← H6413 H6415 →

פָּלִיל

𐤐𐤋𐤉𐤋

pâlîyl

H6414 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פלל to intervene, to judge, to mediate, to make a decision

Definition

A person functioning as an official or recognized arbiter within a community, typically vested with authority to make judgments or legal decisions; often one who renders a verdict in a case or controversy. While commonly translated as 'judge' or 'magistrate,' the term emphasizes the capacity for decision-making or arbitration, distinct from priestly or kingly authority.

Semantic Range

magistrate, judge, arbiter, one who renders a legal decision, one who pronounces judgment, decider

Root / Etymology

Root פ-ל-ל (פָּלַל), meaning 'to intervene, judge, mediate, pray.' פָּלִיל is a noun formation from this root, signifying someone who carries out judgment—an adjudicator or arbitrator by role or function rather than formal office. It is a specialized nominal derivative referring to one who performs the act implied in the root: exercising discernment and issuing judgments.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פָּלִיל appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Deut 32:31; Job 31:11; Isa 40:14), reflecting a focus on roles of judgment or arbitration rather than a regularized judicial office. In contrast to שׁוֹפֵט (shofet), which later comes to denote an official judge or ruler with broader administrative authority, פָּלִיל highlights the specific function of decision-making or adjudication. In pre-monarchic and monarchic periods, such roles may have been filled ad hoc by elders, heads of clans, or individuals regarded as just. The term later becomes rarer as more specialized legal terminology develops. English translations often render פָּלִיל as 'judge' or 'magistrate,' but this may obscure its emphasis on the act of deliberation and pronouncement rather than formal judicial status. In poetic and wisdom literature, the term can appear in metaphoric contexts, extending the sense of one who distinguishes or decides. In later post-biblical or Aramaic usage, cognate forms may refer to judicial processes, but these develop after the Hebrew Bible period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from פָּלַל; a magistrate; judge.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

פלל (p-l-l) — to intervene, to judge, to mediate, to make a decision

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6415 פְּלִילָה judicial proceeding
H6416 פְּלִילִי judicial
H6417 פְּלִילִיָּה judicial proceeding
H6419 פָּלַל in his interceding
H6420 פָּלָל Palal

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6414-02 פְּלִילִֽים pelilim HNcmpa judges legal arbiters 2
H6414-01 בִּ/פְלִלִֽים bifelilim HR/Ncmpa as the judges determine by arbiters 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6414-01 Exodus 21:22 בִּ/פְלִלִֽים bifelilim HR/Ncmpa as the judges determine by arbiters
H6414-02 Deuteronomy 32:31 פְּלִילִֽים pelilim HNcmpa judges legal arbiters
H6414-02 Job 31:11 פְּלִילִֽים pelilim HNcmpa judges legal arbiters
← H6413 Hebrew Lexicon H6415 →