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Custom

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G1485

ἔθος

ethos — custom

ἔθος, -εος (-ους), τό (ἔθω), [in LXX: Wis.14:16, Da TH Bel 15, 1Ma.10:89, 2Ma.11:25 13:4, 4Ma.18:5 א R* ;] habit, custom; Luk.22:39, Jhn.19:40, Act.16:21 25:16, Heb.10:25; in Luk.1:9 Act.6:14 15:1 21:21 26:3 28:17, almost in the narrower sense of law (Deiss., BS, 251 f.).† (AS)

12 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4914

συνήθεια

sunētheia — custom

συνήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἦθος), [in LXX: 4Ma.2:12 4Mac 6:13 4Mac 13:22 4Mac 13:27 * ;] 1 1 intimacy. 2. habit, custom: Jhn.18:39, 1Co.11:16; with genitive obj. (cf. Æschin., 23, 37, and see MM, xxiv), habitual use, force of habit with respect to, 1Co.8:7.† (AS)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4941

מִשְׁפָּט

mish.pat — justice: judgement

: judgement/punishment 1) judgment, justice, ordinance 1a) judgment 1a1) act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat of judgment 1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man) 1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right, privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan

369 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8451

תּוֹרָה

to.rah — instruction

1) law, direction, instruction 1a) instruction, direction (human or divine) 1a1) body of prophetic teaching 1a2) instruction in Messianic age 1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction 1a4) body of legal directives 1b) law 1b1) law of the burnt offering 1b2) of special law, codes of law 1c) custom, manner 1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law

207 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3551

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. 3. Of the Mosaic law: Mat.5:18, Luk.2:27, Jhn.1:17, Act.6:13, Rom.2:15, 1Co.9:8, 1Ti.1:8, Heb.7:19; al.; Μωυσέως, Luk.2:22, Jhn.7:23, Act.15:5, al.; κυρίου, Luk.2:39; κατὰ τὸν ν., Act.22:12, Heb.7:5 9:22. 4. As printed, Abbott-Smith mistakenly numbers this as 3.Anarthrous (Bl, §46, 8; ICC on Rom.2:12, 13), νόμος, (a) of law in general: Rom.2:12, 14b 3:20, 21 4:15, al.; (b) of the Mosaic law in its quality as law: Rom.2:14a 5:20 10:4, Gal.2:19, al.; οἱ ἐκ ν., Rom.4:14; ὑπὸ νόμον, 1Co.9:20, Gal.4:5; ν. πράσσειν (πληροῦν), Rom.2:25 13:8. 5. Of Christian teaching: ν. πίστεως, Rom.3:27; τ. Χριστοῦ, Gal.6:2. 6. By meton., of the books which contain the law; (a) of the Pentateuch: Mat.12:5, Jhn.1:45, al.; ὁ ν. καὶ οἱ προφῆται, Mat.5:17, Luk.16:16, al.; ὁ ν. καὶ προφῆται κ. ψαλμοί, Luk.24:44. (b) of the OT Scriptures in general (as Heb. תּוֹרָה): Jhn.10:34 12:34 15:25, 1Co.14:21, al. (AS)

