effect of man
sinning in the Garden of Eden, is that the Bible is necessarily a book of legal
judgment.
To be 'forgiven' our sins, or to be 'justified' by grace, according to the gospel, is
to be forgiven by God as judge. The gospel is thus a joyful declaration of a
legal judgment in favour of those who believe.

Psa_1:5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners
in the congregation of the righteous.

Mic_7:9 I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against
him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me
forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
 1Sa_2:25, 1Sa_7:6, Psa_51:4, Jer_2:35, Eze_16:52, Mic_3:8, Joh_16:8,
Rom_2:12, Rom_3:7, Rom_5:16, 1Ti_5:24, 2Pe_2:4, Jud_1:15

Sit; seat; gate means judging (not sitting around)

It was the custom for judges to 'sit' at the city 'gate' to hear pleas, and decide
important legal matters.

Isa 16:5 And a throne shall be established in lovingkindness; and one shall sit
thereon in truth, in the tent of David, judging, and seeking justice, and swift
to do righteousness.

Luk 22:30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall
sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Exo_18:13-14, Deu_16:18, Jos_20:4, Jdg_4:5, Rth_4:1-2, 2Sa_15:2, Psa_9:4,

Psa_110:1, Isa_28:6, Jer_22:2-3, Jer_38:7, Joe_3:12, Amo_5:15, Zec_8:16,
Mat_19:28, Mat_27:19, Act_18:12, Act_18:16, Act_23:3, Act_25:6,
Act_25:10, Act_25:17, Rom_14:10, 2Co_5:10, Rev_20:4

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Exo_25:17, Job_29:7, Psa_2:4,

Psa_69:12, Pro_8:3, Pro_22:22, Jer_1:15, Jer_15:7-8, Jer_26:10, Jer_39:3,
Dan_7:9, Amo_5:10, Amo_6:3, Zec_8:16, Mat_23:2, Mat_26:64, Act_26:30,
1Co_6:4, Eph_2:6, 2Th_2:4, Rev_3:21, Rev_14:14

Related scriptures:
Jas_5:9 judged, judge, doors.

Speak, say means judge, testify, accuse, defend oneself in court, plead
These are probably the most ordinary words of all, and the easiest to overlook.

Psa 50:1 The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, hath spoken, And called the earth
from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof... 4 He calleth to the
heavens above, And to the earth, that he may judge his people:... 7 Hear, O
my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify unto thee: I am God,
even thy God.

Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in
thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear
when thou judgest.

Gen_18:27+Gen_18:25, 1Ki_3:25+1Ki_3:28, Psa_58:1-3, Isa_41:1,

Zec_3:4+Zec_3:1-2, Zec_8:16, Mat_10:17-20, Mat_27:11, Luk_18:6,
Luk_19:22, Joh_8:26, Joh_12:48-50, Act_18:12-13 (saying=charging),
Act_21:39+Act_22:1, Act_26:1, Act_26:22, Act_26:30-31, Rom_3:19,
1Co_1:10, Jas_2:12, Jas_4:11
 Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Job_11:5, Job_42:7, Psa_2:4-5
sitteth, Psa_109:20, Isa_38:15, Luk_6:26, 2Co_13:3, Jas_1:19, Rev_13:15

Related:
Mat_18:16 witnesses, word
Mat_26:63-65 (at Jesus' trial) tell, say
Act_18:14 open mouth (in defence Act_18:12)

Spirit means judgment, justice

Isa 4:4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of
Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by
the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.

Isa 28:6 and a spirit of justice to him that sitteth in judgment, and strength
to them that turn back the battle at the gate.

Isa_11:2-4, Isa_32:15-16, Isa_40:13-14, Isa_42:1-2, Mic_3:8, Mat_12:18,

Joh_16:7-8 (Comforter=legal helper=Spirit), 1Co_7:40

Related scriptures:
Rev_2:7 give (in judgment)
Rev_2:11 (delivery from death)
Rev_2:17 give
Rev_2:28-29 give
Rev_3:5-6 (give life in judgment)
Rev_3:12-13 make him
Rev_3:21-22 give

Thrones means judgment (not just a place for glory)

Psa 122:5 For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house
of David.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the
throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in
the books, according to their works.

1Ki_7:7, Psa_9:7, Psa_122:5, Pro_20:8, Rev_20:4

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Jer_1:15, Rev_4:2

Times, set times means judgment, salvation, deliverance

Just as we hear many times of the 'day' of judgment, Psa_7:11, Rom_2:5, so
there are a number of occasions when 'time' signifies a time of judgment. A
'proper, convenient or acceptable' time is a set time for hearing cases. The
judgment may refer to the changing of a kingdom.
 Times
Est 1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was
the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

Psa 75:2 When I shall find the set time, I will judge uprightly.

Deu_32:35, Ezr_10:14, Psa_31:15-16, Ecc_3:17, Ecc_8:5-6, Jer_27:7,

Jer_50:44, Dan_2:21, Dan_7:22, Act_24:25, 1Co_4:5, 1Pe_4:17, Rev_11:18,
Rev_22:10+Rev_22:12.

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_31:15, Dan_12:4, Hab_2:3,

Mar_1:15

See also: 'Day' means 'judgment'.

Related scriptures:
..about salvation (through judgment):
Psa_37:39 salvation, time
Psa_69:13 time, salvation
Isa_33:2 salvation, time
Isa_49:8 time, salvation
Rom_13:11 season, time, salvation
2Co_6:2 time, day, salvation, time, day, salvation
Heb_9:28 time, salvation
1Pe_1:5 salvation, time

..about delay in the time of judgment:

Hab_2:3-4 hasteth, tarry, wait, delay
2Pe_3:8-9 day, years, slack, longsuffering

Truth means as established legally in court; justice; judgment (Similarly,

'righteousness, salvation, faithfulness, mercy, lovingkindness, establish, found,
sure, throne, do' -- all share the same semantic ground)
The Holy Spirit is an Advocate of truth:

Joh 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter [Advocate], that he may be with you for ever, 17 even the Spirit
of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither
knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh_16:13

Psa 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne:
Lovingkindness and truth go before thy face.

Psa 111:7 The works of his hands are truth and justice; All his precepts are
sure.
 Exo_18:21, Neh_9:33, Psa_43:1+Psa_43:3, Psa_89:14, Psa_96:13, Isa_16:5,
Isa_42:3, Isa_43:9, Isa_59:14, Isa_59:15, Isa_61:8, Jer_4:2, Jer_5:1,
Eze_18:8-9, Dan_4:37, Zec_7:9, Zec_8:16, Joh_8:16, Joh_8:26, Rom_2:2,
Rom_3:4, Rev_6:10, Rev_16:7, Rev_19:11

Uprightness means justice, righteousness

The idea of building perpendicular to the ground is implicit in a 'plummet'
stone or an upright measuring line, which determines who or what is out of
line:
Isa_28:17, Amo_7:8, Zec_4:10

Isa 59:14 And justice is turned away backward, and righteousness

standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and uprightness cannot
enter.

Related scriptures:
Isa_9:7 uphold, justice, righteousness
Jer_22:13 build, unrighteousness, injustice
Amo_5:7 justice cast down
Mic_3:9 ((BBE) twisting what is straight)

Wait means for justice (from the throne)

Isa_26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Jehovah, have we waited for
thee; to thy name, even to thy memorial name, is the desire of our soul.

Isa_51:5 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms

shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall
they trust.

Psa_80:4 How long+Psa_80:1 sittest (as Judge), Isa_6:11 how long+Isa_6:1,

Isa_42:4, Luk_18:7

Related scriptures:
Deu_7:10 not be slack, repay
Deu_32:35 vengeance, make haste (a contrast)
Psa_94:2-3 judge, How long
Isa_5:19 make speed, hasten (mockery)
Jer_12:4 How long, see, end [=judge]
Act_24:27 left in bonds
Act_25:17 delay, judgment-seat
2Pe_3:9+2Pe_3:7 slackness, longsuffering, judgment
Rev_6:10-11 How long, judge and avenge, little time

Where is their God? There is no God means disbelief in judgment,

vengeance and salvation
These questions are part of a series of similar questions, where sinners find it
convenient to deny that God will judge their evil deeds. They may deny that
 He will come to judge, or that He even exists -- Isa_5:18-23 'iniquity, sin' 'Let
him make speed, let him hasten'.

Psa 79:10-12 Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the
avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed Be known among the
nations in our sight. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee:
According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are
appointed to death; 12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their
bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

Joe 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch
and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy
heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore
should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?
Joe 2:20 but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will
drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea, and
its hinder part into the western sea; and its stench shall come up, and its ill
savor shall come up, because it hath done great things.

Psa_10:4-5+Psa_10:11, Psa_14:1, Psa_53:1, Psa_94:6-7, Mic_7:9-10,

Mal_2:17, 2Pe_3:4+2Pe_3:7

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_42:3

Related scriptures: These statements all wrongly challenge the fact that God
will judge evil...
Psa_12:4 who is lord over us?
Psa_10:13 not require (an accounting)
Psa_22:7-8
Psa_36:1 no fear of God
Psa_59:7 Who doth hear
Psa_73:11-12 How doth God know?...wicked
Pro_19:28 mocketh at justice
Isa_29:15 Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Isa_66:5 Let Jehovah be glorified (a taunt)
Jer_12:4 He shall not see our latter end
Zep_1:12 neither good nor evil
Zep_2:7-8 reproach
Mat_27:43

Contrast: Deu_32:37 God parodies their rejection of Him!

Witness, testimony means legal testimony

The two ideas of a Christian 'witnessing' to Christ, and of 'witnessing' in a
court room, are sometimes overlaid. Paul, for instance, was chosen to 'witness'
to Jesus Christ before kings and governors, and history shows that he did this
in a court-room. Paul's 'testimony' included signs and wonders, in that he
 personally witnessed in court to the resurrection of Christ, having seen him in
a great light on the road to Damascus. Stephen gave similar legal testimony in
the council or court of the Sanhedrin.

Act 22:14-15 And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know
his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 15
For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and
heard.

Rev 12:10-11 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the
salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of
his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them
before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the
blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved
not their life even unto death.

Mat_10:17-18, Luk_21:12-13, Act_22:20+Act_6:15 (council),

Act_23:11+2Ti_4:16

Witness, testimony means signs and wonders (not personal inner belief, or
conscience), Holy Spirit
This is similar to the ideas of 'confession' of Christ, and witnessing to his
resurrection (See 'Witness means 'to Christ's resurrection'), since Christ's
resurrection was the most marvellous sign of all; and since the ability to do
signs only came about through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit given after
Christ's resurrection.

(The 'witness of the spirit' does not refer in the Bible to an inner voice)

Joh 5:36 But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the
works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I
do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Rev 11:3 And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a
thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth... 6 These
have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of
their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them
into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they
shall desire. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast
that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome
them, and kill them.

Exo_4:8 voice=witness, NASB, Joh_4:39, Joh_10:25, Joh_12:17,

Joh_15:26+Joh_15:24, Act_5:32, Act_14:3, Act_15:12+Act_15:8, 1Co_1:5-7,
2Ti_1:8+2Ti_1:6, Heb_2:4

Related scriptures: Mar_16:20, Act_10:38-39

 See also: 'Signs' means 'belief'

Woe means judgment

'Woe' is a synonym for a curse.

Isa 3:9 The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they
declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have
done evil unto themselves.
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for what his hands
have done shall be done unto him [tit-for-tat judgment].

Rev_18:10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the
great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Isa_5:11+Isa_5:13 (going into captivity is a judgment)

'Woe' is typically said to false prophets (or to Pharisees -- Matthew 23):

Eze 13:3 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Woe unto the foolish prophets, that
follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

Zec 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword
shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up,
and his right eye shall be utterly darkened

Eze_13:17-18, Amo_6:1-3, Luk_6:24+Luk_6:26, Jud_1:11

World means Old Covenant religion; ruling Jews; Jewishness; Jewish

hierarchy; Jewish religious worship; Pharisees; law (not the whole
globe)
Dictionary Definition: "kosmos
orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a
wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively
[morally]): - adorning, world."
Note: The sense of adorned is applied to the Jewish temple, Luk_21:5

Joh 7:1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk
in Judaea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews,
the feast of tabernacles, was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto him,
Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may behold thy
works which thou doest. 4 For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself
seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the
world.

Joh 8:22 The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither
I go, ye cannot come? 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am
 from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

Heb 9:1 Now even a first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its
sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.

Joh_1:10-11, Joh_7:7+Joh_7:1, Joh_12:19, Joh_17:18, Joh_18:20,

Rom_3:19-20, Gal_4:3-4, Gal_6:12-15, Col_2:8+Col_2:14+Col_2:20,
Heb_9:26 parallel to 'holy place' in Heb_9:24-25, Heb_10:5

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Joh_3:19, Joh_7:7, Joh_15:18,

Joh_16:20, 1Co_3:19, 1Ti_3:16, 1Jn_2:15, 1Jn_3:13

Exceptions: Rom_11:15 (Gentiles Rom_11:12)

Wrath; anger; fury; indignation means earthly punishment (not eternal

hellfire); e.g. a dictator; earthquake; fire and brimstone; invasion;
pestilence; not allowed into Promised Land; war
Isa 10:25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation against thee shall be
accomplished, and mine anger shall be directed to his destruction.

Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt
himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak
marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the
indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.

Num_12:9-10, Deu_1:37, Deu_29:23, Jos_7:24-26, 1Ki_8:46, 2Ch_29:8-9,

Job_19:29, Psa_78:49-51, Isa_13:4-5, Isa_26:20, Isa_34:2, Isa_64:9-11,
Jer_4:4-5, Jer_4:26, Jer_6:11-12, Jer_21:5, Jer_32:31+Jer_32:29,
Jer_32:37, Jer_33:5, Jer_50:13, Jer_50:25-28, Lam_2:2-6, Lam_2:21,
Lam_3:43, Lam_4:16, Eze_5:12-13, Eze_6:12, Eze_7:19, Eze_9:8, Eze_13:13,
Eze_14:19, Eze_21:15-17, Eze_22:30-31, Eze_20:33-34, Eze_23:25,
Eze_25:13-17, Eze_38:18-22, Dan_9:16, Hos_11:9, Zec_1:12, Luk_21:23-24,
Heb_3:17

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Isa_26:20, Jer_50:13, Dan_8:19

Related topics: 'Judgment' means 'earthly punishment'

In summary:

This collection of very ordinary words brings the Acts of the Apostles to life. They
were words of life and death to our Christian forbears, who waited for important
men to 'say' and to 'speak' and to 'hear' and to 'answer'. Who would begrudge
them the reward awaiting their 'witness-martyrdom'?
 You are now in a position to notice the very clearly legal nature of
Christian persecutions...

Mat 10:17-39 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and
in their synagogues they will scourge you; 18 yea and before governors and
kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the
Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye
shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak. 20 For
it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. 21
And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and
children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to
the end, the same shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city,
flee into the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the
cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24 A disciple is not above his
teacher, nor a servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he
be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of
the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household! 26 Fear them
not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid,
that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the
light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops. 28 And be
not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not
two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground
without your Father: 30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31
Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Every one
therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my
Father who is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him
will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. 34 Think not that I came
to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I
came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her
mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: 36 and a man's
foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more
than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that doth not take his cross and
follow after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it;
and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

At last 'prayer' makes better sense

-- You are appealing to a Judge! But this too needs careful revisualising: We are
'praying' to a priest-king-judge. Usually we might 'petition' a politician, might
'plead for mercy' from a judge, might heap public 'praise' on a well-beloved
leader, might seek 'forgiveness' from a priest, might 'intercede' for someone to a
governor, might 'thank' a philanthropist -- but in Christ we have all these roles
wrapped up in one person -- and 'prayer, supplication, petitions, intrercessions
and thanksgivings' can all be directed to the one, 1Ti_2:1. This forshadows the
'one lawgiver and judge', Jas_4:12, seated in the 'one place of worship',
Deu_12:13-14, on 'the throne of judgment', Psa_122:5-6.

Psa 143:1-2 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my supplications: In thy

faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into
judgment with thy servant; For in thy sight no man living is righteous.

Psa 123:1-2 Unto thee [only] do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the
heavens [as judge]. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of
their master, As the eyes of a maid unto the hand of her mistress; So our eyes
look unto Jehovah our God, Until he have mercy upon us.

Psa 9:1-4 I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart; I will show
forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and exult in thee; I will sing
praise to thy name, O thou Most High. 3 When mine enemies turn back,
They stumble and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my
right and my cause; Thou sittest in the throne judging righteously.

The Psalms clearly need rereading in this light.

When we pray, we are praying for justice, but further, we are praying to a god as a
stronger 3rd party, and showing our willingness to leave it in the hands of that
god, for better or worse. D.I.Y. justice is left aside. Appealing to human courts
might likewise be set aside. When our god is Yahweh, we are further agreeing to
His opinion of 'justice' (and mercy) and to leave vengeance in His hands and for
His timing -- which may be after death, at judgment day. We appeal to Him in
trust, that the God of well-advertised righteousness, will deliver a righteous
judgment.

Pray, call upon, cry, seek, supplicate means legal plea to a judge, to the
throne of God
'Pray' is yet another legal word. A judge is a deliverer, and so when those in
trouble present their supplications, the judge judges and the afflicted are
delivered.

Psa 17:1-2 (BBE) A Prayer. Of David. Let my cause come to your ears, O Lord,
give attention to my cry; give ear to my prayer which goes not out from false
lips. 2 Be my judge; for your eyes see what is right.

Luk 18:1-8 And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought
always to pray, and not to faint; 2 saying, There was in a city a judge, who
feared not God, and regarded not man: 3 and there was a widow in that city;
and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ... 6 And
the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith. 7 And shall not God
avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering
over them?
 Gen_18:20+Gen_18:25, 1Ki_8:32, Job_9:15, Psa_99:6+Psa_99:4,
Psa_105:4-5, Psa_109:7, Psa_143:1-2, Pro_29:26, Isa_1:17, Isa_5:3, Isa_16:5,
Isa_26:9, Isa_58:2, Rom_2:7+Rom_2:5, Rev_6:10, Rev_8:3

Related scriptures:
2Ch_7:14 pray, seek My face (as judge)
Psa_80:1 give ear, sittest (as judge)
Heb_11:6 rewarder, seek

Faith, trust means in (God's) righteous judgment

Psa_26:1 Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity: I have
trusted also in Jehovah without wavering.

Isa_51:5 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms

shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall
they trust.

Psa_112:7+Psa_112:5, Act_16:15, Rom_14:22

Related scriptures:
Heb_11:6 faith, cometh, believe, rewarder, seek
1Pe_2:23 committed himself, judgeth righteously

Thanks, praise, sing means for righteous judgment (from the throne)
Psa 9:1-4 I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart; I will show
forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and exult in thee; I will sing
praise to thy name, O thou Most High. 3 When mine enemies turn back,
They stumble and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my
right and my cause; Thou sittest in the throne judging righteously.

Psa_119:7 I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn
thy righteous judgments.

1Ch_16:33, Psa_33:1-5, Psa_35:24+Psa_35:27-28, Psa_48:11, Psa_50:6,

Psa_67:4, Psa_75:1-2, Psa_96:10-13, Psa_97:1-2, Psa_98:7-9, Psa_99:1-3,
Psa_103:1+Psa_103:6, Psa_122:4-5, Psa_149:9,
Psa_105:1+Psa_105:5+Psa_105:7, Rev_4:9, Rev_19:5+Rev_19:2

Related scriptures:
Psa_79:10+Psa_79:12-13 avenging, render, sheep, pasture
Psa_109:1+Psa_109:3-6
Psa_113:1+Psa_113:5 praise, seat

Wisdom means justice, judgment, a court testimony before judges

1Ki 3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged;
and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to
 do justice.

Luk 21:12-15 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and
shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing
you before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 It shall turn out
unto you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to
meditate beforehand how to answer: 15 for I will give you a mouth and
wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to
gainsay.

1Ki_3:9 understanding, 2Ch_1:10, 2Ch_1:11, Ezr_7:25, Est_1:13, Psa_2:10,

Psa_37:30, Isa_11:2-3, Jer_23:5, Mat_12:42, Rom_11:33, 1Co_10:15,
Jas_1:5+Jas_2:6

Do unto Others

This new perspective helps us interpret the 'Don't judge your brother' and 'Do
unto others' sayings of Jesus. He was addressing the judges who would condemn
him, and he did not neglect to point out that he was their judge, and would come
in God's power and glory, to sit on his throne to judge all nations. He would apply
their standards of mercy and justice to their cases, in due time. 'Do' is a Biblical
shorthand for 'judge', so the advice is (to his accusers) to judge others the way
they would want the king to judge them when their turn comes, because as they
have 'done' others, so they will be doubly 'done'. So the 'Don't judge' was a
warning given against non-Christians, not for Christians who have the right
spirit.

Do; execute; practice means judge; do justice; do right

Synonyms include 'act; deal with; treat; work deeds'.
The emphasis is on the action, i.e. the passing of a sentence of condemnation
or mercy, and the execution of the sentence -- harsh or merciful action.
Recognising that 'do' is an idiom for 'judge' is of particular use in determining
the meaning of Mat_7:12. See Study Notes comment there on The Golden
Rule. 'Do' and 'execute' are translations of the same word.

Jer 22:3 Thus saith Jehovah: Execute ye justice and righteousness, and
deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong,
do no violence, to the sojourner, the fatherless, nor the widow; neither shed
innocent blood in this place.

Mic 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly
with thy God?

Gen_18:19, Gen_18:25, Exo_21:31, Lev_19:15, Lev_19:35, Deu_17:11,

2Sa_15:4, 1Ki_3:28, 1Ki_8:32 1Ki_10:9, 1Ch_16:12, 2Ch_6:23, 2Ch_9:8,
 2Ch_19:6, Psa_82:3-4, Psa_103:6-7, Psa_119:121, Pro_21:3, Pro_21:7,
Pro_21:15, Isa_16:5, Isa_56:1, Jer_5:1, Jer_7:5, Jer_22:15, Jer_23:5,
Jer_33:15, Eze_5:10, Eze_5:15, Eze_16:41, Eze_35:11, Dan_9:14, Hos_6:4-5,
Mic_7:9, Zec_8:16, Mat_27:19, Joh_5:27, Joh_5:30, Jas_2:12, Jud_1:15

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Deu_29:24, Jer_26:14, Mat_7:12,

Mat_18:19-20, Mat_21:40, Luk_6:31, Joh_5:19-22

Related scriptures:
Isa_5:19 work (judgment)
Isa_5:12+Isa_5:7 work, justice and righteousness
Joh_5:17+Joh_5:22 worketh, work, judge, judgment

Justify means in judgment

It is easy to forget, when we talk of being 'justified by faith', that 'justify' is a
legal term.

Deu 25:1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto
judgment, and the judges judge them; then they shall justify the righteous,
and condemn the wicked;

1Ki 8:32 then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants,
condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head, and justifying
the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

Psa_51:4, Eze_16:51-52, Rom_2:12-13+Rom_2:16, 1Co_4:4

Related scripture:
Isa_45:25+Isa_45:23 (to Christ on the throne)
Rom_8:33 lay a charge, justifieth

Where is their God? There is no God means disbelief in judgment,

vengeance and salvation
These questions are part of a series of similar questions, where sinners find it
convenient to deny that God will judge their evil deeds. They may deny that
He will come to judge, or that He even exists -- Isa_5:18-23 'iniquity, sin' 'Let
him make speed, let him hasten'.

Psa 79:10-12 Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the
avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed Be known among the
nations in our sight. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee:
According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are
appointed to death; 12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their
bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

Joe 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch
and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy
 heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore
should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?
Joe 2:20 but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will
drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea, and
its hinder part into the western sea; and its stench shall come up, and its ill
savor shall come up, because it hath done great things.

Psa_10:4-5+Psa_10:11, Psa_14:1, Psa_53:1, Psa_94:6-7, Mic_7:9-10,

Mal_2:17, 2Pe_3:4+2Pe_3:7

Possibly this is the meaning intended in: Psa_42:3

Related scriptures: These statements all wrongly challenge the fact that God
will judge evil...
Psa_12:4 who is lord over us?
Psa_10:13 not require (an accounting)
Psa_22:7-8
Psa_36:1 no fear of God
Psa_59:7 Who doth hear
Psa_73:11-12 How doth God know?...wicked
Pro_19:28 mocketh at justice
Isa_29:15 Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Isa_66:5 Let Jehovah be glorified (a taunt)
Jer_12:4 He shall not see our latter end
Zep_1:12 neither good nor evil
Zep_2:7-8 reproach
Mat_27:43

Contrast: Deu_32:37 God parodies their rejection of Him!

