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oÌ‚r´dẽr (ערך, ‛aÌ„rakh, “to arrangeâ€; ταÌσσειν, taÌssein (diataÌssein, taÌxis, taÌgma)): “Order†in Biblical phrases may indicate (1) arrangement in rows, (2) sequence in time, (3) classification and organization, (4) likeness or manner, (5) regulation, direction or command, or (6) the declaring of a will. In many passages it is difficult if not impossible to determine from the English text alone in which of these senses the word is used.
1. Arrangement in Rows:
The fundamental idea suggested by the Hebrew, Greek and English words is that of arrangement in rows. Thus “order†is used in the Bible of arranging wood for an altar (; ; compare Hebrew ; ); of laying out flax-stalks for drying (); of preparing offerings (, ; compare ; ); of arranging lamps (; ; , ; compare ); of placing the shewbread on the table (, ; ; ; ); of drawing up the battle array ( (Hebrew 39,‛aÌ„dhar)); and of arranging weapons in order for battle (, the American Standard Revised Version “prepareâ€). As a verb “to order†in the older versions usually has the obsolete sense “to arrange†and not the more usual English meanings, “to demand†or “to direct.†Thus: “In the tent of meeting shall Aaron order it†(, the American Standard Revised Version “keep in orderâ€); “Order ye the buckler and shield†(; compare ; , the American Standard Revised Version “set in orderâ€; Judith 2:16; The Wisdom of Solomon 8:1; 15:1; Ecclesiasticus 2:6). The Hebrew pa‛am (literally, “hoof-beat,†“occurrence,†“repetitionâ€) in the plural conveys the idea of an architectural plan (). Another word, shaÌ„labh, literally, “to join,†in connection with the tabernacle, has in some versions been translated as including the idea of orderly arrangement (). The word “order†standing by itself may mean orderly or proper arrangement (1 Esdras 1:10; The Wisdom of Solomon 7:29; 1 Macc 6:40; ). Akin to the idea of arranging things in a row is that of arranging words (; ; ), of recounting things in order (; the King James Version (diatassein); ; (kathexeÌ„Ìs)), of setting forth a legal case (; ; compare ). From the idea of arranging in order for the purpose of comparison the Hebrew ‛aÌ„rakh acquires the meaning “to compare†(; ). This is clearly the meaning of 'eÌ„n ‛ăroÌ„kh 'eÌ„lekhaÌ„ ( (Hebrew 6)), where “They cannot be set in order unto thee†must be interpreted to mean “There is nothing that can be compared unto thee.â€
2. Sequence in Time:
As the fundamental meaning of ‛aÌ„rakh is arrangement in space, that of sÌ£aÌ„dhar is order or sequence in time. In later Hebrew sÌ£eÌ„dher was used in the sense of “program.†In loÌ„' sÌ£edhaÌ„rı̄m, absence of regularity, in the description of the uncertain period that follows death probably means “confusion in time.†(The Septuagint (φεÌγγος, pheÌggos) suggests, in the place of sÌ£edhaÌ„rı̄m, a word for “light,†possibly cohŏrayim.) In the New Testament we find “order†used of time in connection with the resurrection of the dead ( (tagma)) and of a succession of places visited ( (kathexes)). The phrase “in order unto†() expresses causal sequence and hence, purpose.
3. Classification and Organization:
The idea of classification is present in the Hebrew taÌ„kÌ£an, translated “set in order,†with reference to a collection of proverbs (). The same stem is used with reference to the arranging of singers before the altar (Hebrew Ecclesiasticus 47:9), The classification of priests according to their service is spoken of as “ordering†(, , Hebrew paÌ„kÌ£adh). Next to the high priests ranked priests of the second order (mishneh, ; compare parallel ). The related concept of organization is present where the Hebrew kuÌ„n (literally, “to establishâ€.) is translated “order†( the King James Version, “to establish†the American Standard Revised Version; ; ; compare 1 Macc 16:14). A similar use of the term “order†is found in the New Testament in connection with the organization of the affairs of the church ( (diatassein); (epidiorthoÌoÌ„); ).
4. Likeness or Manner:
“Order,†in the sense of likeness or manner, is used in the phrase “after the order of Melchisedek†to translate the Hebrew‛al dibherath, or rather the archaic form ‛al dibheraÌ„thı̄ (), which in other passages is translated “because of†(compare ; ; ). This well-known phrase is rendered in Septuagint kataÌ teÌ„Ìn taÌxin, a translation adopted in , ; ; , , where the passage from Psalm is made the basis of an extended argument, in the course of which “order†is taken in the sense of “likeness†().
5. Regulation, Direction, Command:
In the sense of regulation, we find “order†as a translation of mishpaÌ„tÌ£ (which is literally, “the ruling of a shoÌ„pheÌ„tÌ£,†whether as a judicial decree or legislative act) in connection with the conduct of priests ( (Hebrew 17); ; compare ; 1 Esdras 1:6), and with reference to the Nazirite regulations in the story of Samson (, the Revised Version (British and American) “mannerâ€), church services () and, in the older English VSS, with reference to other ritual matters (; ; , the American Standard Revised Version “ordinanceâ€). The phrase ‛al yadh, literally, “according to the hand of,†translated in ; , , twice in various ways, means “under the direction of,†or “under the order of,†as translated in the last instance. The modern sense of “command†is suggested here and in several other instances (1 Esdras 8:10; 1 Macc 9:55). He “that ordereth his conversation aright†(saÌ„m derekh, ) is probably one who chooses the right path and directs his steps along it. “Who shall order the battle?†() is corrected in the American Standard Revised Version: “Who shall begin the battle?†(compare , Hebrew'aÌ„sÌ£ar, literally, “to bind,†hence, “to join†or “beginâ€; compare proelium committere).
6. Declaring of Last Will:
The phrase “to set one's house in order†( parallel ; ), used of Hezekiah and Ahithophel, in contemplation of death, means to give final instructions to one's household or to make one's will. The Hebrew cāwāh used in this phrase is the stem found in the later Hebrew cawwā'āh, “a verbal will†(Bābhā' Bathrā' 147a, 151b; BDB). Great moral weight was attached in Biblical times to the charges laid upon a household by a deceased father or remoter ancestor, not only as to the disposition of property but also as to personal conduct. (Compare the case of the Rechabites, where the same Hebrew expression is used, ciwwāh ‛ālēnū, .)