νομικός
nomikós
G3544 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Pertaining to law or custom; in a substantive sense, a legal expert or authority. As an adjective, describes something related to legal principles, regulations, or traditions. As a noun in Hellenistic and New Testament contexts, often refers to a specialist or interpreter of the laws of the Israelite tradition (commonly Mosaic law), but may also be generally applied to someone trained in law or jurisprudence. Semantic range includes both the adjectival sense ('legal, relating to law') and the sense of an expert or practitioner ('jurist, legal scholar').
Semantic Range
pertaining to law, relating to legal matters, legal expert, jurist, interpreter of Israelite law, legal scholar, scholar of custom or tradition
Root / Etymology
From the Greek root νόμος ('law, custom') with the adjectival suffix -ικός, indicating 'pertaining to.' Thus, 'nomikós' literally means 'pertaining to law.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, νομικός was used rarely, generally in the sense of 'legal' or 'pertaining to custom/law.' With the rise of the Hellenistic kingdoms and especially in the eastern Mediterranean, the term gained a more formal sense, particularly as a noun, to describe individuals who interpreted or taught law, not limited to any one tradition. In the Septuagint, the term is rare but understood in light of Greek-speaking legal traditions. In the New Testament, particularly in Luke and Acts, νομικός refers to individuals recognized as authorities or interpreters of Judean (Israelite) law and custom, comparable to scribes (γραμματεῖς), but specifically experts in legal matters. English translations often use 'lawyer,' but this may suggest modern legal professions not identical to the historical role. Traditional translation as 'lawyer' or 'doctor of the law' can obscure the fact that the function was primarily religious and customary within the Israelite and Judean context, not secular or civic as in Greek city-states or Roman law. The term overlaps with γραμματεύς ('scribe') but emphasizes expertise in legal interpretation. Unlike later Rabbinic judges or legal scholars, the New Testament νομικοί functioned as interpreters of sacred law within a broader religious and communal context.
Translation Consistency
Most occurrences function adjectivally (‘pertaining to law’), and ‘legal’ is the natural, idiomatic English rendering that also easily supports substantive contexts (e.g. ‘a legal expert’ / ‘the legal one’). It matches the common NT sense (specialist in the law) while remaining consistent and natural.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from νόμος; according (or pertaining) to law, i.e. legal (ceremonially); as noun, an expert in the (Mosaic) law:--about the law, lawyer.
Root Family
νομικός (nomikos) — law, custom, regulation
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3544-05 |
νομικὸς | nomikos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
lawyer | legal scholar | legal scholar | 2 |
G3544-04 |
νομικῶν | nomikon | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
lawyers | of legal experts | legal expert | 2 |
G3544-03 |
νομικοῖς | nomikois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
lawyers | to legal scholars | legal scholars | 2 |
G3544-02 |
νομικοὶ | nomikoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
lawyers | legal scholars | legal scholars | 1 |
G3544-06 |
νομικοὺς | nomikous | ADJ.S ACC M PL |
lawyers | legal experts | legal experts | 1 |
G3544-01 |
νομικὰς | nomikas | ADJ.A ACC F PL |
about the law | legal (feminine plural) | about the law | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3544-05 |
Matthew 22:35 | νομικὸς | nomikos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
lawyer | legal scholar | legal scholar |
G3544-02 |
Luke 7:30 | νομικοὶ | nomikoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
lawyers | legal scholars | legal scholars |
G3544-05 |
Luke 10:25 | νομικός | nomikos | ADJ.S NOM M SG |
lawyer | legal scholar | legal scholar |
G3544-04 |
Luke 11:45 | νομικῶν | nomikon | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
lawyers | of legal experts | of legal experts |
G3544-03 |
Luke 11:46 | νομικοῖς | nomikois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
lawyers | to legal scholars | to legal scholars |
G3544-03 |
Luke 11:52 | νομικοῖς | nomikois | ADJ.S DAT M PL |
lawyers | to legal scholars | legal scholars |
G3544-06 |
Luke 14:3 | νομικοὺς | nomikous | ADJ.S ACC M PL |
lawyers | legal experts | legal experts |
G3544-01 |
Titus 3:9 | νομικὰς | nomikas | ADJ.A ACC F PL |
about the law | legal (feminine plural) | about the law |
G3544-04 |
Titus 3:13 | νομικὸν | nomikon | ADJ.R ACC M SG |
lawyer | of legal experts | legal expert |