Quick Definition
κρίσις, εως, ἡ n.f. judging, divine judgment
Strong's Definition
decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially, divine law)
KJV Usage: accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -εως | κρίνω
56.20 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judge, Condemn, Acquit
making a legal decision, arriving at a verdict, judgment act of deciding a question of legal right or wrong, and thus determining the innocence or guilt of the accused and assigning appropriate punishment or retribution The process of legal judging is often expressed idiomatically. In Africa, one of the standard phrases for judging is ‘to cut a palaver,’ but other expressions in other languages may be ‘to find guilt,’ ‘to point the finger at wrong,’ or ‘to untangle strife.’
MAT 10:15 · MAT 11:22 · MAT 11:24 · MAT 12:36 · JHN 5:24 · JHN 5:27 · JHN 12:31 · JAS 2:13 · 2PE 2:4 · 2PE 2:9 · 2PE 3:7 · REV 14:7
56.22 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judge, Condemn, Acquit
the right to judge, the authority to judge (derivative of κρίνω[e] ‘to judge legal cases,’ 56.20) the authority or right to judge guilt or innocence
56.1 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Court of Justice
court, court of justice a court of justice for determining guilt or innocence For languages which do not have technical terms for a court, it is usually possible to use some such phrase as ‘to be brought before a judge’ or ‘to have judges decide one’s case.’
56.24 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judge, Condemn, Acquit
verdict, sentence, judgment the legal decision rendered by a judge, whether for or against the accused
56.30 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judge, Condemn, Acquit
judging as guilty, condemnation act of judging a person to be guilty and liable to punishment
MAT 23:33 · JHN 5:29 · 1TI 5:24 · HEB 10:27 · JAS 2:13 · JAS 5:12 · 2PE 2:11 · JUD 1:6 · JUD 1:9 · JUD 1:15
56.25 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judge, Condemn, Acquit
justice, fairness the administration of justice It may be difficult to speak of ‘justice triumphing,’ and so in some languages it may be necessary to translate ‘so that all accusations are judged justly’ or ‘so that everyone receives what he should’ or ‘until all judgments are just.’
30.110 · Think · To Distinguish, To Evaluate, To Judge
judgment, decision, evaluation (derivative of κρίνω[c] ‘to judge,’ 30.108) the content of the process of judging It may also be possible to translate ἀλλὰ τὴν δικαίαν κρίσιν κρίνετε (JHN 7:24) as ‘judge in a righteous manner’ or ‘judge according to true standards.’
MAT 12:41 · MAT 12:42 · LUK 10:14 · LUK 11:31 · LUK 11:32 · JHN 7:24 · JHN 8:16 · JHN 16:8 · JHN 16:11 · HEB 9:27 · HEB 10:27 · 1JN 4:17 · REV 16:7 · REV 19:2
30.111 · Think · To Distinguish, To Evaluate, To Judge
basis of judging, basis for judgment the basis for rendering a judgment It is also possible to render κρίσις in JHN 3:19 as ‘how judgment works’ or ‘the reason for God judging.’
38.1 · Punish, Reward · Punish
punishment punishment, with the implication of having been judged guilty It is also possible, of course, to interpret κρίσις in MAT 23:33 as meaning ‘condemnation’ (see 56.30), but as such, punishment is certainly implied.
56.32 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judge, Condemn, Acquit
Collocation: ὑπὸ κρίσιν πίπτω
to be condemned, to suffer condemnation, to be judged guilty (an idiom, literally: to fall under judgment) to be condemned for acting contrary to laws and regulations In the context of JAS 5:12 the condemnation refers to God’s judgment.
