Bible Dictionary

ORDINANCE

Law & Covenant • Both

An ordinance is a prescribed rule, decree, or institution, often concerning worship, ritual, civil judgment, or religious conduct. Biblical ordinances may be given by God, established for the community, or described as divinely ordered institutions.

Definition

An ordinance is something prescribed: a rule, enactment, decree, judgment, charge, or established institution. In the Old Testament it commonly refers to religious or ceremonial prescriptions, though it may also denote civil enactments and judicial decisions. In the New Testament it can mean a ceremonial regulation, decree, tradition, or institution.

Biblical Usage

Ordinances include the Passover institution, ritual prescriptions, Deuteronomic and priestly laws, civil judgments, and divine commandments. The New Testament uses the term for religious regulations and decrees, and describes human institutions such as family and state as having divine origin.

Historical Background

The English word represents several Hebrew and Greek terms. In the Old Testament, it is often interchangeable with “statute,” while some passages use it for judgment, charge, or commandment. New Testament renderings include “regulation,” “decree,” “tradition,” and “institution.”

Historical Bible Dictionaries

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

or'-di-nans:1. Old Testament Use:This word generally represents chuqqah, 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, choq. the Revised Version (British and American) generally retains "ordinance," but sometimes substitutes "statute" (e.g. Ex 18:20; Ps 99:7). In one instance the Revised Version (British and American) renders "set portion" (Eze 45:14). The word generally has a religious or ceremonial significance. It is used for instance in connection with the Passover (Ex 12:43; Nu 9:14). According to Ex 12:14, 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 (De 6:1,2; Le 18:4).In 11 passages (Ex 15:25; Jos 24:25; 1Sa 30:25; 2Ki 17:34,37; 2Ch 33:8; 35:13; Ps 119:91; Isa 58:2 twice; Eze 11:20) "ordinance" is the rendering of mishpaT, judgment, decision or sentence by a judge or ruler. In the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:22-23:33) the term "judgments" denotes civil, as contrasted with ritual, enactments. In 2Ki 17:34 the King James Version employs "manners" and "ordinances" as renderings of this word. In 3 passages (Le 18:30; 22:9; Mal 3:14) "ordinance" is the translation of mishmereth, "charge," which the Revised Version (British and American) restores. In one instance (Ne 10:32) ordinance renders mitswah, "commandment," while in Ezr 3:10 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) dikaioma, in Lu 1:6 and Heb 9:1,10. The word means literally, "anything declared right"; but in these passages ceremonial and religious regulation;(2) dogma, in Eph 2:15; Col 2:14. In the New Testament this word always means a decree or edict (Ac 17:7);(3) paradosis, in 1Co 11:2 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "traditions";(4) ktisis, "setting up," "institution" in 1Pe 2:13. 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 Ro 13:1.T. Lewis

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