968. béma

Lexicon

béma: Judgment seat, tribunal, platform

Original Word: βῆμα
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: béma
Pronunciation: BAY-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (bay'-ma)
Definition: Judgment seat, tribunal, platform
Meaning: an elevated place ascended by steps, a throne, tribunal.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

judgment seat, throne.

From the base of basis; a step, i.e. Foot-breath; by implication, a rostrum, i.e. A tribunal -- judgment-seat, set (foot) on, throne.

see GREEK basis

HELPS Word-studies

968 bḗma (from bainō, "to step, ascend") – properly, a platform to which someone walked up to receive judgment; (figuratively) the administration of justice – literally, given from "a tribunal-chair" (throne) where rewards and punishments are meted out.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as basis
Definition
a step, raised place, by impl. a tribunal
NASB Translation
ground (1), judgment seat (7), rostrum (1), tribunal (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 968: βῆμα

βῆμα, βήματος, τό (from ΒΑΩ, βαίνω) (fr. Homer (h. Merc.), Pindar down);

1. a step, pace: βῆμα ποδός the space which the foot covers, a foot-breadth, Acts 7:5 (for כַּף־רֶגֶל, Deuteronomy 2:5, cf. Xenophon, an. 4, 7, 10; Cyril 7, 5, 6).

2. a raised place mounted by steps; a platform, tribune: used of the official seat of a judge, Matthew 27:19; John 19:13; Acts 18:12, 16; Acts 25:6, 10,(17); of the judgment-seat of Christ, Romans 14:10 (L T Tr WH τοῦ Θεοῦ); 2 Corinthians 5:10; of the structure, resembling a throne, which Herod built in the theater at Caesarea, and from which he used to view the games and make speeches to the people, Acts 12:21; (of an orator's pulpit, 2 Macc. 13:26; Nehemiah 8:4. Xenophon, mem. 3, 6, 1; Herodian, 2, 10, 2 (1, Bekker edition)).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the base of βαίνω (bainō), meaning "to go" or "to step."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for βῆμα, the concept of a judgment seat or place of authority can be related to Hebrew terms such as מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, Strong's H4941), meaning "judgment" or "justice," and כִּסֵּא (kisse, Strong's H3678), meaning "throne" or "seat," which can imply a place of authority or judgment.

Usage: The term βῆμα is used in the New Testament to refer to a judgment seat or tribunal where decisions are made. It is often associated with a place of authority where judgments are rendered, whether by a Roman official or in a metaphorical sense regarding divine judgment.

Context: The Greek term βῆμα (bēma) appears in several New Testament passages, primarily in contexts involving judgment or authority. It denotes a raised platform or seat where a judge or official would sit to hear cases and make decisions. In the Roman context, the βῆμα was a significant place of legal and civic authority, often located in public spaces such as forums or marketplaces.

In the New Testament, βῆμα is notably used in the following contexts:

• Judicial Authority: In Acts 18:12, Paul is brought before the βῆμα of Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, illustrating the term's use as a place of Roman judicial authority. Similarly, in Acts 25:6, Paul stands before the βῆμα of Festus.

• Divine Judgment: The term is also used metaphorically to describe the judgment seat of Christ. In Romans 14:10, Paul writes, "For we will all stand before the judgment seat (βῆμα) of God." This usage emphasizes the accountability of believers before Christ, who will judge their deeds.

• Eschatological Significance: In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul again refers to the βῆμα, stating, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat (βῆμα) of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad." This passage underscores the eschatological aspect of the βῆμα, where believers will be evaluated for their earthly lives.

The concept of the βῆμα in the New Testament serves as a reminder of both earthly and divine authority, highlighting the importance of justice and accountability in both temporal and eternal contexts.

Forms and Transliterations

βημα βήμα βῆμα βήματα βηματι βήματι βηματος βήματος bema bêma bēma bē̂ma bemati bēmati bḗmati bematos bēmatos bḗmatos

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 27:19 N-GNS
GRK: ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς
NAS: While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife
KJV: on the judgment seat, his
INT: on the judgment seat sent to

John 19:13 N-GNS
GRK: ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ βήματος εἰς τόπον
NAS: out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place
KJV: in the judgment seat in
INT: sat down upon [the] judgment seat at a place

Acts 7:5 N-ANS
GRK: αὐτῇ οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός καὶ
NAS: a foot of ground, and [yet], even when he had no
KJV: his foot on: yet
INT: it not even a length [of] a foot but

Acts 12:21 N-GNS
GRK: ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐδημηγόρει πρὸς
NAS: took his seat on the rostrum and [began] delivering an address
KJV: upon his throne, and
INT: on the throne was making an address to

Acts 18:12 N-ANS
GRK: ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα
NAS: him before the judgment seat,
KJV: him to the judgment seat,
INT: to the judgment seat

Acts 18:16 N-GNS
GRK: ἀπὸ τοῦ βήματος
NAS: And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
KJV: them from the judgment seat.
INT: from the judgment seat

Acts 18:17 N-GNS
GRK: ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ βήματος καὶ οὐδὲν
NAS: him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio
KJV: [him] before the judgment seat. And
INT: before the judgment seat And nothing

Acts 25:6 N-GNS
GRK: ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσεν τὸν
NAS: he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered
KJV: on the judgment seat commanded
INT: on the judgment seat he commanded

Acts 25:10 N-GNS
GRK: ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος Καίσαρός εἰμι
NAS: Caesar's tribunal, where
KJV: at Caesar's judgment seat, where I
INT: before the judgment seat of Ceasar I am

Acts 25:17 N-GNS
GRK: ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσα ἀχθῆναι
NAS: day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered
KJV: on the judgment seat, and commanded
INT: on the judgment seat I commanded to be brought

Romans 14:10 N-DNS
GRK: παραστησόμεθα τῷ βήματι τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: stand before the judgment seat of God.
KJV: stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
INT: we will stand before the judgment seat of God

2 Corinthians 5:10 N-GNS
GRK: ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ βήματος τοῦ χριστοῦ
NAS: before the judgment seat of Christ,
KJV: before the judgment seat of Christ;
INT: before the judgment seat of Christ

Strong's Greek 968
12 Occurrences

βῆμα — 2 Occ.
βήματι — 1 Occ.
βήματος — 9 Occ.