Bible Dictionary
INQUISITION
Inquisition is careful and diligent investigation to discover the truth, especially by examining witnesses or circumstances. It may occur in a court or without official authority.
Definition
Inquisition is careful and diligent inquiry undertaken to discover the truth. It may involve questioning witnesses in court or examining circumstances and conditions without official authority.
Biblical Usage
The biblical uses concern diligently investigating matters and searching them out. The term is associated with the examination of evidence and circumstances in passages such as Deuteronomy 19:18, Psalm 9:12, and Esther 2:23.
Historical Background
The underlying words mean to follow up, inquire diligently, question, search, strive after, or search out.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>in-kwi-zish'-un (darash, "to follow," "diligently inquire," "question," "search" (De 19:18; Ps 9:12), baqash, "to search out," "to strive after," "inquire" (Es 2:23)): The term refers, as indicated by these passages, first of all to a careful and diligent inquiry necessary to ascertain the truth from witnesses in a court, but may also refer to a careful examination into circumstances or conditions without official authority.</p>