Original Word: פָלִיל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: paliyl
Pronunciation: pah-LEEL
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-leel')
KJV: judge
NASB: judges, judge
Word Origin: [from H6419 (פָּלַל - pray)]

1. a magistrate

judge

From palal; a magistrate -- judge.

see HEBREW palal

Word Origin
from palal
Definition
a judge
NASB Translation
judge (1), judges (2).

[מָּלִיל] noun masculine judge; plural מְּלִילִים Deuteronomy 32:31 our enemies being judges, umpires; ׳עָוֺן פ Job 31:11, read ׳עֲוֺן פ according to Di Siegf, compare De; < עָוֺן מְּלִילִי as Job 31:28, so Bu Du; בִּפְלִלִים Exodus 21:22, read perhaps בַּנְּפָלִים for the abortion Bu^{ZAW xi (1891), 107}, compare also Di-Ry.

Overview

פָּלִיל (Strong’s 6414) conveys the idea of a formal arbitrator whose verdict carries binding authority. Though occurring only three times, the word illumines Israel’s covenantal life, the moral order embedded in creation, and the redemptive shape of biblical justice.

Occurrences and Immediate Contexts

1. Exodus 21:22 links פָּלִילִים to the deliberations that follow unintentional bodily harm: “he shall pay as the judges determine”. The incident sits within the Covenant Code, underscoring that even accidental violence falls under objective, God-honoring adjudication.

2. Deuteronomy 32:31 contrasts Israel’s Rock with the impotent foundations of pagan nations: “For their rock is not like our Rock; even our enemies concede.” The admitting “enemies” serve as de facto judges, unwillingly confirming Yahweh’s supremacy.

3. Job 31:11 calls adultery “an iniquity to be judged.” Job appeals to an ideal bench whose verdict would confirm his innocence, highlighting that the judicial norm is grounded in the fear of God, not merely social convention.

Judicial Function in Israel’s Life

The term anchors a vision of justice that is:

• Theocentric—Decisions are rendered under divine scrutiny.
• Communal—In Exodus 21 the bench mediates between victim, offender, and family, preventing vengeance cycles.
• Proportional—Assessment of damages requires measured compensation (“pay as the judges determine”), foreshadowing lex talionis principles.

Covenantal and Moral Implications

Within the Sinai covenant, legal judgments were liturgical acts; they publicly affirmed that Yahweh’s holiness regulates daily conduct. When Moses sings Deuteronomy 32, he prophesies that even Gentile observers will unwittingly become “judges,” vindicating God’s righteousness over Israel’s future apostasy. Job, centuries later, appeals to that same standard to vindicate his integrity, demonstrating the enduring moral compass of the term.

Historical Trajectory

Early Israel lacked centralized monarchy; elders and appointed judges served locally (Numbers 35:24–25). פָּלִיל reflects this proto-judicial structure. By the monarchy, prophets like Nathan and Amos confronted kings when royal courts failed, preserving the ideal embedded in פָּלִיל—that no authority outranks divine justice.

Messianic Resonances

Isaiah 11:3–4 anticipates a Righteous Branch who “will judge the poor with equity.” The Messiah embodies the flawless פָּלִיל longed for by Job and legislated at Sinai. Jesus’ earthly ministry manifested this when He exposed hypocritical tribunals (John 7:24) and assumed final judicial prerogative (John 5:22).

Practical Ministry Applications

• Church discipline mirrors the Exodus paradigm: factual inquiry, impartiality, restorative aim (Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 6:1–5).
• Advocacy for the vulnerable derives legitimacy from the same concept; believers champion just processes for unborn children (cf. Exodus 21:22) and marginalized neighbors.
• Personal ethics demand transparency; Job’s oath invites believers to open examination before God and man.

Eschatological Perspective

Revelation 20:12 pictures the ultimate court where books are opened and every verdict aligns with perfect righteousness. The limited Old Testament usage of פָּלִיל thus blossoms into the universal session before the throne, assuring that every wrong will meet its measured, holy response.

Summary

פָּלִיל encapsulates the Bible’s integrated vision of justice: rooted in God’s character, expressed through accountable human tribunals, vindicated by historical witness, perfected in Christ, and consummated in the final judgment. The term invites God’s people to embody equity now while anticipating the day when “righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne” (Psalm 97:2).

בִּפְלִלִֽים׃ בפללים׃ פְּלִילִֽים׃ פלילים׃ bifliLim bip̄·li·lîm bip̄lilîm pə·lî·lîm peliLim pəlîlîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts