Definition and Meaning:
The Hebrew term "Mishpat" (מִשְׁפָּט) is commonly translated as "justice," "judgment," or "ordinance" in the English Bible. It is a multifaceted term that encompasses the concepts of legal decisions, divine decrees, and moral righteousness. Mishpat is a central theme in the Hebrew Scriptures, reflecting God's character and His expectations for human conduct.

Biblical Usage:
Mishpat appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing the importance of justice and righteousness in the life of the Israelite community. It is often associated with God's covenantal relationship with Israel and His desire for His people to reflect His just nature.

1. Divine Justice:
Mishpat is used to describe God's righteous judgment and His role as the ultimate judge. In Genesis 18:25, Abraham appeals to God's justice, saying, "Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" . This verse highlights the expectation that God's judgments are inherently just and fair.

2. Human Justice:
The term also refers to the administration of justice among people. In Deuteronomy 16:18-20, the Israelites are commanded to appoint judges and officials who will administer justice fairly: "Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality; do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you" .

3. Social Justice:
Mishpat is often linked with social justice, particularly in the prophetic literature. The prophets frequently call out Israel for failing to uphold justice, especially for the marginalized and oppressed. In Micah 6:8, the prophet summarizes God's requirements: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" . This verse underscores the ethical dimension of mishpat, calling for a society that reflects God's justice through equitable treatment of all individuals.

4. Legal Ordinances:
Mishpat can also refer to specific legal ordinances or statutes given by God. These are the laws that govern the community and ensure justice is maintained. In Exodus 21:1, God instructs Moses, "These are the ordinances that you are to set before them" , introducing a series of laws that detail how justice should be administered in various situations.

Theological Significance:
Mishpat is integral to understanding the character of God and His expectations for His people. It reflects God's holiness and His desire for a just society. The call to practice mishpat is a call to align human actions with divine standards, ensuring that justice, mercy, and righteousness prevail in all aspects of life. The pursuit of mishpat is not merely a legal obligation but a moral imperative that reflects the heart of God and His kingdom values.5880. En Mishpat -- "spring of judgment," another name for a place ...
En Mishpat. 5879b, 5880. En Mishpat. 5881 . "spring of judgment," another
name for a place called Kadesh. Transliteration: En ...
/hebrew/5880.htm - 6k

4941. mishpat -- judgment
... 4940, 4941. mishpat. 4942 . judgment. Transliteration: mishpat Phonetic Spelling:
(mish-pawt') Short Definition: justice. ... 4940, 4941. mishpat. 4942 . ...
/hebrew/4941.htm - 7k

Chapter xiv
... 7. And they returned and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and smote all the
field of the Amalekites and also the Amorites that were dwelling in Hazazon ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Chapter xviii
... be construed as a subjective genitive: "the way which Yahweh desires." This is further
defined as involving "to do what is just (tsedhaqah) and right" (mishpat ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xviii.htm

Jeremiah and Deuteronomy. (Chs. vii, viii. 8, xi. )
... falsehood. The Oracle is addressed to the people of whom he has just said
that they do not know the Rule, the Mishpat, of the Lord. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 jeremiah and deuteronomy chs.htm

Footnotes
... 373 Hebrew adds Jerusalem with no sense and a disturbance to the metre. 374
Mishpat = rule, order, ordinance. 375 Torah = law, see p.154. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/footnotes.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... Horim on the spurs of Mount Seir as far as El-Paran; then retracing his footsteps,
he entered the country of the Amalekites by way of En-mishpat, and pillaged ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

En-mishpat (1 Occurrence)
En-mishpat. Enmishpat, En-mishpat. Enmish'pat . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
EN-MISHPAT. en-mish'-pat. See KADESH. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/e/en-mishpat.htm - 7k

Mishpat (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Mishpat (1 Occurrence). Genesis 14:7 They returned,
and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck ...
/m/mishpat.htm - 6k

Fashion (24 Occurrences)
... fash'-un (mishpaT; schema, the make, pattern, shape, manner or appearance of a thing
(from Latin faction-em, "a making," through Old French fatson, fachon ...
/f/fashion.htm - 21k

Enmishpat (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia EN-MISHPAT. en-mish'-pat. See KADESH.
Multi-Version Concordance Enmishpat (1 Occurrence). Genesis ...
/e/enmishpat.htm - 6k

Manners (6 Occurrences)
... man'-er, man'-erz (dabhar, derekh, mishpaT; ethos, houtos): 1. As Used in the Old
Testament: "Manner" (probably from manus, "the hand," mode of handling things ...
/m/manners.htm - 17k

Manner (351 Occurrences)
... man'-er, man'-erz (dabhar, derekh, mishpaT; ethos, houtos): 1. As Used in the Old
Testament: "Manner" (probably from manus, "the hand," mode of handling things ...
/m/manner.htm - 45k

Right (4703 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RIGHT. rit (yashar, mishpaT; dikaios, euthus):
Many Hebrew words are translated "right," with different shades of meaning. ...
/r/right.htm - 14k

Measure (269 Occurrences)
... (d) Mesurah, Leviticus 19:35; 1 Chronicles 23:29. (e) Mishpat, Jeremiah 30:11,
elsewhere "judgment." (f) Mithkoneth and token, Ezek. 45:11. ...
/m/measure.htm - 45k

Hazazon-tamar (2 Occurrences)
... James Version Hazezon Tamar): "Hazazon of the palm trees," mentioned (Genesis
14:7) as a place of the Amorites, conquered, together with En-mishpat and the ...
/h/hazazon-tamar.htm - 8k

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)
... in early history. At En-mishpat ("the same is Kadesh") Chedorlaomer and
his allies smote the Amalekite and Amorite. Abraham dwelt ...
/k/kadeshbarnea.htm - 11k

What is the difference between laws, commands, commandments, decrees, and statutes? | GotQuestions.org

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