3237

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 3237 designates a term that describes a person thoroughly trained in the Mosaic Law—a “law-student” or legal scholar. Although the word itself is not found in the Greek New Testament, the idea it conveys is woven throughout Scripture wherever God raises up individuals to study, preserve, teach, and sometimes distort His revealed will.

Roots in the Old Testament Pattern

• The LORD entrusted His statutes to leaders who would “teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken” (Leviticus 10:11).
• Ezra stands as the archetype: “Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
• Levites and scribes likewise explained the Torah: “They read from the Book of the Law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read” (Nehemiah 8:8).

These passages establish the biblical expectation that a true student of the Law combines diligent study, personal obedience, and faithful instruction.

Intertestamental Usage

Jewish literature of the Second Temple era employs language equivalent to Strong’s 3237 to describe scribes distinguished for their mastery of Scripture. Such scholars codified traditions that later formed the foundations of rabbinic Judaism. While their zeal preserved covenant documents, it also fostered an environment in which man-made rulings could rival the authority of Scripture (cf. Mark 7:8–9).

Parallel New Testament Expressions

Though Strong’s 3237 does not appear, kindred terms do:
• “Experts in the Law” (Luke 10:25; Luke 11:46)
• “Teachers of the Law” (1 Timothy 1:7)
• “Scribes” (Matthew 23:2)

These figures illustrate both the honor and peril attached to extensive learning. Jesus commends accurate teaching (Matthew 13:52) yet rebukes those whose scholarship becomes a cloak for pride (Luke 11:52).

Theological Significance

1. Stewardship of Revelation. God repeatedly channels His truth through informed servants; ignorance is never celebrated (Joshua 1:8).
2. Accountability. Greater light brings greater responsibility. “Woe to you as well, experts in the Law, because you weigh men down with heavy burdens” (Luke 11:46).
3. Fulfillment in Christ. The ultimate interpreter of the Law is the Messiah Himself (Matthew 5:17). All genuine study must therefore lead to Him (John 5:39).

Ministry Implications

• Pastoral Calling. Elders must be “holding firmly to the trustworthy word as taught” so they can “encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9).
• Discipleship Model. Ezra’s pattern—study, practice, teach—remains the blueprint for every believer who would handle Scripture responsibly (2 Timothy 2:15).
• Guarding Against Legalism. Knowledge divorced from love yields spiritual deadness; therefore “the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart” (1 Timothy 1:5).

Related Terms

νόμος (law); νομικός (lawyer/expert); νομοδιδάσκαλος (teacher of the law); γραμματεύς (scribe).

Conclusion

Strong’s 3237 highlights the enduring role of the disciplined student of divine law. Whether viewed in Ezra’s generation, among the scribes of Jesus’ day, or in today’s church, the calling is the same: know the word of God, live the word of God, and teach the word of God—always in humble submission to the One who gave it.

Englishman's Concordance

μελῶν — 2 Occ.
μέλος — 5 Occ.
Μελχὶ — 2 Occ.
Μελχισεδέκ — 8 Occ.
ἔμελεν — 2 Occ.
μέλει — 7 Occ.
μελέτω — 1 Occ.
μεμβράνας — 1 Occ.
μέμφεται — 1 Occ.
μεμφόμενος — 1 Occ.
μὲν — 182 Occ.
Μενοῦν — 1 Occ.
μενοῦνγε — 2 Occ.
μέντοι — 8 Occ.
ἐμείναμεν — 2 Occ.
ἔμειναν — 2 Occ.
ἔμεινεν — 10 Occ.
ἔμενεν — 3 Occ.
ἔμενον — 1 Occ.
μεῖναι — 6 Occ.