Bible Imagery -- visual meanings; word pictures

Prophetic Imagery in the Bible is a whole study in itself, and two of the common
images are of course, (1) that of a court-room judgment scene, and (2) that of the
Good Shepherd. The surprising overlap of these images results in a 'Shepherd-
Judge' portrait, strange to our ears.

The Good Shepherd is the image of the good judge and the righteous judge.

The language of the Psalms is of a Shepherd-Judge, e.g...

Psa 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock;
Thou that sittest [as judge] above the cherubim [=on the throne of judgment,
of God], shine forth [your justice, as dawning light].

Part of the 'Shepherd' cast of players is the 'beast' stalking 'lambs under cover of
'darkness'. The 'dawn' brings relief from the danger -- like a favourable judgment
from God's throne ends the anguish of a court-case.

If you are alert, you can pick the overlap between legal imagery, beast imagery
and real-life legal trials, called 'sufferings'...

1Pe 5:8-9 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary [a legal term] the devil [a
legal term -- it means 'false-accuser; slanderer' 'caster-down'], as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 9 whom withstand
stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in
your brethren who are in the world.

Bad judges and false accusers are imaged as beasts devouring the flock.

Here is where the Beastly Opponent is imaged as as the Accuser in a court trial in
heaven (and don't miss the slain, sacrificed and devoured 'Lamb' as an integral
part of the imagery as presented in a vision), together with all the other slain
victims of the Accuser-Beast:

Rev 12:9-11 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is
called the Devil [False Accuser] and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he
was cast down ['devilled'] to the earth, and his angels were cast down with
him [=execution of a a legal verdict from God]. 10 And I heard a great voice
in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom
of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is
cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. 11 And they
overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of
their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.

When the slain Lamb is upon the judgment throne, and the accuser of the
brethren is himself cast out of the presence of God, you know that the tables have
turned.

The imagery is coherent and pervasive throughout the Bible.

Mat 10:16-18 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for
they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge
you; 18 yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake,
for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

Act 20:29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in
among you, not sparing the flock;

The Good Shepherd = judge

'Judge of the nations' images nations and their people as sheep:

 Mat_25:32-33 and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he
shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the
sheep from the goats; 33 and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but
the goats on the left.

Rev_12:5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule
['shepherd'] all the nations with a rod [shepherds use rods and staffs] of iron:
and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.

Rev_19:15 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he
should smite the nations: and he shall rule ['shepherd'] them with a rod of
iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the
Almighty.

'Judge of the nations' images the judge as a beast which has taken the sheep
(as well as a refiner's fire -- a third overlapping image):

Zep_3:8 Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up
to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble
the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger;
for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Bad shepherd = a judge, imaged as a beast devouring prey

Mic 3:1-3 And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the
house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice? 2 ye who hate the good, and
love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off
their bones; 3 who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off
them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as
flesh within the caldron.

Here is an example of how there are sheep and shepherd in a court room! (not to
mention the 'Lamb on the throne' as our 'shepherd'!):

Mat 25:31-32 But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the
angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: 32 and before
him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from
another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;

There is a playoff between what we see happening now on earth, and what goes
on in the invisible realms of God -- what we call 'heaven', closely related to 'the
future not yet seen'. Here is a passage that promises present-realm tribulation,
suffering and death, on this earth, for the name of Christ, but secure life with God
beyond judgment day. It is couched in 'Marriage' imagery ('called, chosen,
delivered, loved, inseparably') as well as in 'Legal' terminology, and again in
'Shepherd-Beast-Flock' imagery...

Rom 8:33-39 Who shall lay anything to the charge [a legal word] of God's
elect? It is God that justifieth; 34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ
Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For thy
sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That was a taste of the power of recognising Bible Imagery for what it is --
pervasive, packed full of meaning, prophetic, powerful to interpret mysterious
visions, thoroughly valuable.

Much more is available in the Smith&Smith Commentary on the Bible, gathered

under the topic of 'Imagery'.
You can download the full commentaries, the Imagery topic and the Bible
Meanings Dictionary, at...

http://sites.google.com/site/freecommentary