κριτής (kritēs)
kritēs
judge
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kritēs simply means a judge or arbiter who renders decisions. In the New Testament, it appears seventeen times, often describing human authorities like Roman procurators in Acts 24:10 or leaders in Israel as noted in Acts 13:20. It also refers to those who settle disputes among others, such as when Jesus mentions judges in Matthew 5:25.
The term carries significant theological weight by applying to divine figures. Scripture identifies God as the ultimate judge in James 4:12 and Hebrews 12:23, while Jesus is presented as the appointed judge of the living and dead in Acts 10:42. This usage highlights a hierarchy where human judgment reflects a higher, final authority.
Etymologically, kritēs derives from krinō, meaning to separate or decide. The sources note it is synonymous with dikastēs but often emphasizes the role of ruling or administering justice rather than just legal procedure. Translators consistently use "judge," preserving the word’s straightforward sense of one who settles matters and determines outcomes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kritēs simply means a judge or arbiter who renders decisions. In the New Testament, it appears seventeen times, often describing human authorities like Roman procurators in Acts 24:10 or leaders in Israel as noted in Acts 13:20. It also refers to those who settle disputes among others, such as when Jesus mentions judges in Matthew 5:25.
The term carries significant theological weight by applying to divine figures. Scripture identifies God as the ultimate judge in James 4:12 and Hebrews 12:23, while Jesus is presented as the appointed judge of the living and dead in Acts 10:42. This usage highlights a hierarchy where human judgment reflects a higher, final authority.
Etymologically, kritēs derives from krinō, meaning to separate or decide. The sources note it is synonymous with dikastēs but often emphasizes the role of ruling or administering justice rather than just legal procedure. Translators consistently use "judge," preserving the word’s straightforward sense of one who settles matters and determines outcomes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- judges4×
- judge4×
- judge,2×
- a judge2×
- Judge2×
- to [the] judge1×
- judge;1×
- a judge.1×
- [as] judge1×
- A judge1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κριτὴς6×
- κριταὶ3×
- κριτής2×
- κριτὴν2×
- κριτῇ,1×
- κριτῇ1×
- κριτής·1×
- κριτής.1×
- κριτήν,1×
- κριτὰς1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 10:42
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
This verse establishes Jesus as the divinely appointed authority over all humanity, shifting the concept from local legal disputes to cosmic accountability.
-
II Timothy 4:8
From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
Paul uses this term to describe the Lord as a righteous judge who rewards faithfulness, offering hope rather than fear for those who love His appearing.
-
Luke 12:14
But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
Jesus explicitly rejects the title of human arbitrator here, clarifying that His mission was not to settle civil property disputes but to address spiritual realities.
-
James 4:12
Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
This passage reminds readers that while humans may judge others, ultimate authority belongs only to the one Lawgiver who has the power to save or destroy.