Quick Definition
criterion, a law-court
Strong's Definition
a rule of judging ("criterion"), i.e. (by implication) a tribunal
Derivation: neuter of a presumed derivative of G2923 (κριτής);
KJV Usage: to judge, judgment (seat)
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κριτήριον, κριτηρίου, τό (from κριτηρ, equivalent to κριτής);
1. properly, the instrument or means of trying or judging anything; the rule by which one judges (Plato, Plutarch, others).
2. the place where judgment is given; the tribunal of a judge; a bench of judges: plural, 1Co_6:2; Jas_2:6 (the Sept.; Plato, Polybius, Plutarch, others).
3. in an exceptional usage, the matter judged, thing to be decided, suit, case: plural 1Co_6:4 (this sense is denied by many; cf. e. g. Meyer on 1Co_6:2).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κριτήριον kritērion 3x
pr. a standard or means by which to judge, criterion;
a court of justice, tribunal, Jas_2:6 ;
a cause, controversy, 1Co_6:2 ; 1Co_6:4
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κριτήριον , -ου , τό
( < κριτής ),
[in LXX : 1Ki_7:7 ( H4941 ), Da LXX TH Dan_7:10 ; Dan_7:26 , ( H1779 ), Su 1:49, Exo_21:6 , Jdg_5:10 * ;]
1. a means of judging, test, criterion .
2. a tribunal: 1Co_6:2 ; 1Co_6:4 , Jas_2:6 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κριτήριον [page 361]
κριτήριον in the sense of tribunal, court of justice, as in 1Co_6:2 ; 1Co_6:4 (RV marg.), Jas_2:6 (cf. Jdg_5:10 al. ), is frequent in the papyri, e.g. P Hib I. 29 Fr. (a) recto .5 ( c. B.C. 265) (= Chrest. I. p. 306 ) ἐὰν δὲ ἀν ]τιλ̣ε̣γ̣ηι , κριθήτωσα [ν ἐ ]π̣[ὶ ] τοῦ ἀ [ποδε ]δειγμένου κ̣[ρι ]τ̣η̣ρ̣ι̣ου , if he dispute the decision, they shall be tried before the appointed tribunal (Edd.), P Grenf I. 15 .7 (B.C. 146 or 135) ὅπ ]ως μὴ περισπώμεθα ἐπὶ τὰ [.........]τα κριτήρια , BGU IV. 1054 .1 .(time of Augustus) Π ]ρωτάρχωι τῶι ἐπὶ τοῦ κριτηρίου παρὰ Ἀπολλωνίου , P Oxy X. 1270 .16 (A.D. 159) πρὸς τῇ ἐπιμελείᾳ τ [ῶν χρηματιστῶν ] καὶ τῶν ἄλλων κριτηρί [ων , and similarly P Tebt II. 319 .2 (A.D. 248). See also s.vv. ἀγοραῖος and ἑλκύω , and cf. Archiv iv. p. 8 f., v. pp. 40, 59 f. In Syll 371 .9 (time of Nero) ἀνὴ [ρ ] δεδοκιμασμένος τοῖς θείοις κριτηρίοις τῶν Σεβαστῶν ἐπί τε τῇ τέχνῃ τῆς ἰατρικῆς , the word has its original sense of standard, test.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
κριτήριον κρι^τήριον, ου, τό, [Etym: κριτής] "a means for judging or trying, a criterion, standard, test", Plat. "a court of judgment, tribunal", id=Plat.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
κριτήριον, -ου, τό
(κριτής), [in LXX: 3Ki.7:7 (מִשְׁפָּט), Dan LXX TH Dan.7:10, 26, (דִּין), Su 1:49, Exo.21:6, Jdg.5:10 * ;]
__1. a means of judging, test, criterion.
__2. a tribunal: 1Co.6:2 6:4, Jas.2:6.†
(AS)