King James Bible Dictionary

RULE, noun [Latin regula, from rego, to govern, that is, to stretch, strain or make straight.]

1. Government; sway; empire; control; supreme command or authority.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame. Proverbs 17:2.

And his stern rule the groaning land obey'd.

2. That which is established as a principle, standard or directory; that by which any thing is to be adjusted or regulated, or to which it is to be conformed; that which is settled by authority or custom for guidance and direction. Thus a statute or law is a rule of civil conduct; a canon is a rule of ecclesiastical government; the precept or command of a father is a rule of action or obedience to children; precedents in law are rules of decision to judges; maxims and customs furnish rules for regulating our social opinions and manners. The laws of God are rules for directing us in life, paramount to all others.

A rule which you do not apply, is no rule at all.

3. An instrument by which lines are drawn.

Judicious artist will use his eye, but he will trust only to his rule

4. Established mode or course of proceeding prescribed in private life. Every man should have some fixed rules for managing his own affairs.

5. In literature, a maxim, canon or precept to be observed in any art or science.

6. In monasteries, corporations or societies, a law or regulation to be observed by the society and its particular members.

7. In courts, rules are the determinations and orders of court, to be observed by its officers in conducting the business of the court.

8. In arithmetic and algebra, a determinate mode prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result.

9. In grammar, an establish form of construction in a particular class of words; or the expression of that form in words. Thus it is a rule in English, that s or es, added to a noun in the singular number, forms the plural of that noun; but man forms its plural men, and is an exception to the rule

RULE of three, is that rule of arithmetic which directs, when three terms are given, how to find a fourth, which shall have the same ratio to the third term, as the second has to the first.

RULE, verb transitive

1. To govern; to control the will and actions of others, either by arbitrary power and authority, or by established laws. The emperors of the east rule their subjects without the restraints of a constitution. In limited governments, men are ruled by known laws.

If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? 1 Timothy 3:5.

2. To govern the movements of things; to conduct; to manage; to control. That God rules the world he has created, is a fundamental article of belief.

3. To manage; to conduct, in almost any manner.

4. To settle as by a rule

That's a ruled case with the schoolmen.

5. To mark with lines by a ruler; as, to rule a blank book.

6. To establish by decree or decision; to determine; as a court.

RULE, verb intransitive To have power or command; to exercise supreme authority.

By me princes rule Proverbs 8:16.

It is often followed by over.

They shall rule over their oppressors. Isaiah 14:2.

We subdue and rule over all other creatures.

RU'LED, participle passive Governed; controlled; conducted; managed; established by decision.

RU'LER, noun

1. One that governs, whether emperor, king, pope or governor; any one that exercises supreme power over others.

2. One that makes or executes laws in a limited or free government. Thus legislators and magistrates are called rulers.

3. A rule; an instrument of wood or metal with straight edges or sides, by which lines are drawn on paper, parchment or other substance. When a ruler has the lines of chords, tangents, sines, etc. it is called a plane scale.

Appointed and removed by God
Government, God in

Chastised

General references
Hosea 27:4
Nation

Monarchical
King

Patriarchal
Genesis 27:29; Genesis 27:37

Instances of Patriarchal:

Nimrod
Genesis 10:8-10

Abraham
Genesis 14:13-24; Genesis 17:6; Genesis 21:21-32

Melchizedek
Genesis 14:18

Isaac
Genesis 26:26-31

Judah
Genesis 38:24

Heads of families
Exodus 6:14

Ishmael
Genesis 17:20

Esau, and the dukes of Edom
Genesis 1:36

Theocratic
Government

Character and qualifications of
Genesis 41:33; Exodus 18:21-22; Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 1:13; Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 27:19; 2 Samuel 23:3-4; Ezra 7:25; Psalms 2:10-11; Psalms 72:1-17; Proverbs 16:10; Proverbs 16:12-13; Proverbs 17:7; Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 20:8; Proverbs 20:26; Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 21:1; Proverbs 24:23-26; Proverbs 25:2-3; Proverbs 25:5; Proverbs 28:2; Proverbs 28:16; Proverbs 29:2; Proverbs 29:4; Proverbs 29:14; Proverbs 31:4-5; Proverbs 31:8-9; Ecclesiastes 8:4; Ecclesiastes 10:16-17; Isaiah 5:22-23; Isaiah 16:5; Isaiah 28:6; Isaiah 60:17; Jeremiah 13:18; Romans 12:8; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-14

