δικαστής
dikastḗs
G1348 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
one who sits in judgment, a judge (in the sense of an official who decides legal cases); in broader contexts, refers to someone who adjudicates disputes, renders verdicts, or oversees proceedings in legal or quasi-legal settings. The primary meaning focuses on an appointed or chosen decider in judicial matters. In non-technical language, may refer to an arbitrator or assessor of contests or disputes.
Semantic Range
judge (in a formal legal capacity), presiding officer or adjudicator in a court, one who arbitrates disputes, assessor or decider in contests or competitions
Root / Etymology
From the root δικ- (as in δίκη, 'justice, lawsuit'), with the agentive suffix -στης denoting a person who carries out the action; thus 'one who judges' or 'one who renders a verdict.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, δικαστής denoted an appointed judge, most commonly associated with the Athenian popular courts, where hundreds of citizens served as jurors/judges (δικασταί) rather than a single presiding magistrate. The term differs from κριτής, which in Greek often had a broader sense of 'decider, judge, arbiter' and, in biblical contexts, designated the leaders in the Book of Judges. By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, δικαστής commonly referred to an official in a judicial role, either in civic procedures or legal hearings. In the New Testament (Luke 12:14, Acts 7:27, 35), δικαστής refers to one empowered or requested to decide disputes among people, often with the nuance of formal legal authority. Standard English translations render the word as 'judge,' but this term in English does not fully capture the nuances of the Greek civic roles and distinctions from κριτής. In the Septuagint, the word is rare, as 'judges' of Israelite tradition are typically κριταί. The use of δικαστής in Koine literature reflects broader Hellenistic legal systems, emphasizing formal adjudication as opposed to charismatic or tribal leadership.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of δίκη; a judger:--judge.
Root Family
δικαστής (dikastēs) — to judge, to decide, to administer justice
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1348-01 |
δικαστὴν | dikasten | N ACC M SG |
a judge | a judge | a judge | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences