The whole Bible is a courtroom.

These are its words — and once you see them, you cannot unsee it.

Scripture is not a devotional book with a few legal words in it. It is a legal book, and the warmth readers feel is the warmth of a covenant kept. Every term below — even the soft, familiar ones — is a courtroom word doing courtroom work.

The words are arranged as a road: seven movements that walk from the bench itself to the final verdict. Read them in order to walk the whole trial, or look up any single word from A to Z.

The Road

The Seven Movements

every word in the lexicon lives in one of these seven

I There Is a Court Before anything else, Scripture seats a Judge and opens a bench. The book takes place in a courtroom. 25 words II The Court Runs on One Code The standard on that bench is the Torah — the covenant terms, sworn and binding, not private feeling. 20 words III You Are Named on the Docket You are not watching the trial. You are a party to it, entered by name, with standing and an estate. 25 words IV The Acquittal Charged and unable to pay, you are cleared at the tree — the Father laid the account on the Lamb He provided. Entry by blood. 24 words V Your Life Is the Testing Now cleared, you walk. Every day is conduct weighed against the code — the testing of the delivered. Walk by the Bread. 11 words VI It Is All Entered as Evidence Word, deed, and blood — every step of the walk is deposed and filed. Nothing falls off the record. 20 words VII The Bench Convenes The ruling is read, and each party is paid exactly what the record assigns. 25 words

The road runs one direction, start to finish: the court, its law, your name entered, the acquittal at the tree, the walk that follows, the record of that walk, and the verdict. Entry is by blood (IV); the walk that proves it is by the Bread (V); the verdict is still ahead (VII).

150 terms · growing

I There Is a Court

Before anything else, Scripture seats a Judge and opens a bench. The book takes place in a courtroom.

1 Judge the one who hears and rules
2 Judgment the ruling, and the case-law
71 Anoint investiture into office
72 Messiah the one appointed and installed
73 King the sovereign who issues law
74 Throne the judgment seat itself
75 Scepter the emblem of jurisdiction
76 Crown sovereignty, and the prize adjudged
77 Priest officer who teaches and judges the law
78 Elder magistrate seated in the gate
79 Gate the courthouse of the city
80 Stand to hold standing before the bench
81 Hand power, custody, jurisdiction
82 Right hand the seat of delegated authority
83 Face presence, the standing to appear
84 Lift the face partiality, the sin of favoritism
85 Footstool dominion, the conquered under foot
86 Sit to convene as judge
121 Seat vs Throne the derived bench vs the sovereign's seat
126 Brought Near escorted presentation before the bench (Dan 7:13)
129 ● Dominion Taken Away the judicial stripping of jurisdiction
131 Ancient of Days the presiding Judge; seniority as standing
133 ● The Assembly a body claiming standing to teach and judge
142 ● Teacher and Master titles of standing forbidden to men (Matt 23:8,10)
150 Sent One delegated authority, bound to the message sent

II The Court Runs on One Code

The standard on that bench is the Torah — the covenant terms, sworn and binding, not private feeling.

6 Righteousness conformity to the standard
8 Testimony the deposited terms of the law
18 Covenant the binding treaty itself
19 Transgression the breach of a fixed line
39 Amen the sworn signature to the terms
40 Truth legal verity, what holds up
41 Cut to ratify a covenant in blood
42 Swear to bind oneself by oath
43 Vow a self-imposed binding obligation
44 Promise a pledge that confers a claim
91 Betroth the binding contract before the wedding
92 Bride a covenant party under the marriage bond
93 Husband the covenant party with authority and duty
94 Adultery covenant infidelity, a breach of the bond
95 Divorce the legal dissolution of the covenant
96 Jealous the offended party enforcing exclusivity
130 ● Times and Law forged tampering with appointed times and statute
135 ● Separate vs Mingle lawful distinction vs unlawful confusion
138 Decree an enacted decree with legal force
148 Lawlessness the state of standing outside the code

III You Are Named on the Docket

You are not watching the trial. You are a party to it, entered by name, with standing and an estate.

31 Book the legal register
34 Seal authenticated, marked as owned
35 Sign the token that proves the bond
38 Name legal identity and authority
51 Inheritance the estate allotted by law
52 Heir one with standing to receive
53 Inherit to take lawful possession
54 Portion the assigned legal share
55 Lot allotment by binding lot
56 Landmark the boundary stone of legal title
57 Possess to take and hold as legal owner
60 Birthright the firstborn's legal privilege
61 Adoption placed as son by legal act
62 Sonship status carrying the inheritance
63 Servant a regulated bond of service
64 Free manumitted standing
65 Sojourner the resident alien's status
66 Widow a protected legal class
67 Clean legally admissible to approach
68 Unclean legally barred, with a remedy
69 Sanctify set apart into holy status
70 Profane to breach a holy boundary
104 Number enrolled on the official roll
147 Double Portion the firstborn's two shares of the estate
149 Joint-Heir shared standing in one undivided estate

IV The Acquittal

Charged and unable to pay, you are cleared at the tree — the Father laid the account on the Lamb He provided. Entry by blood.

9 Advocate defense counsel before the bench
11 Mediator the officer who makes the covenant hold
12 Intercession one who steps between guilt and bench
13 Redeem to buy back under kinsman law
14 Redemption release secured by a price
15 Ransom the price that answers a life
16 Forgive to lift the charge from the record
20 Atonement the charge covered, account cleared
22 Jubilee debt cancelled, liberty proclaimed
23 Liberty the legal release of the bound
24 Release the sabbatical cancelling of debt
26 Shalom the account paid, the books at zero
27 Restitution the wrong repaid in full
28 Recompense the debt paid in our place
29 Reconcile the ledger brought back to zero
30 Restore property and standing returned
58 Buy to acquire by paying the price
59 Bought the purchase completed, title moved
89 Blood a plaintiff, and the price provided
99 Favor unearned standing granted from above
120 Surety the pledge that guarantees the outcome
122 Bear Iniquity to carry the liability of an offense
137 Handwriting of Ordinances the handwritten certificate of debt (Col 2:14)
140 Made Inoperative to render an instrument inoperative, not erased

V Your Life Is the Testing

Now cleared, you walk. Every day is conduct weighed against the code — the testing of the delivered. Walk by the Bread.

21 Sabbath the covenant sign, kept
25 Rest secured possession of the inheritance
45 Remember to act on a standing obligation
46 Hear to heed and comply
47 Walk conduct measured against the code
48 Keep to guard as a charge
49 Confess a legal admission on record
50 Deny legal repudiation of a bond
97 Love covenant loyalty and allegiance
98 Chesed the obligated kindness of the bond
100 Faithful fidelity that holds under test

VI It Is All Entered as Evidence

Word, deed, and blood — every step of the walk is deposed and filed. Nothing falls off the record.

7 Witness sworn testimony, corroborated
17 Debt the obligation owed on the books
32 Write to make a matter binding
33 Engrave cut beyond amendment
36 Memorial a remembrance filed on record
37 Pillar a witness monument in stone
87 Mouth where testimony and decree issue
88 Tongue evidence that acquits or condemns
90 Cry the appeal lodged with the court
101 Reckon to credit or debit the account
102 Account the ledger, and the answer for it
103 Visit a judicial audit of the record
105 Scales the balance of just measure
106 Measure the fixed standard of judgment
128 The Books Opened the books opened, the record entered
141 Rightly Dividing accurate handling of the record
143 Two Witnesses a matter established at two or three mouths
144 Examine the required judicial inquiry into witnesses
145 Talebearer one who peddles a report house to house
146 False Report an unverified word lifted and carried

VII The Bench Convenes

The ruling is read, and each party is paid exactly what the record assigns.

3 Justify to acquit from the bench
4 Justification the acquittal made formal
5 Condemn to judge down against, guilty
10 Accuser the adversary who prosecutes
107 Wages the legal due of labor owed
108 Reward the due paid to the faithful
109 Steward the trustee called to account
110 Trust the deposit answered for at return
111 Wrath the settled sentence of the court
112 Vengeance judicial redress reserved to the bench
113 Refuge legal asylum with due process
114 Avenger of blood the executor of the sentence
115 Plead to bring and argue the lawsuit
116 Cause the case itself before the court
117 Accuse to file the formal indictment
118 Innocent acquitted, clean of the charge
119 Guilty liable, owing the debt assessed
123 Land of Separation the decreed land of cutting-off (Lev 16:22)
124 Outside the Camp the place of the legally condemned
125 Prosecutor the prosecuting party before the bench
127 The Session the court session and its verdict
132 Cut Off the covenant death-sentence of severance
134 ● Slanderer the party who lodges the slanderous charge
136 ● Set Apart by Report severance produced by testimony thrown between
139 Under the Law under the sentence, not under obligation to obey

102 Account the ledger, and the answer for it VI
117 Accuse to file the formal indictment VII
10 Accuser the adversary who prosecutes VII
61 Adoption placed as son by legal act III
94 Adultery covenant infidelity, a breach of the bond II
9 Advocate defense counsel before the bench IV
39 Amen the sworn signature to the terms II
131 Ancient of Days the presiding Judge; seniority as standing I
71 Anoint investiture into office I
20 Atonement the charge covered, account cleared IV
114 Avenger of blood the executor of the sentence VII
122 Bear Iniquity to carry the liability of an offense IV
91 Betroth the binding contract before the wedding II
60 Birthright the firstborn's legal privilege III
89 Blood a plaintiff, and the price provided IV
31 Book the legal register III
59 Bought the purchase completed, title moved IV
92 Bride a covenant party under the marriage bond II
126 Brought Near escorted presentation before the bench (Dan 7:13) I
58 Buy to acquire by paying the price IV
116 Cause the case itself before the court VII
98 Chesed the obligated kindness of the bond V
67 Clean legally admissible to approach III
5 Condemn to judge down against, guilty VII
49 Confess a legal admission on record V
18 Covenant the binding treaty itself II
76 Crown sovereignty, and the prize adjudged I
90 Cry the appeal lodged with the court VI
41 Cut to ratify a covenant in blood II
132 Cut Off the covenant death-sentence of severance VII
17 Debt the obligation owed on the books VI
138 Decree an enacted decree with legal force II
50 Deny legal repudiation of a bond V
95 Divorce the legal dissolution of the covenant II
129 ● Dominion Taken Away the judicial stripping of jurisdiction I
147 Double Portion the firstborn's two shares of the estate III
78 Elder magistrate seated in the gate I
33 Engrave cut beyond amendment VI
144 Examine the required judicial inquiry into witnesses VI
83 Face presence, the standing to appear I
100 Faithful fidelity that holds under test V
146 False Report an unverified word lifted and carried VI
99 Favor unearned standing granted from above IV
85 Footstool dominion, the conquered under foot I
16 Forgive to lift the charge from the record IV
64 Free manumitted standing III
79 Gate the courthouse of the city I
119 Guilty liable, owing the debt assessed VII
81 Hand power, custody, jurisdiction I
137 Handwriting of Ordinances the handwritten certificate of debt (Col 2:14) IV
46 Hear to heed and comply V
52 Heir one with standing to receive III
93 Husband the covenant party with authority and duty II
53 Inherit to take lawful possession III
51 Inheritance the estate allotted by law III
118 Innocent acquitted, clean of the charge VII
12 Intercession one who steps between guilt and bench IV
96 Jealous the offended party enforcing exclusivity II
149 Joint-Heir shared standing in one undivided estate III
22 Jubilee debt cancelled, liberty proclaimed IV
1 Judge the one who hears and rules I
2 Judgment the ruling, and the case-law I
4 Justification the acquittal made formal VII
3 Justify to acquit from the bench VII
