7719 elders, as community leaders
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7700 Leadership and the people of God  »  7718 elders  »  7719 elders, as community leaders

Since older men act as responsible leaders in many communities, “elder” is used as the title for a recognised leader.

Elders in early Israel

Elders represented their people

Exodus 19:7 See also Exodus 3:16; Exodus 4:29; Exodus 12:21-28; Exodus 24:1

Elders assisted Moses

Numbers 11:16-17 See also Exodus 18:21-26; Numbers 11:24-25

Elders met in a national assembly

Joshua 23:2; Joshua 24:1; Judges 21:16

Elders functioned as judges, sometimes in the town gate

Deuteronomy 19:11-12; Judges 8:14; Ruth 4:1-12

Elders during the period of the monarchy

Tribal and town elders

1 Samuel 30:26-31; 2 Kings 10:5; Kings 23:1; Jeremiah 19:1

Elders were local representatives at national functions

1 Kings 8:1

Elders advised the king

1 Kings 12:6-8

Elders functioned as judges at the town gate

Proverbs 31:23 See also 1 Kings 21:8-14

Elders in Israel during and after the exile

Ezra 10:8,14; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 14:1; Ezekiel 20:1-3

Elders in NT Jewish society

Elders were local town and synagogue leaders

Mark 5:22; Luke 7:1-5

Elders were members of the Sanhedrin

Mark 15:1 See also Matthew 5:22

Elders were guardians of religious traditions

Matthew 15:1-2 pp Mark 7:5 See also Mark 7:3

The elders' rejection of Jesus Christ predicted by him

Matthew 16:21 pp Mark 8:31 pp Luke 9:22

The involvement of the elders in the trial and condemnation of Jesus Christ

Matthew 27:1 pp Mark 15:1

The elders' involvement with the first Christians

See also Acts 4:5,8,23; Acts 5:21; Acts 6:12; Acts 23:14; Acts 25:15

See also

2545  Christ, opposition to
2585  Christ, trial
5358  judges
5359  justice
5375  law
5509  rulers
5727  old age, attitudes
7330  chief priests
7464  teachers of the law
7565  Sanhedrin
7733  leaders



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