1 κρίνω[e], κρίσις[a], and κρίμα[a] often appear in contexts referring to the judgment of God, particularly in reference to the so-called end times, but the limited differences in semantic components of meaning in contexts referring to God’s judgment do not warrant setting up a separate set of meanings. 2 There are no doubt certain subtle differences of meaning in these terms (ἀγοραῖος[b], κριτήριον[a], κρίσις[c], ἡμέρα[e]), especially in their connotations, but it is not possible to specify the difference on the basis of existing contexts. 3 MAT 5:21 In MAT 5:21 κρίσις probably refers to a local court of justice. 4 One might argue that the meaning of κρίνω, κρίσις, and κρίμα in the cited contexts is only to make a judgment and that the negative or adverse character of the judgment depends entirely on the context. However, the frequency of the occurrence of κρίνωκρίσις, and κρίμα in the specific sense of adverse judgment or verdict of guilt is such as to justify setting up two different meanings, one involving simply the process of rendering a legal judgment (56.20) and the other, the process of legal condemnation (56.30).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κρίσις, -ews, 7, Sept. for 11, 32) (a suit), but chiefly for τ: in Grk. writ. [(fr. Aeschyl. and Hdt. down) ] 1. a separating, sundering, separation; a trial, contest. 2. selection. 3. judgment; i. e. opinion or decision given concerning anything, esp. concerning justice and injustice, right and wrong; a. univ.: Jn. viii. 16; 1 Tim. v. 24 (on which see ἐπακολουθέων; Jude 9; 2 Pet. ii. 11; κρίσιν κρίνειν (see κρίνω, 5 b.), Jn. vii. 24. b. in a forensic sense, of the judgment of God or of Jesus the Messiah: univ., Jas. ii. 13; 2 Th.i.5; Heb. x. 27; plur., Rev. xvi.7; xix.2; of the last judgment: Heb. ix. 27; ἡ ἡμέρα κρίσεως [ Mt. x. 15; xi. 22,24; xii.36; Mk. vi.11 RL in br.; 2 Pet. ii. 9; iii. 7] or τῆς κρίσεως [1 Jn. iv. 17], the day appointed for the judgment, see ἡμέρα, 3; εἰς κρίσιν μεγάλης ἡμέρας, Jude 6; ἡ ὥρα τῆς κρίσεως αὐτοῦ, i.e. τοῦ θεοῦ, Rey. xiv. 7; ἐν τῇ κρίσει, at the time of the judgment, when the judgment shall take place, Mt. xii. 41 sq.; Lk. x. 14; xi. 31 sq.; κρίσιν ποιεῖν κατὰ πάντων, to execute judgment against (i. 6. to the destruction of) all, Jude 15. spec. sentence of condemnation, damnatory judgment, condemnation and punishment: Heb. x. 27; 2 Pet. ii. 4; with gen. of the pers. condemned and punished, Rev. xviii. 10; ἡ κρίσις αὐτοῦ ἤρθη, the punishment appointed him was taken away, i. e. was ended, Acts viii. 33 fr. Is. liii. 8 Sept.; πίπτειν εἰς κρίσιν [R" eis ὑπόκρισιν], to become liable to condemaation, Jas. v. 12; αἰώνιος κρίσις, eternal damnation, Mk. iii. 29 [Rec.]; ἡ κρίσις τῆς γεέννης, the judgment condemning one to Gehenna, the penalty of Gehenna, i. e. to be suffered in hell, Mt. xxiii. 