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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Ordinance
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ôr´di-nans:
1. Old Testament Use:
This word generally represents חקּה, ḥuḳḳāh, something prescribed, enactment, usually with reference to matters of ritual. In the King James Version the same word is frequently translated by “statute†or “statutes,†which is also the rendering of a similar Hebrew word, namely, חק, ḥōḳ. the Revised Version (British and American) generally retains “ordinance,†but sometimes substitutes “statute†(e.g. ; ). In one instance the Revised Version (British and American) renders “set portion†(). The word generally has a religious or ceremonial significance. It is used for instance in connection with the Passover (; ). According to , the Passover was “an ordinance for ever,†i.e. a permanent institution. In the plural the word is often employed, along with such terms as commandments, laws, etc., with reference to the different prescriptions of the Deuteronomic and Priestly codes (, ; ).
In 11 passages (; ; ; , ; ; ; ; twice; ) “ordinance†is the rendering of מש×פּט, mishpaÌ„tÌ£, judgment, decision or sentence by a judge or ruler. In the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:22 through 23:33) the term “judgments†denotes civil, as contrasted with ritual, enactments. In the King James Version employs “manners†and “ordinances†as renderings of this word. In 3 passages (; ; ) “ordinance†is the translation of מש×מרת, mishmereth, “charge,†which the Revised Version (British and American) restores. In one instance () ordinance renders מצוה, micwaÌ„h, “commandment,†while in the King James Version the phrase “after the ordinance of David†represents a Hebrew phrase which literally means “upon the hands of David,†i.e. under the guidance or direction of David.
2. New Testament Use:
In the New Testament, “ordinance†renders different Greek words, namely, (1) δικαιÌωμα, dikaıÌoÌ„ma, in and , . The word means literally, “anything declared rightâ€; but in these passages ceremonial and religious regulation; (2) δοÌγμα, doÌgma, in ; . In the New Testament this word always means a decree or edict (); (3) παÏαÌδοσις, paraÌdosis, in the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes “traditionsâ€; (4) κτιÌσις, ktıÌsis, “setting up,†“institution†in . The term is used exclusively of the action of God. Peter implies that institutions, apparently human, such as the family and the state, are of divine origin. The same doctrine is found in .