In the biblical context, the term "lawgiver" refers to individuals or entities that establish, communicate, or enforce laws and commandments. The concept of a lawgiver is deeply rooted in the narrative of the Bible, where God is ultimately portrayed as the supreme Lawgiver, and certain individuals are appointed to convey His laws to the people.

Divine Lawgiver:

God is recognized as the ultimate Lawgiver in the Bible. His laws are seen as perfect, just, and eternal. In the Old Testament, God gives the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, which includes the Ten Commandments and various other statutes and ordinances. These laws are foundational to the covenant relationship between God and the Israelites. James 4:12 states, "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"

Moses as Lawgiver:

Moses is the most prominent human lawgiver in the Bible. He is chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to deliver God's laws to them. The Mosaic Law, which includes moral, ceremonial, and civil laws, is central to the life and identity of the Israelite community. Deuteronomy 33:21 refers to Moses' role: "He provided the first part for himself, because a lawgiver's portion was reserved there. He came with the leaders of the people; he carried out the LORD’s justice and His ordinances for Israel."

Other Biblical Lawgivers:

While Moses is the primary lawgiver, other figures in the Bible also play roles in establishing or interpreting laws. Joshua, as Moses' successor, continues to uphold and enforce the Mosaic Law. The judges and kings of Israel, such as David and Solomon, are also seen as lawgivers in their capacity to govern and administer justice according to God's statutes.

The Role of Prophets:

Prophets in the Bible often serve as intermediaries between God and the people, reminding them of the Law and calling them back to obedience. They do not create new laws but rather reinforce the divine laws already given. Isaiah 33:22 highlights the Lord's role as both judge and lawgiver: "For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us."

The New Testament Perspective:

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is seen as the fulfillment of the Law. He is not described as a lawgiver in the traditional sense but rather as one who embodies and completes the Law. Matthew 5:17 records Jesus saying, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them." The apostolic writings further emphasize that the Law is fulfilled in Christ, and believers are called to live by the law of love, as articulated in Romans 13:10 : "Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law."

Conclusion:

The concept of a lawgiver in the Bible underscores the importance of divine authority and guidance in the moral and spiritual life of God's people. Whether through Moses, the prophets, or ultimately through Jesus Christ, the role of the lawgiver is to direct the community towards righteousness and covenant faithfulness.

The Wages of Sin
... Penalty should make an adequate expression of the lawgiver's views of the value
of the end he proposes to secure by law; also of his views of the sacredness of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/iii the wages of sin.htm

Our Death.
... But there is also punishment, which is the Lawgiver's act of upholding His law against
the lawbreaker. The Sacred Scripture calls this punishment "death.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvi our death.htm

Whether the Precepts of Temperance are Suitably Given in the ...
... Objection 3: Further, in the lawgiver's intention inducement to virtue precedes
the prohibition of vice, since vices are forbidden in order that obstacles to ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of temperance.htm

Whether Fasting is a Matter of Precept?
... are given under the form of a general precept, do not bind all persons in the same
way, but subject to the requirements of the end intended by the lawgiver. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether fasting is a matter.htm

Whether the Aforesaid virtues are Parts of Temperance?
... one is that punishment should be mitigated in accordance with the lawgiver's intention,
although not according to the letter of the law; and in this respect it ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the aforesaid virtues are.htm

Whether we Should Always Judge According to the Written Law?
... Objection 3: Further, a law is written in order that the lawgiver's intention
may be made clear. But it happens sometimes that even ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we should always judge.htm

Atonement.
... 5. In establishing a government and promulgating law, the lawgiver is always understood
as pledging himself duly to administer the laws in support of public ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xxv atonement.htm

The Charge to the Soldier of the Lord
... But the Lawgiver's law is one thing, and the lawyers' explanations which explain
it away or darken what was clear enough, however unwelcome, are quite another. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the charge to the soldier.htm

The Bishop Elect and Consecrate
... These, like Aaron and Hur, upheld the lawgiver's hands, and they, with
others of a like kidney, soon changed the face of affairs. ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter iv the bishop elect.htm

Of the Method of Continual Prayer.
... This you should think about, according to the Lawgiver's charge, "at home
and walking forth on a journey," [1675] sleeping and waking. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter x of the method.htm

Lawgiver's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lawgiver's (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 33:21 He provided
the first part for himself, for there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. ...
/l/lawgiver's.htm - 6k

Law-givers (2 Occurrences)
Law-givers. Lawgivers, Law-givers. Lawgiver's . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Lawgivers, Law-givers. Lawgiver's . Reference Bible.
/l/law-givers.htm - 7k

Lawgiving (1 Occurrence)

/l/lawgiving.htm - 6k

Leader's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Leader's (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 33:21 He provided
the first part for himself, for there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. ...
/l/leader's.htm - 6k

Reserved (28 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). Deuteronomy 33:21 He provided the first part
for himself, for there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. ...
/r/reserved.htm - 15k

Rebuild (36 Occurrences)
... Joshua 6:26 He provided the first part for himself, for there was the lawgiver's
portion reserved. He came with the heads of the people. ...
/r/rebuild.htm - 16k

Executed (39 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). Deuteronomy 33:21 He provided the first part
for himself, for there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. ...
/e/executed.htm - 18k

Provided (68 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 33:21 He provided the first part for himself, for there was the
lawgiver's portion reserved. He came with the heads of the people. ...
/p/provided.htm - 28k

Anthropology
... The latter, eg, has openly given utterance to his "just and sincere admiration of
the Jewish lawgiver's grand insight into nature and his simple and natural ...
/a/anthropology.htm - 38k

Chose (59 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 33:21 And he provided the first part for himself, For there was the
lawgiver's portion reserved; And he came with the heads of the people; He ...
/c/chose.htm - 25k

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