Quick Definition
κριτήριον, ου, τό n.n. 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)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ου | κρίνω
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.’
56.2 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Lawsuit, Case
lawsuit, case, legal action legal action taken in a court of law against someone In most languages there are technical terms for lawsuits or cases in court, but where these do not exist, one may always use a descriptive phrase, for example, ‘to accuse someone before a judge’ or ‘to argue against someone in court’ or ‘to say in court that someone has done a person harm.’
1 There are no doubt certain subtle differences of meaning in these terms, especially in their connotations, but it is not possible to specify the difference on the basis of existing contexts. 2 It is possible that πρᾶγμα[c] is somewhat more generic in meaning than κριτήριον[b] or κρίμα[e], but it is difficult to determine this from existing contexts.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κριτήριον, -ov, τό, (fr. κριτήρ, i- 4. κριτής); Ἵ. prop. the instrument or means of trying or judging anything; the rule by which one judges, (Plat., Plut., al.). 2. the place where judgment is given; the tribunal of a judge; a bench of judges: plur., 1 Co. vi. 2; Jas. ii. 6, (Sept.; Plat., Polyb., Plut., al.). 3. in an exceptional usage, the matter judged, thing to be decided, suit, case: plur. 1 Co. vi. 4 [this sense is denied by many; cf. 6. g. Meyer on vs. 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, 1 Cor. 6:2, 4*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κριτήριον, -ου, τό
(< κριτής), [in LXX: III Ki 7:7 (מִשְׁפָּט), Da LXX TH 7:10, TH:26, (דִּין), Su 49, Ex 21:6, Jg 5:10*;]
a means of judging, test, criterion.
a tribunal: I Co 6:2, 4, Ja 2:6.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κριτήριον in the sense of ‘‘tribunal,” ‘‘ court of justice,” as in 1 Cor 62.4 (RV marg.), Jas 2° (cf. Judg 5!° a/.), is frequent in the papyni, e.g. P Hib I. 29 Fr. (a) recto® (c. B.C. 265) (= Chrest. I. p. 306) ἐὰν δὲ ἀν]τιλέγηι, κριθήτωσα[ν ἐπ] τοῦ ἀ[ποδε]δειγμένου κ[ρι]τηρίου, ‘if he dispute the decision, they shall be tried before the appointed tribunal ” (Edd.), P Grenf I. 157 (B.C. 146 or 135) ὅπ]ως μὴ περισπώμεθα ἐπὶ Tal... ....+.Jτα κριτήρια, BGU IV. 10541 (time of Augustus) ΤΠ]ρωτάρXl τῶι ἐπὶ τοῦ κριτηρίου mapa ᾿Απολλωνίου, P Oxy X. 12701 (A.D. 159) πρὸς τῇ ἐπιμελείᾳ τ[ῶν χρηματιστῶν] καὶ τῶν ἄλλων κριτηρίζων, and similarly P Tebt II. 3103 (a.p. 248). See also s.vv. ἀγοραῖος and ἑλκύω, and cf. Archiv iv. p. 8f., v. pp. 40, 59f. In Sy/ 3715 (time of Nero) avi[p] δεδοκιμασμένος τοῖς θείοις κριτηρίοις τῶν Σεβαστῶν ἐπί τε τῇ τέχνῃ τῆς ἰατρικῆς, the word has its original sense of ‘‘ standard,” ‘‘ test.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κριτήριον (kritērion) — court/lawsuit. κρῐτ-ήριον, τό, means for judging or trying, standard, frequently of the mental faculties and senses, [Refs 6th c.BC+] measure, test, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. court of judgement, tribunal, [NT+5th c.BC+]
2. b decision of a tribunal, judgement, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]