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LAWGIVER.—The word is found six times in the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] of the OT (Gen_49:10, Num_21:18, Deu_33:21, Psa_60:7; Psa_108:8, Isa_33:22). The Heb. mĕôqçq, which it translates, is from a root meaning to ‘cut’ or ‘engrave,’ and hence to ‘enact’ a law, afterwards to be engraved on the public archives. The Heb. word appears to have two meanings: (1) ‘ruler’; so in Deu_33:21, where RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] gives ‘ruler,’ and in Isa_33:22, where the parallelism shows the meaning—‘Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver.’ (2) ‘Ruler’s staff’; so in Gen_49:10, where the word is parallel to ‘sceptre,’ and in Psa_60:7; Psa_108:8, where the RV [Note: Revised Version.] renders it ‘Judah is my sceptre.’
In the NT the word ‘lawgiver’ (Gr. nomothetçs) is found once only (Jam_4:12); there it is applied to God as ‘the lawgiver and judge,’ who is regarded as the Supreme Source of all law. Other passages (Heb_7:11, Rom_9:4) where kindred Gr. words are used, have a reference to the law of Moses, or, to be more exact, the law of Israel.
T. A. Moxon.