Encyclopedia entry
Law
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 6 distinct subjects under Law. Jump to one below, or read in order.
- 1.The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral…
- 2.The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship.
- 3.The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the Hebrew nation.
- 4.The Moral Law is the revealed will of God as to human conduct, binding on all men…
- 5.Positive Laws are precepts founded only on the will of God.
- 6.Moral positive laws are commanded by God because they are right.
A rule of action.
Law (1)
#The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom. 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.
Law (2)
#The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Heb. 7:9, 11; 10:1; Eph. 2:16). It was fulfilled rather than abrogated by the gospel.
Law (3)
#The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the Hebrew nation.
Law (4)
#The Moral Law is the revealed will of God as to human conduct, binding on all men to the end of time. It was promulgated at Sinai. It is perfect (Ps. 19:7), perpetual (Matt. 5:17, 18), holy (Rom. 7:12), good, spiritual (14), and exceeding broad (Ps. 119:96). Although binding on all, we are not under it as a covenant of works (Gal. 3:17). (See COMMANDMENTS.)
Law (5)
#Positive Laws are precepts founded only on the will of God. They are right because God commands them.
Law (6)
#Moral positive laws are commanded by God because they are right.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized authority. The sense of the word, however, extends its scope and assumes a more abstracts character in the writings of St. Paul. Nomos, when used by him with the article, still refers in general to the law of Moses; but when used without the article, so as to embrace any manifestation of “law,” it includes all powers which act on the will of man by compulsion, or by the pressure of external motives, whether their commands be or be not expressed in definite forms. The occasional use of the word “law” (as in (Romans 3:27) “law of faith”) to denote an internal principle of action does not really mitigate against the general rule. It should also be noticed that the title “the Law” is occasionally used loosely to refer to the whole of the Old Testament, as in (John 10:34) referring to (Psalms 82:6) in (John 15:25) referring to (Psalms 35:19) and in (1 Corinthians 14:21) referring to (Isaiah 28:11,12)
In the Bible
477
Verses where Law is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 2:4
Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.
- 1 Chronicles 16:17
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
- 1 Chronicles 16:40
to regularly present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the Law of the LORD, which He had commanded Israel to keep.
- 1 Chronicles 22:12
Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.
- 1 Corinthians 6:1
If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints!
- 1 Corinthians 6:6
Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
+471 more verses naming Law.
Scripture on Law
219
See all 219 +−
- Nehemiah 8Romans 3Hebrews 7Genesis 38Deuteronomy 31Ruth 1Ruth 21 Samuel 18Ezra 7Luke 2Galatians 5James 2Leviticus 7Leviticus 14Deuteronomy 27Judges 19Ruth 3Nehemiah 9Nehemiah 10Daniel 6Malachi 2Matthew 5John 7Romans 4Romans 81 Corinthians 9Leviticus 6Deuteronomy 17Deuteronomy 33Joshua 82 Kings 172 Chronicles 312 Chronicles 34Esther 1Esther 4Psalms 78Proverbs 28Isaiah 42Hosea 4Matthew 22Luke 10Luke 11Acts 21Romans 91 Corinthians 61 Corinthians 14Galatians 2Galatians 4Philippians 31 Timothy 1Hebrews 10Genesis 19Numbers 5Numbers 6Numbers 15Numbers 19Deuteronomy 4Deuteronomy 25Deuteronomy 28Deuteronomy 29Joshua 11 Samuel 42 Kings 222 Kings 231 Chronicles 16Nehemiah 13Psalms 19Psalms 94Proverbs 6Proverbs 31Isaiah 8Isaiah 51Jeremiah 32Jeremiah 44Ezekiel 22Daniel 9Hosea 8Luke 16John 1John 8John 10John 15John 18Acts 13Acts 15Acts 18Acts 22Acts 23Acts 24Romans 5Romans 6Romans 10Romans 13Galatians 6Ephesians 2Hebrews 9Genesis 11Genesis 47Exodus 3Exodus 4Exodus 12Exodus 13Exodus 16Exodus 24Leviticus 11Leviticus 12Leviticus 13Leviticus 15Leviticus 18Leviticus 20Leviticus 24Numbers 10Numbers 31Deuteronomy 1Deuteronomy 30Deuteronomy 32Joshua 22Joshua 23Joshua 24Judges 1Judges 4Judges 15Ruth 41 Samuel 221 Kings 22 Kings 82 Kings 102 Kings 142 Kings 211 Chronicles 21 Chronicles 222 Chronicles 62 Chronicles 122 Chronicles 142 Chronicles 152 Chronicles 172 Chronicles 192 Chronicles 232 Chronicles 252 Chronicles 302 Chronicles 332 Chronicles 35Ezra 3Ezra 10Nehemiah 6Nehemiah 12Job 22Psalms 1Psalms 35Psalms 37Psalms 40Psalms 81Psalms 82Psalms 89Psalms 105Proverbs 1Proverbs 3Proverbs 4Proverbs 7Proverbs 13Proverbs 29Isaiah 1Isaiah 2Isaiah 5Isaiah 28Isaiah 30Jeremiah 2Jeremiah 6Jeremiah 8Jeremiah 9Jeremiah 16Jeremiah 18Jeremiah 26Jeremiah 31Lamentations 2Ezekiel 7Ezekiel 43Amos 2Micah 4Micah 7Habakkuk 1Zephaniah 3Haggai 2Zechariah 7Malachi 4Matthew 7Matthew 8Matthew 10Matthew 11Matthew 12Matthew 23Mark 1Luke 4Luke 5Luke 7Luke 12Luke 14Luke 24John 12John 19Acts 5Acts 6Acts 7Acts 19Acts 25Acts 28Romans 11 Corinthians 71 Corinthians 15Titus 3Hebrews 8James 1James 41 John 3
Entries that reference Law
6
See all 6 +−
Law references
12
See all 12 +−
More illustrations of Law
2
Voices on Law
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.