88. In John’s usage κρίσις denotes a. that judgment which Christ occasioned, in that wicked men rejected the salvation he offered, and so of their own accord brought upon themselves misery and punishment: αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ κρίσις, ὅτι etc. judgment takes place by the entrance of the light into the world and the hatred which men have for this light, iii. 19; κρίσιν ποιεῖν, to execute judgment, v. 27; ἔρχεσθαι eis kp. to come into the state of one condemned, ib. 24; xp. τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, the condemnatory sentence passed upon this world, in that it is convicted of wickedness and its power broken, xii. 31; περὶ κρίσεως, of judgment passed (see κρίνω, 5 a. β. fin.), xvi. 8, 11. B. the last judgment, the damnation of the wicked: ἀνάστασις κρίσεως, followed by condemnation, v. 29 [ef. W. § 30, 28.]. γ- both the preceding notions are combined in v. 30; ἡ κρίσις πᾶσα, the whole business of judging [οἵ. W. 548 (510) ], ib. 22. Cf. Groos, Der Begriff der κρίσις bei Johannes (in the Stud. u. Krit. for 1868, pp. 244-273). 4. Like the Chald. x33 (Dan. vii. 10, 26; ef. Germ. Gericht) i. q. the college of judges (a tribunal of seven men in the several cities of Palestine; as distinguished from the Sanhedrin, which had its seat at Jerusalem [cf. Schiirer, Neutest. Zeitgesch. § 23, ii.; Hdersheim, Jesus the Messiah, ii. 287]): Mt. v. 21 sq. (cf. Deut. xvi. 18; 2 Chr. xix. 6; Joseph. antt. 4, 8,14; Ὁ. 1. 2, 20, 5). 5S: Like the Hebr. pawn (cf. Gesenius, Thes. iii. p. 1464” [also Sept. in Gen. xviii. 19, 25; Is. v. 7; ἵν]. 1; lix. 8; Jer. xvii. 11; 1 Mace. vii. 18; and other pass. referred to in Gesenius ]. ¢.]), right, justice: Mt. xxiii. 23; Lk. xi. 42; what shall have the force of right, ἀπαγγέλλειν τινί, Mt. xii. 18; α just cause, Mt. xii. 20 (on which see ἐκβάλλω, 1 g.).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κρίσις krisis 47x
pr. distinction; discrimination; judgment, decision, award, Jn. 5:30; 7:24; 8:16; a judicial sentence, Jn. 3:19; Jas. 2:13; an adverse sentence, Mt. 23:33; Mk. 3:29; judgment, judicial process, trial, Mt. 10:15; Jn. 5:24; 12:31; 16:8; judgment, administration of justice, Jn. 5:22, 27; in NT a court of justice, tribunal, Mt. 5:21, 22; an impeachment, 2 Pet. 2:11; Jude 9; from the Hebrew, justice, equity, Mt. 12:18, 20; 23:23; Lk. 11:42
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κρίσις, -εως, ἡ
(< κρίνω), [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁפָּט, also for רִיב, etc.;]
a seperating, selection (Arist., al.)
a decision, judgment (cl.): Jo 8:16, I Ti 5:24, II Pe 2:11, Ju 9; κ. κρίνειν, Jo 7:24; in forensic sense, Ac 8:33(LXX) (v. Page, in l.); esp. of the Divine judgment, Jo 3:19 5:24, 27, 29, 30 12:31 16:8, 11, II Th 1:5, He 10:27, Ja 2:13 5:12, II Pe 2:4, Re 18:10; pl., Re 16:7 19:2; of the last judgment, Mt 10:15 11:22, 24 12:36, 41, 42, Lk 10:14 11:31, 32, He 9:27, II Pe 2:9 3:7, I Jo 4:17, Ju 6, 15; ἡ κ. τῆς γεέννης, Mt 23:33.
