Greek · G3551 · unreviewed

νόμος

Law

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νόμος G3551

Pronunciation nómos

What does νόμος (nómos) mean in the Bible?

νόμος (nómos) is a Greek word meaning "law". νόμος, -ου, ὁ (νέμω, to deal out, distribute), [in LXX chiefly for תּוֹרָה, also for חֻקָּה, etc. Reliance on possession of the law without obedience results in greater accountability. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Justice.

Full entry for νόμος (G3551) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

law

Extended definition

Encompasses both the Mosaic law and any binding principle or force impelling moral action

(νέμω, to deal out, distribute), [in LXX chiefly for תּוֹרָה, also for חֻקָּה, etc. ;] that which is assigned, hence, usage, custom, then law; in NT (only in Mt, Jo, Ja, and the Lucan and Pauline bks.);

1of law in general: Rom.3:27 5:13b; pl., of divine laws, Heb.8:10 10:16; ὁ ν. τ. Χριστοῦ, Gal.6:2; (τ.) ἐλευθερίας, Jas.1:25 2:12; βασιλικιός (Hort., in l.; Deiss., LAE, 267:3), Jas.2:8.

2Of a force or influence impelling to action: Rom.7:21, 23a, 25 8:2.

3Of the Mosaic law: Mat.5:18, Luk.2:27, Jhn.1:17, Act.6:13, Rom.2:15, 1Co.9:8, 1Ti.1:8, Heb.7:19; al.; Μωυσέως, Luk.2:22, Jhn.7:23, Act.15:5, al.; κυρίου, Luk.2:39; κατὰ τὸν ν., Act.22:12, Heb.7:5 9:22.

4As printed, Abbott-Smith mistakenly numbers this as 3.Anarthrous (Bl, §46, 8; ICC on Rom.2:12, 13), νόμος,

aof law in general: Rom.2:12, 14b 3:20, 21 4:15, al.;

bof the Mosaic law in its quality as law: Rom.2:14a 5:20 10:4, Gal.2:19, al.; οἱ ἐκ ν., Rom.4:14; ὑπὸ νόμον, 1Co.9:20, Gal.4:5; ν. πράσσειν (πληροῦν), Rom.2:25 13:8.

5Of Christian teaching: ν. πίστεως, Rom.3:27; τ. Χριστοῦ, Gal.6:2.

6By meton., of the books which contain the law;

aof the Pentateuch: Mat.12:5, Jhn.1:45, al.; ὁ ν. καὶ οἱ προφῆται, Mat.5:17, Luk.16:16, al.; ὁ ν. καὶ προφῆται κ. ψαλμοί, Luk.24:44.

bof the OT Scriptures in general (as Heb. תּוֹרָה): Jhn.10:34 12:34 15:25, 1Co.14:21, al.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Reliance on possession of the law without obedience results in greater accountability. 1 Timothy 1:8-11

Paul clarifies that faith does not nullify the law but fulfills its intended role. Matthew 7:12

Highlights both God’s revealed standard and the internal principle of conflict. Romans 2:17-29

Affirms continuity and fulfillment of covenant revelation. Romans 3:27-31

Understanding the law’s proper function prevents both legalism and antinomianism and preserves its role as a mirror that exposes sin. Romans 7:14-25

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine Matt 7:12 · Matt 11:13 · Matt 22:40 · Luke 16:16 · John 1:17 · John 7:23 · John 7:51 · Rom 2:14 · Rom 3:19 · Rom 4:15 · Rom 5:20 · Rom 7:1 · Rom 7:7 · Rom 7:12 · Rom 7:14 · Rom 8:2 34×

Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 5:18 · Matt 23:23 · Luke 2:27 · Luke 16:17 · John 12:34 · Acts 6:13 · Acts 13:15 · Acts 18:15 · Acts 21:20 · Acts 21:28 · Acts 22:3 · Acts 23:29 · Acts 28:23 · Rom 2:12 · Rom 2:13 · Rom 2:14 67×

Dative · Singular · Masculine Matt 12:5 · Matt 22:36 · Luke 2:23 · Luke 2:24 · Luke 10:26 · Luke 24:44 · John 1:45 · John 8:17 · John 10:34 · John 15:25 · Acts 13:38 · Rom 2:12 · Rom 2:17 · Rom 2:20 · Rom 2:23 · Rom 3:19 31×

Accusative · Singular · Masculine Matt 5:17 · Luke 2:22 · Luke 2:39 · John 7:19 · John 7:49 · John 18:31 · John 19:7 · Acts 7:53 · Acts 15:5 · Acts 18:13 · Acts 21:24 · Acts 22:12 · Acts 23:3 · Acts 24:14 · Acts 25:8 · Rom 2:14 59×

Accusative · Plural · Masculine Heb 8:10 · Heb 10:16 2×

Canonical Themes

Covenant Faith JusticeRevelation

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 Timothy 1:8-11 law nómos

God’s revealed standard, especially the Mosaic law, expressing His moral will.

Matthew 7:12 νόμος nómos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

law

Romans 2:17-29 νόμος nómos Dative · Singular · Masculine

Law, especially the Mosaic law.

Romans 3:27-31 νόμος nómos

Law, especially Mosaic law.

Romans 7:14-25 νόμος nómos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

Law, principle or Mosaic law.

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 13 — The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 18 — The Lord Strengthens the Mission in Corinth and Beyond Acts 21 — Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Seized in the Temple Acts 23 — The Lord Stands Near Paul and Preserves His Witness Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Galatians 2 — Justified by Faith: Gospel Unity, Apostolic Confrontation, and Life in Christ Galatians 3 — Faith, Promise, and the Curse-Bearing Christ Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Luke 16 — Faithful Stewardship, the Danger of Wealth, and the Finality of Judgment Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ Romans 10 — Christ the End of the Law and the Righteousness Received by Faith Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 2 — God’s Righteous Judgment and the Exposure of Religious Presumption Romans 3 — All Under Sin and the Righteousness of God Revealed Through Faith in Christ Romans 4 — Abraham Justified by Faith and the Promise Secured by Grace Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 6 — Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus Romans 7 — Released from the Law, Exposed by the Law, and Crying Out for Deliverance Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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