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νόμος

nómos

G3551 noun

SILEX Entry

Root νομ- to distribute, to allot, to apportion

Definition

Primary meaning: a custom or established usage, a norm regarded as binding within a group; by extension, a law or regulation, whether unwritten (customary law) or written (formal statute). In specific contexts, the term designates the Mosaic Torah (the written law attributed to Moses), but may also refer more generally to authoritative instruction, a recognized legal or ethical principle, or a governing norm in philosophical discourse.

Semantic Range

custom, normative usage, law (unwritten or written), rule, statute, regulation, the Mosaic Torah, authoritative instruction, legal or ethical principle, governing norm

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root νέμω (némō, 'to distribute, allot, apportion'), leading to the derived noun νόμος, originally indicating that which is apportioned or established, hence, 'custom' and later 'law'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, νόμος usually denotes an established custom or usage, often unwritten, that has binding force in a community. Over time, especially in philosophical and political texts (e.g., Plato, Aristotle), it developed the sense of 'law' in contrast to 'physis' (nature), denoting societal norms versus natural principles. In the Hellenistic period and particularly in the Septuagint, νόμος becomes the standard Greek rendering of the Hebrew תּוֹרָה (Torah), encompassing not only law in the technical sense, but also broader concepts of divine instruction, teaching, or legal corpus, especially the Pentateuch. In the New Testament, νόμος frequently refers to the Mosaic Torah as a distinct body of divine legislation governing the Israelite or Judean community, but may also denote legal principle in a general sense (e.g., Rom 7:21, 'a principle'), Roman law, or even abstract laws or norms (cf. 'law of faith,' 'law of sin'). Standard English translations such as 'law' often obscure the broader semantic field, which includes custom, tradition, established norm, and instruction. νόμος contrasts with terms like ἔθος (custom) in certain contexts but may be synonymous in others; it is also distinct from δικαίωμα (regulation, ordinance) and ἐντολή (commandment), each with their own nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a primary (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.

Root Family

νόμος (nomos) — custom, norm, law, statute, governing principle

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3551-04 νόμου nomou N GEN M SG law of the binding norm 67
G3551-02 νόμον nomon N ACC M SG law a binding norm 60
G3551-03 νόμος nomos N NOM M SG law binding norm 34
G3551-01 νόμῳ nomo N DAT M SG law to a governing norm 32
G3551-05 νόμους nomous N ACC M PL binding norms 2

Occurrences in Scripture

195 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3551-02 Matthew 5:17 νόμον nomon N ACC M SG a binding norm
G3551-04 Matthew 5:18 νόμου nomou N GEN M SG of the binding norm
G3551-03 Matthew 7:12 νόμος nomos N NOM M SG binding norm
G3551-03 Matthew 11:13 νόμος nomos N NOM M SG binding norm
G3551-01 Matthew 12:5 νόμῳ nomo N DAT M SG to a governing norm
G3551-01 Matthew 22:36 νόμῳ nomo N DAT M SG to a governing norm
G3551-03 Matthew 22:40 νόμος nomos N NOM M SG binding norm
G3551-04 Matthew 23:23 νόμου nomou N GEN M SG of the binding norm
G3551-02 Luke 2:22 νόμον nomon N ACC M SG law a binding norm
G3551-01 Luke 2:23 νόμῳ nomo N DAT M SG law to a governing norm
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