153 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1342

δίκαιος

dikaios — just

δίκαιος, -α, -ον (δίκη), [in LXX chiefly for צַדִּיק (for rendering of צַדִּיק in sense of correct, see Deiss., BS, 115 f.); sometimes for נָקִי as Pro.1:11, al. ;] in early Gk. writers (a) of persons, observant of δίκη, custom, rule, right, righteous in performing duties to gods and men ; (b) of things, righteous, in accordance with right. In NT 1. righteous, chiefly in the broad sense, as above, of the person or thing corresponding to the Divine standard of right (a) of persons: of God, Rom.3:26, 1Jn.2:29 Jn 3:7; of Christ, Act.3:14 7:52 22:14, 1Pe.3:18, 1Jn.2:1; of men, Mat.1:19 (Abbott, Essays, 75 f.) Mat.10:41 13:17, 43 13:49, Luk.1:6, 17, Rom.5:7, 1Ti.1:9, Jas.5:6, 1Pe.3:12, 1Jn.3:7, Rev.22:11, al.; δ. καὶ εὐλαβής, Luk.2:25; ἅγιος, Mrk.6:20; ἀγαθός, Luk.23:50; φοβούμενος τ. θεόν, Act.10:22; opposite to ἀμαρτωλοὶ καὶ ἀσεβεῖς, 1Pe.4:18; ἄδικοι, Mat.5:45, Act.24:15; δ. ἐκ πίστεως, Rom.1:17, Gal.3:11, Heb.10:38" (LXX) ; δ. παρὰ τ. θεῷ, Rom.2:13 (b) of things: ἔργα δ., opposite to πονηρὰ, 1Jn.3:12; ἐντολή, Rom.7:12; metaphorically, αἷμα, Mat.23:35; τὸ δ., Luk.12:57; δ. ἐστιν, Act.4:19, Eph.6:1, Php.1:7; ὅ, Mat.20:4; ὅσα, Php.4:8 2. In narrower sense (a) of persons, as in later cl. writers, just, rendering to each his due: Tit.1:8, 1Jn.1:9; δ. κριτής, 2Ti.4:8 (b) of things: τὸ δ., Col.4:1; δ., sc. ἐστιν, 2Th.1:6; κρίσις δ., Jhn.5:30; ὁδοί, Rev.15:3 SYN.: ἀγαθός (which see), καλός, χρηστός (Cremer, 183, 690). (AS)

74 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G630

ἀπολύω

apoluō — to release: release

ἀπο-λύω [in LXX for שׁוּב, etc., frequently in 1-4 Mac ;] 1. to set free, release: Luk.13:12, Jhn.19:10, al.; a debtor, Mat.18:27; metaphorically, of forgive­ness, Luk.6:37. 2. to let go, dismiss (Field, Notes, 9 f.): Mat.15:23, Luk.2:29 9:12, Act.19:41, al.; of divorce, τ. γυναῖκα: Mat.1:19 5:31-32 19:3, 8 19:10 Mrk.10:2, 4 10:11, Luk.16:18; with ref. to Gk. and Rom. (net Jewish) custom, τ. ἄνδρα: Mrk.10:12. Mid., to depart: Act.28:25 (MM, see word) (AS)

61 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5056

τέλος

telos — goal/tax

τέλος, -ους, τό [in LXX for קֵץ, etc.; εἰς τὸ τ., chiefly for נֶצַח and cognate forms ;] 1. end: most frequently of the termination or limit of an act or state (in NT also of the end of a period of time, cl. τελευτή), Luk.1:33, 1Co.10:11, 2Co.3:13, 1Pe.4:7; by meton., of one who makes an end, Rom.10:4; ἕως (ἄχρι, μέκρι) τέλους, 1Co.1:8, 2Co.1:13, Heb.3:14 6:11, Rev.2:26; εἰς τ., to or at the end, Mat.10:22, Mrk.13:13, Luk.18:5, Jhn.13:1 (or here, to the uttermost, see Westc., in l); τ. ἔχειν, Luk.22:37; adverbially, τὸ δὲ τέλος, finally, 1Pe.3:8; of the last in a series, Rev.21:6 22:13; of the issue, fate or destiny, Mat.26:58; with genitive of thing(s), Rom.6:21, al.; with genitive of person(s), 2Co.11:13, al.; of the aim or purpose, 1Ti.1:5. 2. toll, custom, revenue: Rom.13:7; pl., as most usually, Mat.17:25 (AS)

