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Greek

Law

νόμοςStrong’s G3551

nomos

Appears in 158 verses of the New Testament

In short

Nomos is the Greek word usually translated “law”, “principle” and “laws”. It appears in 158 verses of the New Testament.

“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;”
1 Timothy 1:8 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “law”, “principle” and “laws”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • law 162
  • of law 14
  • a law 5
  • the law 5
  • of the law 4
  • principle 3
  • to law 2
  • laws 2

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • Romans 51
  • Galatians 25
  • Acts 19
  • John 13
  • Hebrews 13
  • Luke 9

12 books in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
All 158 verses, by book
Ephesians 1
2:15
Philippians 3
3:53:63:9
1 Timothy 2
1:81:9
Greek dictionary

νόμος nomos · law

νόμος, -ου, ὁ (νέμω, to deal out, distribute), [in LXX chiefly for תּוֹרָה, also for חֻקָּה, etc. ;] that which is assigned, hence, usage, custom, then law; in NT (only in Mt, Jo, Ja, and the Lucan and Pauline bks.); 1. of law in general: Rom.3:27 5:13b; pl., of divine laws, Heb.8:10 10:16; ὁ ν. τ. Χριστοῦ, Gal.6:2; (τ.) ἐλευθερίας, Jas.1:25 2:12; βασιλικιός (Hort., in l.; Deiss., LAE, 267:3), Jas.2:8. 2. Of a force or influence impelling to action: Rom.7:21, 23a, 25 8:2. …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “law” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

LAW, noun

[Latin lex; from the root of lay. See lay. A law is that which is laid, set or fixed, like statute, constitution, from Latin statuo.]

  1. A rule, particularly an established or permanent rule, prescribed by the supreme power of a state to its subjects, for regulating their actions, particularly their social actions.
  2. Municipal law is a rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme power of a state, commanding what its subjects are to do, and prohibiting what they are to forbear; a statute.
  3. law of nature, is a rule of conduct arising out of the natural relations of human beings established by the Creator, and existing prior to any positive precept.
  4. Laws of animal nature, the inherent principles by which the economy and functions of animal bodies are performed, such as respiration, the circulation of the blood, digestion, nutrition, various secretions, etc.
All definitions and other forms of “law”
  1. Laws of vegetation, the principles by which plats are produced, and their growth carried on till they arrive to perfection.
  2. Physical laws, or laws of nature.
  3. Laws of nations, the rules that regulate the mutual intercourse of nations or states.
  4. Moral law a law which prescribes to men their religious and social duties, in other words, their duties to God and to each other.
  5. Ecclesiastical law a rule of action prescribed for the government of a church; otherwise called canon law
  6. Written law a law or rule of action prescribed or enacted by a sovereign, and promulgated and recorded in writing; a written statute, ordinance, edict or decree.
  7. Unwritten or common law a rule of action which derives its authority from long usage, or established custom, which has been immemorially received and recognized by judicial tribunals.
  8. By-law, a law of a city, town or private corporation. [See By.]
  9. Mosaic law the institutions of Moses, or the code of laws prescribed to the Jews, as distinguished from the gospel.
  10. Ceremonial law the Mosaic institutions which prescribe the external rites and ceremonies to be observed by the Jews, as distinct from the moral precepts, which are of perpetual obligation.
  11. A rule of direction; a directory; as reason and natural conscience.“These, having not the law as a law to themselves” Romans 2:14
  12. That which governs or has a tendency to rule; that which has the power of controlling.“But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” Romans 7:23
  13. The word of God; the doctrines and precepts of God, or his revealed will.“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night” Psalms 1:2
  14. The Old Testament.“Is it not written in your law I said, ye are gods?” John 10:34
  15. The institutions of Moses, as distinct from the other parts of the Old Testament; as the law and the prophets.
  16. A rule or axiom of science or art; settled principle; as the laws of versification or poetry.
  17. law martial, or martial law the rules ordained for the government of an army or military force.
  18. Marine laws, rules for the regulation of navigation, and the commercial intercourse of nations.
  19. Commercial law law-merchant, the system of rules by which trade and commercial intercourse are regulated between merchants.
  20. Judicial process; prosecution of right in courts of law
  21. Jurisprudence; as in the title, Doctor of Laws.
  22. In general, law is a rule of action prescribed for the government of rational beings or moral agents, to which rule they are bound to yield obedience, in default of which they are exposed to punishment; or law is a settled mode or course of action or operation in irrational beings and in inanimate bodies.

LAW'-BREAKER, noun

One who violates the law

    Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

    Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.