Duties of
Exodus 18:16; Exodus 18:20-21; Exodus 23:3; Exodus 23:6-7; Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:15; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 27:16-17; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 17:16-20; Deuteronomy 19:18-19; Deuteronomy 24:16; Deuteronomy 25:1; Joshua 1:7-8; 2 Chronicles 9:8; 2 Chronicles 19:6-7; Ezra 7:25-26; Psalms 82:2-4; Psalms 148:11; Psalms 148:13; Isaiah 58:6; Jeremiah 22:1-3; Jeremiah 21:12; Zech 7:9-10; Zech 8:16; Romans 13:3; 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Peter 2:14

Righteous, instances of:

Pharaoh, in his treatment of Abraham
Genesis 12:15-20

Abimelech, in his treatment:

Of Abraham
Genesis 1:20

Of Isaac
Genesis 26:6-11

Joseph, in his conduct of the affairs of Egypt
Genesis 41:37-57

Pharaoh, in his treatment of Jacob and his family
Genesis 47:5-10; Genesis 50:1-6

Moses, in his administration of the affairs of the children of Israel
Numbers 16:15
Government, Mosaic

Samuel, in not taking reward for judgment
1 Samuel 12:3-4

Saul, after the defeat of the Ammonites
1 Samuel 11:12-13

Solomon:

In his judgment between the two women who claimed the same child
1 Kings 3:16-28

According to the testimony of the queen of Sheba
1 Kings 10:6-9

Asa, in abolishing sodomy and other abominations of idolatry
1 Kings 15:11-15; 2 Chronicles 14:2-5

Jehoshaphat, in walking in the ways of the Lord
1 Kings 22:41-46; 2 Chronicles 17:3-10; 2 Chronicles 19:1-11; 2 Chronicles 20:3-30

Hezekiah, in his fear of the Lord
2 Kings 18:3; 2 Kings 20:1-11; 2 Kings 14:30

Josiah, in repairing the temple and in other good works
2 Kings 12:22; 2 Kings 14:34

Cyrus, in emancipating the Jews
Ezra 1:1-11

Darius, in advancing the rebuilding of the temple
Ezra 6:1-12

Artaxerxes, in commissioning Ezra to restore the forms of worship at Jerusalem
Ezra 15:7; Ezra 16:2; Nehemiah 5:14

Nehemiah
Nehemiah 16:4

Daniel
Daniel

King of Nineveh, in repenting, and proclaiming a fast
Jonah 3:6-9

Wicked
Genesis 15:13-14; Exodus 3:9; Deuteronomy 27:19; 1 Samuel 8:10-18; 2 Chronicles 28:19; Nehemiah 5:7-9; Nehemiah 9:34-37; Job 24:22; Job 24:24; Job 35:9; Psalms 10:17-18; Psalms 12:5; Psalms 12:8; Psalms 49:20; Psalms 58:1-2; Psalms 82:2; Psalms 94:20-21; Psalms 110:5; Proverbs 17:15; Proverbs 17:26; Proverbs 28:15-16; Proverbs 28:28; Proverbs 29:2; Proverbs 29:4; Proverbs 29:12; Proverbs 30:21-22; Ecclesiastes 3:16-17; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Ecclesiastes 4:13-14; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Ecclesiastes 8:9; Ecclesiastes 10:5-7; Ecclesiastes 10:16-17; Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 3:12; Isaiah 3:14-15; Isaiah 5:7; Isaiah 10:1-3; Isaiah 14:4-20; Isaiah 28:14-15; Isaiah 29:20-21; Isaiah 30:33; Isaiah 33:1; Isaiah 40:23; Isaiah 52:5; Isaiah 59:14-15; Jeremiah 5:28-29; Ezekiel 21:25-26; Ezekiel 22:6; Ezekiel 22:27; Ezekiel 28:2; Ezekiel 34:2-4; Ezekiel 34:7-10; Ezekiel 45:9; Hosea 5:10; Hosea 7:3; Hosea 10:7; Amos 3:10-11; Amos 4:1-2; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 6:12-13; Micah 3:1-3; Micah 3:9-11; Micah 7:3-4; Habakkuk 1:4; Habakkuk 2:5-13; Zephaniah 1:8; Zephaniah 3:3; Acts 23:3; James 2:6; James 2:9

Wicked, instances of:

Potiphar, putting Joseph into prison
Genesis 39:20; Genesis 40:15

Pharaoh, oppressing the Israelites
Genesis 2:1

Adoni-Bezek, torturing seventy kings
Judges 1:7

Abimelech, slaying his seventy brothers
Judges 9:1-5

Eli's sons:

Desecrating the sacrifices
1 Samuel 2:12-17

Debauching themselves and the worshipers
1 Samuel 2:22

Samuel's sons, taking bribes
1 Samuel 8:1-5

Saul:

