δικαστής (dikastēs)
dikastēs
magistrate
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun dikastēs refers to a magistrate or judge, specifically one who presides over legal proceedings. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in Acts 7:27 and 7:35 within Stephen’s speech. Here, it translates the Hebrew word shaphat, describing the leadership role Moses held for Israel. The term carries a strong forensic weight, pointing to the official capacity of settling disputes rather than general wisdom.
Lexical sources distinguish dikastēs from the near-synonym krines by emphasizing the mental process of judgment and the formal legal setting. In ancient Greek law, a dikastes was often a juror or magistrate within a court system, distinct from a presiding officer. This highlights the structured, authoritative nature of the role described in Scripture. Translators typically render it simply as "judge" to maintain clarity for modern readers.
The usage in Acts connects this Greek legal concept directly to Israel’s historical experience under the Law. By using dikastēs, the text underscores the official, public nature of Moses’ authority. It is not merely about personal opinion but about binding decisions made within a recognized framework of justice. This precision helps readers understand the specific kind of leadership Stephen was recounting.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dikastēs points to an official magistrate or judge, one with the authority to settle disputes within a legal framework. In Acts 7, Stephen uses this term to describe Moses’ role, highlighting that his leadership was not just personal influence but a formal position of justice recognized by the people.
When we face conflict or seek guidance, understanding this concept reminds us that true authority involves fairness and structure. It encourages us to value leaders who act with integrity and to approach our own disagreements with a spirit of order rather than chaos. This word grounds our faith in the reality that God often works through established systems of justice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- judge?’ —1×
- judge1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δικαστήν;1×
- δικαστὴν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:27
But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
This verse shows the rejection of Moses' official judicial role, highlighting how people can resist God-ordained authority even when it is offered for their protection.
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Acts 7:35
“This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Here Stephen contrasts human refusal with God's affirmation, showing that the same man rejected as a judge was actually appointed by God as a deliverer.