By meton. (as in LXX for מִשְׁפָּט, Is 5:7, al.; דִּינָא, Da 7:10), of the standard of judgment, right, justice: Mt 12:18, 20 (LXX, Is 42:43) 23:23, Lk 11:42; of the tribunal (a local court), Mt 5:21, 22.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κρίσις in the sense of ‘‘judging,” ‘‘trial,” is found in such passages as PST IT. 173}? (ii/B.c.) κα[τὰ προε]νεστῶσαν . . ἐπὶ σοῦ κρίσιν, P Oxy IX. 1203” (late i/A.D.) where certain petitioners ask that no step be taken against them μέχρι κρίσεως, ‘before the trial of the case,” the curious mantic P Ryl I. 28 7% (iv/A.p.) σφυρὸν εὐώνυμον ἐὰν ἅληται ἐν κρίσει βαρη[θ]εὶς ἔσται καὶ ἐκφεύξεται, ‘if the left ankle quiver, he will be burdened with a trial, and will be acquitted ” (Edd.), and OGZS 6695 (i/a.D.) eis κρίσιν ἄγεσθαι. From this it is an easy transition to the result of the judging, **judgement,”’ “decision,” e.g. P Petr III. 26° (iii/B.c.) ἐκ κρίσεως, ‘in accordance with a legal decision,” P Oxy I. 68% (A.D. 131) οὖσαν δ ἐμοὶ τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν κρίσιν, “‘judgement against him being entered in my favour’’ (Edd.), P Ryl IL. 78% (A.D. 157) περὶ ἀπολογισμοῦ κρίσεων, ‘ concerning the report of judgements,” P Oxy XII. 1464® (Zébellus—A.D, 250) κατ]ὰ τὰ κελευσθέντα ὑπὸ τῆς θείας κρίσεως, ““ἴπ accordance with the orders of the divine decree,’’ and such legal phrases as ἄνευ κρίσεως kal πάσης ἀντιλογίας (BGU IV. 1146!—z.c. 18) and ἄνευ δίκης καὶ κρίσεως καὶ πάσης εὑρησιλογίας (P Tebt 11. 444—i/a.D.). An approach to the moral and ethical sense which, following the general usage of the LXX, κρίσις has in such passages as Mt 2378 Lk 1142, may be traced in AZichel 542° (ii/B.c. ad init.) πίστιν ἔχοντα Kal κρίσιν ὑγιῆ, OGS 3837? (mid. i/B.C.) ἣν ἀθάνατος κρίσις exipwoev—with reference to a certain ordinance, and 76. 5028 (ii/a.D.) μείξας τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ Td δίκαιον ἀκολούθως τῇ περὶ τὰς κρίσεις ἐπιμελείᾳ. For κρίσις, “accusation,” in Jude®, see Field Notes, p. 244. For an adj. κρίσιμος with reference to the day of judgement, see a Christian inscr. from Eumeneia in C. and B. ii. p. 514---ὃς δὲ ἂν ἐπιτηδεύσει, ἔσται αὐτῷ πρὸς τὸν ζῶντα θεὸν καὶ νῦν καὶ ἐν τῇ κρισίμῳ ἡμέρᾳ. Ramsay (p. 518) remarks that ‘‘ the term κρίσιμος ἡμέρα seems to be used elsewhere only in the medical sense, ‘the critical day determining the issue of the disease’’’: cf. also Durham Menander, p. 72. MGr κρίσι, “judgement” ; ἔρχομαι στὴ Kplo ‘appear before court of judgement’’ (Thumb, Handbook, p. 337).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κρίσις (krisis) — judgment. κρίσις [ῐς], εως, ἡ, (κρίνω) separating, distinguishing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῶν ὁμοιογενῶν, τῶν διαφερόντων, uncertain reading in [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. decision, judgement, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. οὐκ ἀληθής no certain means of judging, [Refs 5th c.BC+] K.; Κρίσις, title of a play by Sophocles on the Judgemént of Paris; κ. τινός judgement on or respecting, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: ἡ τῶν ὅπλων κ., referring to the story of Ajax, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; κ. συνετή [Refs]; power of judgement, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; κατὰ κρίσιν with judgement, advisedly, [Refs]
3. choice, election, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
4. interpretation of dreams or portents, [LXX+1st c.BC+]
II. judgement of a court, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; trial, suit, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καθιστάναι ἑαυτὸν ἐς κ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κρίσεως τυχεῖν to be put on one's trial, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ κ. γίγνεταί τινι [Refs 6th c.BC+]; κρίσιν λελογχότα Μειδίᾳ ἐξούλης Test. cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+].
II. b result of a trial, condemnation, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. c ἡμέρα κρίσεως Day of Judgement, NT.Mat.10.15.
II.2. trial of skill or strength, πρὸς τόξου κρίσιν in archery, [Refs 6th c.BC+].
II.3. dispute, [Refs 5th c.BC+].
III. event, issue, κρίσιν σχεῖν to be decided, of a war, [Refs 5th c.BC+] suppose the issue depends upon my public measures, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.2. turning point of a disease, sudden change for better or worse, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
IV. middle of the spinal column, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]