39 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2537

καινός

kainos — new

καινός, -ή, -όν [in LXX (Eze.11:19, al.) for חָדָשׁ, exc. Isa.65:15 (אַחֵר) ;] of that which is unused or unaccustomed, new in respect to form or quality, fresh, unused, novel: opposite to παλαιός, ἀρχαῖος, Mat.9:17 13:52, Mrk.2:21-22 Luk.5:36, 38, 2Co.5:17, Eph.4:24; πλήρωμα, Mrk.2:21; μνημεῖον, Mat.27:60, Jhn.19:41; διαθήκη (T, WH, R, txt., omit), Luk.22:20, 1Co.11:25, 2Co.3:6, Heb.8:8" (LXX), Heb.8:13 9:15; οὐρανοί, γῆ, 2Pe.3:13, Rev.21:1" (LXX) Ἰερουσαλήμ, Rev.3:12 21:2; ἄνθρωπος, Eph.2:15 (cf. Eze.18:31); πάντα, Rev.21:5; γέννημα τ. ἀμπέλου, Mat.26:29, Mrk.14:25; διδαχή, Mrk.1:27, Act.17:19; ἐντολή, Jhn.13:34, 1Jn.2:7-8, 2Jn.5; ὄνομα, Rev.2:17 (LXX); ᾠδή, Rev.5:9 14:3 (of. Psa.144:9); κτίσις, 2Co.5:17, Gal.6:15; γλῶσσαι, Mrk.16:17; compar., Act.17:21.† SYN.: νέος, "the new primarily in reference to time, the young, recent; κ. . the new primarily in reference to quality, the fresh, unworn". Cf. Tr., Syn., § lx (the distinction, however, is less marked in late Gk.; cf. Heb.12:24 with He, ll. with supr., and see MM, Exp., xv) (AS)

35 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2370

חֲזָה

cha.zah — to see

1) to see, behold 1a)(P'al) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, behold, witness 1a3) to behold (in a dream or vision) 1a4) customary, seemly (passive)

29 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3129

μανθάνω

manthanō — to learn

μανθάνω [in LXX chiefly for לָמַד ;] 1. to learn, esp. by inquiry: absol., 1Co.14:31, 1Ti.2:11, 2Ti.3:7; with accusative of thing(s), Jhn.7:15 (sc. αὐτά), Rom.16:17, 1Co.14:35, Php.4:9, 2Ti.3:14, Rev.14:3; before quaes. indir., Mat.9:13; Χριστόν, Eph.4:20 (ICC, in l); before ἀπό, with genitive of thing(s), Mat.24:32, Mrk.13:28; ἀπό, with genitive of person(s), Mat.11:29, Col.1:7; παρά, with genitive of person(s), 2Ti.3:14; ἐν, with dative of person(s), 1Co.4:6; "point" aorist (M, Pr., 117), to ascertain, before ὅτι, Act.23:27; with accusative before ἀπό, Gal.3:2. 2. to learn by use and practice, acquire the habit of, be accustomed to: with inf. (Bl., § 69, 4), 1Ti.5:4, Tit.3:14; id. with nom, in pred. (El., § 72, 1), Php.4:11; with accusative of thing(s) before ἀπό, Heb.5:8; ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσιν (EV, they learn to be idle; Bl., § 73, 5; Field, Notes, 210), 1Ti.5:13.† (AS)

24 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3543

νομίζω

nomizō — to think

νομίζω (νόμος), [in LXX: Wis.13:2 17:3, Sir.29:4, 1-28; 2Ma.4:1-50, 4Ma.8:1-29 * ;] 1. to practise, hold by custom: Act.16:13 (Rec., but see infr.). 2. to deem, consider, suppose: Mat.5:17 10:34 20:10, Luk.2:44 3:23, Act.7:25 8:20 14:19 16:13, 27 17:29 21:29, 1Co.7:26 7:36, 1Ti.6:5.† SYN.: ἡγέομαι, q.v (AS)

15 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3928

לִמֻּד

lim.mud — disciple

1) taught, learned, discipled 1a) taught 1b) accustomed to (something)

