The term "sheriff" as understood in contemporary contexts does not appear directly in the Bible. However, the concept of law enforcement and maintaining order is present throughout the Scriptures. In biblical times, various officials and leaders were responsible for upholding justice and ensuring the peace and safety of the community. These roles can be seen as precursors to the modern-day sheriff.

Biblical Roles Related to Law Enforcement:

1. Judges and Officers:
· In the Old Testament, judges and officers were appointed to maintain justice and order among the people. Deuteronomy 16:18 states, "You are to appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they are to judge the people with righteous judgment."

2. Elders and Leaders:
· Elders often served as local leaders who would resolve disputes and enforce laws. Their role was crucial in maintaining societal order. In the book of Ruth, the elders of the city played a role in legal matters, as seen in Ruth 4:1-2 , where Boaz speaks to the elders at the city gate.

3. Kings and Rulers:
· Kings in Israel, such as David and Solomon, were responsible for the broader enforcement of laws and justice across the nation. Proverbs 29:4 highlights the role of a king in maintaining justice: "By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down."

4. Centurions and Roman Officials:
· In the New Testament, Roman centurions and officials were responsible for maintaining order. Acts 21:31-32 describes how Roman soldiers intervened to prevent a riot in Jerusalem: "While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman cohort received the report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. Immediately he took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd."

Principles of Justice and Order:

1. Divine Justice:
· The Bible emphasizes that true justice comes from God. Psalm 82:3-4 instructs, "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked."

2. Righteousness and Fairness:
· The Scriptures call for fairness and righteousness in judgment. Leviticus 19:15 commands, "You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly."

3. Peace and Order:
· Maintaining peace and order is a biblical principle. Romans 13:1-4 speaks to the role of governing authorities: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God."

While the specific title of "sheriff" is absent from biblical texts, the roles and responsibilities associated with maintaining justice and order are deeply rooted in Scripture. These principles continue to inform the understanding and execution of law enforcement in societies influenced by biblical teachings.Daniel 3:2,3
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Nave's Topical Index

The Life of Sir Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston.
... of Rothes, Dunfermline and Loudon, the sheriff of Teviotdale ... be no lawful, full or
free general assembly, say ... out much clear light from the scriptures, and from ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of sir archibald.htm

The Great Schism
... in their personal interpretation of the Scriptures, and in ... as Papists and hustled
from sheriff to sheriff for three ... we find that in 1746 the General Court of ...
/.../chapter x the great schism.htm

The Way from Sin to Perfect Salvation.
... having received his sentence he, in the sheriff's charge, passed ... of the Almighty
as revealed in the holy Scriptures. ... redemption of the soul, in a general way. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter v the way from.htm

The Abrogation of the Saybrook Platform
... goods, he was seized by the sheriff for rates ... of this Colony is not founded upon
the Scriptures of truth ... was an overzealous sycophant of the General Assembly, a ...
/.../chapter xi the abrogation of.htm

Acts VIII
... of a barren waste, but in its more general acceptation, of ... proves that the confession
which the Scriptures show to ... the jurors, the judge, the sheriff, and the ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts viii.htm

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians ...
... 1:19-21).3. I believe the great end why God committed the scriptures to writing ...
'Concerning the works of men [said David] by the word of thy lips, I have kept ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/john bunyan on the terms.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... The Church of the eighteenth century, and of the Georgian period in general, was
by no means deficient in estimable clergymen who lived and died amid the well ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... under the hand and seal of the sheriff of Bedfordshire ... of us and of our souls in
the general, but that ... it is divers ways taken in the scriptures; as, sometimes ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... performed on the Lord's-day; and, judging from the general character of bell ... and
rebellious man for extraordinary submission to the sacred Scriptures, and for ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

Who was Herod Agrippa I? | GotQuestions.org

Sheriff: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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