King James Bible Dictionary

A rule of action.

1. The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Romans 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.

2. The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Hebrews 7:9, 11; 10:1; Ephesians 2:16). It was fulfilled rather than abrogated by the gospel.

3. The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the Hebrew nation.

4. The Moral Law is the revealed will of God as to human conduct, binding on all men to the end of time. It was promulgated at Sinai. It is perfect (Psalms 19:7), perpetual (Matthew 5:17, 18), holy (Romans 7:12), good, spiritual (14), and exceeding broad (Psalms 119:96). Although binding on all, we are not under it as a covenant of works (Galatians 3:17). (See COMMANDMENTS.)

5. Positive Laws are precepts founded only on the will of God. They are right because God commands them.

6. Moral positive laws are commanded by God because they are right.

General references
Psalms 19:7-9; Psalms 119:1-8; Proverbs 28:4-5; Matthew 22:21; Luke 20:22-25; Luke 16:17; Romans 2:14-15; Romans 7:7; Romans 7:12; Romans 7:14; Romans 13:10; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; James 1:25; 1 John 3:4; 1 John 5:3
Litigation; Commandments; Duty, Of Man to God

Of Moses (Contained in the books: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy):

Given at Sinai
1 John 2:19; Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 4:10-13; Deuteronomy 33:2; Habakkuk 3:3

Received by the disposition of angels
Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2

Was given because of transgressions until the Messiah had come
Galatians 3:19

Engraved on stone

General references
Exodus 20:3-17; Exodus 24:12; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:16; Exodus 34:29; Exodus 40:20; Deuteronomy 4:13; Deuteronomy 5:4-22; Deuteronomy 9:10
Table; Commandments

Preserved in the ark of the covenant
Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 31:9; Deuteronomy 31:26

Found by Hilkiah in the house of the Lord
2 Kings 22:8

Engraved upon monuments
Deuteronomy 27:2-8; Joshua 8:30-35

To be written:

On door posts
Deuteronomy 6:9; Deuteronomy 11:20

On frontlets for the forehead, and parchment for the hand
Exodus 13:9; Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Children; Instruction

Expounded:

By the priests and Levites
Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 33:10; 2 Chronicles 35:3

Princes, priests and Levites publicly taught
Ezra 7:10; Nehemiah 8:1-18

From city to city
2 Chronicles 17:7-10

In synagogues
Luke 4:16-32; Acts 13:14-52; Acts 15:21; Acts 9:20; Acts 14:1; Acts 17:1-3; Acts 18:4; Acts 18:26

To the assembled nation at the feast of tabernacles in the sabbatic year
Deuteronomy 31:10-13

Renewed by Moses
Deuteronomy 4:44-46

Curses of, responsively read by Levites and people at Ebal and Gerizim
Deuteronomy 27:12-26; Joshua 8:33-35

Formed a constitution on which the civil government of the Israelites was founded, and according to which rulers were required to rule

General references
Deuteronomy 17:18-20; 2 Kings 11:12; 2 Chronicles 23:11
Government, Constitutional

Divine authority for
Exodus 19:16-24; Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 24:12-18; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; Exodus 34:1-4; Exodus 34:27-28; Leviticus 26:46; Deuteronomy 4:10-13; Deuteronomy 4:36; Deuteronomy 5:1-22; Deuteronomy 9:10; Deuteronomy 10:1-5; Deuteronomy 33:2-4; 1 Kings 8:9; Ezra 7:6; Nehemiah 1:7; Nehemiah 8:1; Nehemiah 9:14; Psalms 78:5; Psalms 103:7; Isaiah 33:22; Malachi 4:4; Acts 7:38; Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 9:18-21

Prophecies in, of the Messiah

General references
Luke 24:44; John 1:45; John 5:46; John 12:34; Acts 26:22-23; Acts 28:23; Romans 3:21-22
Jesus, The Christ, Prophecies Concerning

Epitomized by Jesus
Matthew 22:40; Mark 12:29-33; Luke 10:27

Book of law found by Hilkiah in the temple
2 Kings 22:8; 2 Chronicles 34:14

Temporary law
Jeremiah 3:16; Daniel 9:27; Matthew 5:17-45; Luke 16:16-17; John 1:17; John 4:20-24; John 8:35; Acts 6:14; Acts 10:28; Acts 13:39; Acts 15:1-29; Acts 21:20-25; Romans 3:1-2; Romans 7:1-6; Romans 8:3; Romans 10:4; 2 Corinthians 3:7-14; Galatians 2:3-9; Galatians 4:30-31; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14-23; Hebrews 8:4-13; Hebrews 9:8-24; Hebrews 10:1-18; Hebrews 11:40; Hebrews 12:18-19; Hebrews 12:27

The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized authority. The sense of the word, however, extends its scope and assumes a more abstracts character in the writings of St. Paul. Nomos , when used by him with the article, still refers in general to the law of Moses; but when used without the article, so as to embrace any manifestation of "law," it includes all powers which act on the will of man by compulsion, or by the pressure of external motives, whether their commands be or be not expressed in definite forms. The occasional use of the word "law" (as in (Romans 3:27) "law of faith") to denote an internal principle of action does not really mitigate against the general rule. It should also be noticed that the title "the Law" is occasionally used loosely to refer to the whole of the Old Testament, as in (John 10:34) referring to (Psalms 82:6) in (John 15:25) referring to (Psalms 35:19) and in (1 Corinthians 14:21) referring to (Isaiah 28:11,12)

LAW, noun [Latin lex; from the root of lay. See lay. A law is that which is laid, set or fixed, like statute, constitution, from Latin statuo.]

1. A rule, particularly an established or permanent rule, prescribed by the supreme power of a state to its subjects, for regulating their actions, particularly their social actions. Laws are imperative or mandatory, commanding what shall be done; prohibitory, restraining from what is to be forborn; or permissive, declaring what may be done without incurring a penalty. The laws which enjoin the duties of piety and morality, are prescribed by God and found in the Scriptures.

LAW is beneficence acting by rule.

2. Municipal law is a rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme power of a state, commanding what its subjects are to do, and prohibiting what they are to forbear; a statute.

Municipal or civil laws are established by the decrees, edicts or ordinances of absolute princes, as emperors and kings, or by the formal acts of the legislatures of free states. law therefore is sometimes equivalent to decree, edict, or ordinance.

3. law of nature, is a rule of conduct arising out of the natural relations of human beings established by the Creator, and existing prior to any positive precept. Thus it is a law of nature, that one man should not injure another, and murder and fraud would be crimes, independent of any prohibition from a supreme power.

4. Laws of animal nature, the inherent principles by which the economy and functions of animal bodies are performed, such as respiration, the circulation of the blood, digestion, nutrition, various secretions, etc.

5. Laws of vegetation, the principles by which plats are produced, and their growth carried on till they arrive to perfection.

6. Physical laws, or laws of nature. The invariable tendency or determination of any species of matter to a particular form with definite properties, and the determination of a body to certain motions, changes, and relations, which uniformly take place in the same circumstances, is called a physical law These tendencies or determinations, whether called laws or affections of matter, have been established by the Creator, and are, with a peculiar felicity of expression, denominated in Scripture, ordinances of heaven.

7. Laws of nations, the rules that regulate the mutual intercourse of nations or states. These rules depend on natural law or the principles of justice which spring from the social state; or they are founded on customs, compacts, treaties, leagues and agreements between independent communities.

By the law of nations, we are to understand that code of public instruction, which defines the rights and prescribes the duties of nations, in their intercourse with each other.

8. Moral law a law which prescribes to men their religious and social duties, in other words, their duties to God and to each other. The moral law is summarily contained in the decalogue or ten commandments, written by the finger of God on two tables of stone, and delivered to Moses on mount Sinai.

Exodus 20:1.

9. Ecclesiastical law a rule of action prescribed for the government of a church; otherwise called canon law

10. Written law a law or rule of action prescribed or enacted by a sovereign, and promulgated and recorded in writing; a written statute, ordinance, edict or decree.

11. Unwritten or common law a rule of action which derives its authority from long usage, or established custom, which has been immemorially received and recognized by judicial tribunals. As this law can be traced to no positive statutes, its rules or principles are to be found only in the records of courts, and in the reports of judicial decisions.

12. By-law, a law of a city, town or private corporation. [See By.]

13. Mosaic law the institutions of Moses, or the code of laws prescribed to the Jews, as distinguished from the gospel.

14. Ceremonial law the Mosaic institutions which prescribe the external rites and ceremonies to be observed by the Jews, as distinct from the moral precepts, which are of perpetual obligation.

15. A rule of direction; a directory; as reason and natural conscience.

These, having not the law as a law to themselves. Romans 2:12.

16. That which governs or has a tendency to rule; that which has the power of controlling.

But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:1.

17. The word of God; the doctrines and precepts of God, or his revealed will.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalms 1:2.

18. The Old Testament.

Is it not written in your law I said, ye are gods? John 10:34.

19. The institutions of Moses, as distinct from the other parts of the Old Testament; as the law and the prophets.

20. A rule or axiom of science or art; settled principle; as the laws of versification or poetry.

21. law martial, or martial law the rules ordained for the government of an army or military force.

22. Marine laws, rules for the regulation of navigation, and the commercial intercourse of nations.

23. Commercial law law-merchant, the system of rules by which trade and commercial intercourse are regulated between merchants.

24. Judicial process; prosecution of right in courts of law

Tom Touchy is a fellow famous for taking the law of every body.

Hence the phrase, to go to law to prosecute; to seek redress in a legal tribunal.

25. Jurisprudence; as in the title, Doctor of Laws.

26. In general, law is a rule of action prescribed for the government of rational beings or moral agents, to which rule they are bound to yield obedience, in default of which they are exposed to punishment; or law is a settled mode or course of action or operation in irrational beings and in inanimate bodies.

Civil law criminal law [See Civil and Criminal.]

LAWs of honor. [See Honor.]

LAW language, the language used in legal writings and forms, particularly the Norman dialect or Old French, which was used in judicial proceedings from the days of William the conqueror to the 36th year of Edward III.

Wager of law a species of trial formerly used in England, in which the defendant gave security that he would, on a certain day, make his law that is, he would make oath that he owed nothing to the plaintiff, and would produce eleven of his neighbors as compurgators, who should swear that they believed in their consciences that he had sworn the truth.

LAW'-BREAKER, noun One who violates the law