Sparing Agag and the best of the booty
1 Samuel 15:8-35

In jealousy plotting against David
1 Samuel 18:8-29

Seeking to slay David
1 Samuel 9:19

Slaying Ahimelech and the priests
1 Samuel 22:7-19

Hanun, maltreating David's servants
2 Samuel 10:4; 1 Chronicles 19:2-5

David, numbering Israel and Judah
2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-7; 1 Chronicles 27:23-24

Solomon:

Luxurious and idolatrous
1 Kings 11:1-13

Oppressing the people
1 Kings 12:4; 1 Kings 4:7-23

Rehoboam, making the yoke heavy
1 Kings 12:8-11; 2 Chronicles 10:1-15

Jeroboam:

Perverting the true worship
1 Kings 12:26-33; 1 Kings 13:1-5; 1 Kings 14:16

Exalting debased persons to the priesthood
1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 13:33; 2 Kings 17:32; 2 Chronicles 11:14-15; Ezekiel 44:7; Numbers 3:10

Abijam, walking in the sins of Rehoboam
1 Kings 15:3

Nadab, walking in the ways of Jeroboam
1 Kings 15:26

Baasha, walking in the ways of Jeroboam
1 Kings 15:33-34

Asa, imprisoning the seer, and oppressing the people
2 Chronicles 16:10

Zimri, walking in the ways of Jeroboam
1 Kings 16:19

Omri, walking in the ways of Jeroboam
1 Kings 16:25-29

Ahab:

Serving Baal
1 Kings 16:30-33; 1 Kings 21:21-26

Confiscating Naboth's vineyard
1 Kings 11:21; 1 Samuel 8:14; 1 Kings 22:38; 2 Kings 9:26

Jehoram, cleaving to the sins of Jeroboam
2 Kings 3:2-3

Hazael, committing rapine
2 Kings 8:12; 2 Kings 10:32; 2 Kings 12:17; 2 Kings 13:3-7

Jehoram, walking in the ways of the kings of Israel
2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chronicles 21:13

Jehu, departing not from the sins of Jeroboam
2 Kings 10:29

Jehoahaz, in following the sins of Jeroboam
2 Kings 13:1-2

Jehoash, in following the wicked example of Jeroboam
2 Kings 13:10-11

Jeroboam II, not departing from the sins of Jeroboam
2 Kings 14:23-24

Zachariah, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah:

Following the sins of Jeroboam
2 Kings 15:9; 2 Kings 15:18; 2 Kings 15:24; 2 Kings 15:28

Conspiring against and slaying Pekahiah
2 Kings 15:25

Hoshea:

Who conspired against Pekah
2 Kings 15:30

In permitting Baal-worship
2 Kings 17:1-2; 2 Kings 17:7-18

Ahaz, burning his children in idolatrous sacrifice
2 Kings 16:3; 2 Chronicles 28:2-4

Manasseh, who committed the abominations of the heathen
2 Kings 21:1-17; 2 Chronicles 33:2-7

Amon, who followed the evil example of Manasseh
2 Kings 21:19-22

Jehoahaz, who followed in the ways of his fathers
2 Kings 23:32

Jehoiakim, in walking in the ways of his fathers
2 Kings 23:37

Jehoiachin, walking in the ways of his fathers
2 Kings 24:9

Zedekiah:

Following the evil example of Jehoiakim
2 Kings 24:19; 2 Chronicles 36:12-13

Persecuting Jeremiah
Jeremiah 38:5-6

Joash, slaying Zechariah
2 Chronicles 24:2; 2 Chronicles 24:17-25

Ahaziah, doing evil after the house of Ahab
2 Chronicles 22:1-9

Amaziah, worshiping the gods of Seir
2 Chronicles 25:14

Uzziah, invading the priest's office
2 Chronicles 26:16

Ahasuerus and Haman, decreeing the death of the Jews
Esther 3:1-15

Nebuchadnezzar:

Commanding to destroy the wise men
Daniel 2:1-13

Committing the three Hebrews to the furnace
Daniel 3:1-23

Belshazzar, in drunkenness and committing sacrilege
Daniel 5:22-23

Darius, in deifying himself
Daniel 6:7; Daniel 6:9

The princes, conspiring against Daniel
Daniel 6:1-9

Herod the Great, slaying the children in Bethlehem
Matthew 2:16-18

Herod Antipas:

In beheading John the Baptist
Matthew 14:1-11

In craftiness and tyranny
Luke 13:31-32; Luke 23:6-15

Herod Agrippa, persecuting the church
Acts 12:1-19

Pilate, delivering Jesus for crucifixion
Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:15

Chief priests, elders, and all the council, seeking false witness against Jesus
Matthew 26:59

Ananias, commanding to smite Paul
Acts 23:2
Government; Judges; King