48 Keep to guard as a charge V
73 King the sovereign who issues law I
123 Land of Separation the decreed land of cutting-off (Lev 16:22) VII
56 Landmark the boundary stone of legal title III
148 Lawlessness the state of standing outside the code II
23 Liberty the legal release of the bound IV
84 Lift the face partiality, the sin of favoritism I
55 Lot allotment by binding lot III
97 Love covenant loyalty and allegiance V
140 Made Inoperative to render an instrument inoperative, not erased IV
106 Measure the fixed standard of judgment VI
11 Mediator the officer who makes the covenant hold IV
36 Memorial a remembrance filed on record VI
72 Messiah the one appointed and installed I
87 Mouth where testimony and decree issue VI
38 Name legal identity and authority III
104 Number enrolled on the official roll III
124 Outside the Camp the place of the legally condemned VII
37 Pillar a witness monument in stone VI
115 Plead to bring and argue the lawsuit VII
54 Portion the assigned legal share III
57 Possess to take and hold as legal owner III
77 Priest officer who teaches and judges the law I
70 Profane to breach a holy boundary III
44 Promise a pledge that confers a claim II
125 Prosecutor the prosecuting party before the bench VII
15 Ransom the price that answers a life IV
101 Reckon to credit or debit the account VI
28 Recompense the debt paid in our place IV
29 Reconcile the ledger brought back to zero IV
13 Redeem to buy back under kinsman law IV
14 Redemption release secured by a price IV
113 Refuge legal asylum with due process VII
24 Release the sabbatical cancelling of debt IV
45 Remember to act on a standing obligation V
25 Rest secured possession of the inheritance V
27 Restitution the wrong repaid in full IV
30 Restore property and standing returned IV
108 Reward the due paid to the faithful VII
82 Right hand the seat of delegated authority I
6 Righteousness conformity to the standard II
141 Rightly Dividing accurate handling of the record VI
21 Sabbath the covenant sign, kept V
69 Sanctify set apart into holy status III
105 Scales the balance of just measure VI
75 Scepter the emblem of jurisdiction I
34 Seal authenticated, marked as owned III
121 Seat vs Throne the derived bench vs the sovereign's seat I
150 Sent One delegated authority, bound to the message sent I
135 ● Separate vs Mingle lawful distinction vs unlawful confusion II
63 Servant a regulated bond of service III
136 ● Set Apart by Report severance produced by testimony thrown between VII
26 Shalom the account paid, the books at zero IV
35 Sign the token that proves the bond III
86 Sit to convene as judge I
134 ● Slanderer the party who lodges the slanderous charge VII
65 Sojourner the resident alien's status III
62 Sonship status carrying the inheritance III
80 Stand to hold standing before the bench I
109 Steward the trustee called to account VII
120 Surety the pledge that guarantees the outcome IV
42 Swear to bind oneself by oath II
145 Talebearer one who peddles a report house to house VI
142 ● Teacher and Master titles of standing forbidden to men (Matt 23:8,10) I
8 Testimony the deposited terms of the law II
133 ● The Assembly a body claiming standing to teach and judge I
128 The Books Opened the books opened, the record entered VI
127 The Session the court session and its verdict VII
74 Throne the judgment seat itself I
130 ● Times and Law forged tampering with appointed times and statute II
88 Tongue evidence that acquits or condemns VI
19 Transgression the breach of a fixed line II
110 Trust the deposit answered for at return VII
40 Truth legal verity, what holds up II
143 Two Witnesses a matter established at two or three mouths VI
68 Unclean legally barred, with a remedy III
139 Under the Law under the sentence, not under obligation to obey VII
112 Vengeance judicial redress reserved to the bench VII
103 Visit a judicial audit of the record VI
43 Vow a self-imposed binding obligation II
107 Wages the legal due of labor owed VII
47 Walk conduct measured against the code V
66 Widow a protected legal class III
7 Witness sworn testimony, corroborated VI
111 Wrath the settled sentence of the court VII
32 Write to make a matter binding VI

nazaryah.com · The Legal Lexicon of Scripture