5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1486

ἔθω

ethō — to have a custom

ἔθω, pf. with present sense εἴωθα, [in LXX: Num.24:1 (כְּפַעַם־בְּפַעַם), Dan LXX Su 13, Sir.37:14, 4Ma.1:12 * ;] to be accustomed, wont: Mat.27:15, Mrk.10:1; ptcp., τὸ εἰθός, custom: κατὰ τὸ εἰ. (Nu, l.with), Luk.4:16, Act.17:2.† (AS)

4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1349

δίκη

dikē — condemnation

δίκη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX for נָקָם, רִיב, etc. ;] 1. custom. 2. right. 3. a judicial hearing; hence its result, the execution of a sentence, punishment: δ. τίνειν, 2Th.1:9; δ. υπεχειν, Ju 7. 4. Personified (cf. Lat. Justitia), justice, vengeance: Act.28:4.† (AS)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5058

τελώνιον

telōnion — tax booth

τελώνιον, -ου, τό (τελώνης), a custom house (so in MGr.), tollhouse, place of toll: Mat.9:9, Mrk.2:14, Luk.5:27.† (AS)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1983

הֲלָךְ

ha.lakh — toll

toll, custom duty, tribute Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G111

ἀθέμιτος

athemitos — unlawful

ἀ-θέμιτος (late form of ἀθέμιστος, LS, MM, VGT, see word), -ον (θέμις, custom, right), [in LXX: 2Ma.6:5 7:1 10:34, 3Ma.5:20 * ;] (a) of persons, lawless (III Mac, l.with); (b) of things, lawless, unlawful: Act.10:28, 1Pe.4:3.† SYN.: see: ἄθεσμος. (AS)

2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G113

ἄθεσμος

athesmos — lawless

ἄθεσμος, -ον (θεσμός, law, custom), [in LXX: 3Ma.5:12 6:26 * ;] lawless, esp. of those who violate the law of nature and conscience (cf. MM, VGT, see word): 2Pe.2:7 3:17.† SYN.: ἀθέμιτος, ἄνομος, κακός, πονηρός, φαῦλος (see Tr., Syn., §lxxiv; DCG, ii, 821b). (AS)

2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1480

ἐθίζω

ethizō — be accustomed

ἐθίζω, [in LXX: Sir.23:9, 13 2Ma.14:30 ;] to accustom: pass. pf. ptcp., τὸ εἰθισμένον, the established custom, Luk.2:27.† (AS)

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GREEK · G2239

ἦθος

ēthos — moral

ἦθος, -εος (-ους), τό [in LXX: Sir.20:26, 4Ma.1:29 4Mac 2:7 4Mac 2:21 4Mac 5:24 4Mac 13:27 * ;] 1 1, a haunt, abode. 2. = ἔθος, custom, manner: pl., 1Co.15:33.† (AS)

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GREEK · G3546

νόμισμα

nomisma — coin

νόμισμα, -τος, τό (νομίζω), [in LXX: Est.8:36 (דָּת), Neh.7:71 R (דַּרְכְּמוֹן), 1Ma.15:6 * ;] 1. that which is established by usage, a custom. 2. The current coin of a state: Mat.22:19.† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8448

תּוֹר

tor — border

1) circlet, plait, turn (of hair or gold) 2) (CLBL) custom, manner, mode

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Historical dictionary entry

A tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public highways, and at the place set apart for that purpose, called the “receipt of custom” (Matt. 9: 9; Mark 2:14), where they collected the money that was to be paid on certain goods (Matt. 17:25). These publicans were tempted to exact more from the people than was lawful, and were, in consequence of their extortions, objects of great hatred. The Pharisees would have no intercourse with them (Matt. 5:46, 47; 9:10, 11). A tax or tribute (q.v.) of half a shekel was annually paid by every adult Jew for the temple. It had to be paid in Jewish coin (Matt. 22:17-19; Mark 12:14, 15). Money-changers (q.v.) were necessary, to enable the Jews who came up to Jerusalem at the feasts to exchange their foreign coin for Jewish money; but as it was forbidden by the law to carry on such a traffic for emolument (Deut. 23:19, 20), our Lord drove them from the temple (Matt. 21:12: Mark 11:15).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Custom in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →