Daniel's Literal Translation and Commentary
The Real Meaning of ΝΟΜΟΣ in Koine Greek
"νομος, ου, ο (...[references])The primary mng. relates to that which is conceived as standard or generally recognized rules of civilized conduct esp. as sanctioned by tradition. (...[references]) The synonym εθος ["a usual or customary manner of behaviour, habit, usage ...long-established usage or practice common to a group, custom" ] (cp. συνηθεια ["a usage or practice that has become established or standard, custom ... custom, habit, usage"; cf. συνηθης, "habitual, customary, usual" ]) denotes that which is habitual or customary, especially in reference to personal behavior. In addition to rules that take hold through tradition, the state or other legislating body may enact ordinances that are recognized by all concerned and in turn become legal tradition. A special semantic problem for modern readers encountering the term νομος is the general tendency to confine the usage of the term 'law' to codified statutes. Such limitation has led to much fruitless debate in the history of NT interpretation.—HRemus, Sciences Religieuses/Studies in Religion, '84, 5-18, ASegal, Torah and Nomos in Recent Scholarly Discussion, ibid., 19-27.
1. a prodecure or practice that has taken hold, a custom, rule, principle, norm (...[references])....
2. constitutional or statutory legal system, law " (page 677)."
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, Third Edition (BDAG), revised and edited by Frederick William Danker based on Walter Bauer's Griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch zu den Schriften des Neun Testaments und der frühchristlichen Literatur, sixth edition, ed. Kurt Aland and Barbara Aland, with Victor Reichmann and on previous English editions by W.F. Arndt, F.W. Gingrich, and F.W. Danker. The University of Chicago Press, 1957, 1979, 2000. (Note, accent marks omitted, parenthetical cross references omitted. Some abbreviations expanded for the sake of clarity, underlines are mine, and also citations of synonyms).
A photo copy of the beginning part of this entry is available at: torahtimes.org/Greek_database/greek_words_index.htm
—along with copious examples from other Lexicons.
Daniel's Literal Translation and Commentary: (http://www.torahtimes.org/translation/nomos.html)
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