officer Summary and Overview

It is obvious that most, if not all, of the Hebrew words rendered "officer" are either of an indefinite character or are synonymous terms for functionaries known under other and more specific names, as "scribe," "eunuch" etc. The two words so rendered in the New Testament denote -- 1. An inferior officer of a court of justice, a messenger or bailiff, like the Roman viator or lictor. #Mt 5:25; Ac 5:22| 2. Officers whose duty it was to register and collect fines imposed by courts of justice. #Lu 12:58|

OF'FICER , the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words. The commonest in the O.T. is the term meaning "scribe who keeps registers and tables." Ex 5:14. The N.T. words relate to legal functionaries: (1) Bailiffs, Matt 5:25; John 7:32, Gen 41:45; Acts 5:22; (2) Those who register and collect the fines imposed by courts of justice. Luke 12:58.

In New Testament used to translated hufretes "minister" (Matthew 5:25), and practor "exacter" or "officer of the court," only in Luke 12:58.