In the context of the Bible, edicts refer to official orders or proclamations issued by a person in authority, often a king or ruler. These decrees are significant in biblical narratives as they often reflect the sovereign power of rulers and the divine orchestration of events in accordance with God's will. Edicts in the Bible can be seen as instruments through which God's purposes are fulfilled, whether through the actions of faithful leaders or even through pagan kings.

Old Testament Examples

1. Pharaoh's Edict Against the Israelites: One of the earliest examples of an edict in the Bible is Pharaoh's command to oppress the Israelites in Egypt. In Exodus 1:22 , Pharaoh orders, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but let every daughter live." This decree sets the stage for the birth and preservation of Moses, who would later lead the Israelites out of bondage.

2. Cyrus's Edict for the Return to Jerusalem: A significant edict is issued by King Cyrus of Persia, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Ezra 1:2-3 records, "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel.'" This decree fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah and demonstrates God's sovereignty over the nations.

3. Darius's Edict to Support the Temple Construction: In response to opposition against the rebuilding of the temple, King Darius issues an edict to support the Jewish efforts. Ezra 6:7-8 states, "Leave this work on the house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its original site. Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: The expenses are to be fully paid to these men from the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop."

New Testament Examples

1. Caesar Augustus's Census Edict: The New Testament opens with an edict from Caesar Augustus, which plays a crucial role in the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the birthplace of Jesus. Luke 2:1 states, "Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world." This decree leads Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah 5:2.

2. Herod's Edict to Kill the Infants: In an attempt to eliminate the newborn "King of the Jews," Herod issues a brutal edict. Matthew 2:16 recounts, "When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi." This tragic decree echoes Pharaoh's earlier edict and highlights the spiritual battle surrounding the birth of Christ.

Theological Significance

Edicts in the Bible often serve as a backdrop for God's providential care and intervention in human history. They illustrate the tension between human authority and divine sovereignty, as God uses even the decrees of pagan rulers to accomplish His purposes. The fulfillment of prophecy through these edicts underscores the reliability of God's word and His ultimate control over the affairs of nations.1881. dath -- decree, law
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition decree, law NASB Word Usage decree
(5), edict (4), edicts (1), law (7), laws (3), regulations (1). ...
/hebrew/1881.htm - 6k

Letters and Edicts.
... Chapter III Writings. Section 3. Letters and Edicts. It is hard to separate
between letters, edicts, and laws. A substantial autocrat ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/section 3 letters and edicts.htm

The Epistle of Antoninus to the Common Assembly of Asia in Regard ...
... 26, where Melito refers to edicts of Antoninus Pius; for had Eusebius referred
to another passage, he would undoubtedly have quoted it. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xiii the epistle of antoninus.htm

The Peace under Gallienus.
... [2268] Eusebius has not preserved the text of these edicts (progr?mmata ... It was evidently
issued some time after the publication of the edicts themselves. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xiii the peace under gallienus.htm

The Two-Horned Beast.
... transferred the customs and forms of the Roman government, and there exercised all
the powers of the empire,"the Italians still obeying the edicts which he ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the two-horned beast.htm

On Bk. viii. Chap. 2, 4 (Note 3, Continued). The Causes of the ...
... Diocletian cannot have taken such a step without giving some reason for it, and
doubtless that reason was stated in the preambles of his edicts, as is the case ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/on bk viii chap 2.htm

Biographical Sketch.
... confessions as a pious, exemplary, and, without doubt, a peace-loving theologian,
against whom no charge can be brought save his refusal to subscribe the edicts ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/biographical sketch.htm

And Now Diocletian Raged, not Only against his Own Domestics...
... Mandates also had gone to Maximian Herculius and Constantius, requiring their
concurrence in the execution of the edicts; for in matters even of such mighty ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xv and now diocletian.htm

What the Council Determined About Arius; the Condemnation of his ...
... The emperor punished Arius with exile, and dispatched edicts to the bishops and
people of every country, denouncing him and his adherents as ungodly, and ...
/.../chapter xxi what the council determined.htm

The Destruction of the Churches.
... in the month Dystrus, [2503] called March by the Romans, when the feast of the
Saviour's passion was near at hand, [2504] that royal edicts were published ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ii the destruction of the.htm

In the Course of the Second Year, the Persecution against us ...
... And at that time Urbanus [2633] being governor of the province, imperial edicts
were first issued to him, commanding by a general decree that all the people ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/chapter iii in the course.htm

Edicts (1 Occurrence)
...Edicts (1 Occurrence). Ezra 8:36 And they delivered the king's edicts to the
king's satraps, and to the governors on this side the river. ...
/e/edicts.htm - 6k

Edict (22 Occurrences)
... by the sovereign power; the proclamation of a law made by an absolute authority,
as if by the very act of announcement; a decree; as, the edicts of the Roman ...
/e/edict.htm - 14k

Claudius (3 Occurrences)
... the Maccabees (2 Maccabees 6:2). Claudius reverted to the policy of Augustus and
Tiberius and marked the opening year of his reign by issuing edicts in favor ...
/c/claudius.htm - 15k

Edification (10 Occurrences)

/e/edification.htm - 10k

Ezra-nehemiah
... him. 5. Sources: The Books of Ezra and Ne are a compilation of genealogical
lists, letters and edicts, memoirs and chronicles. We ...
/e/ezra-nehemiah.htm - 22k

Ezranehemiah
... him. 5. Sources: The Books of Ezra and Ne are a compilation of genealogical
lists, letters and edicts, memoirs and chronicles. We ...
/e/ezranehemiah.htm - 22k

Publication (2 Occurrences)
... proclamation; divulgation; promulgation; as, the publication of the law at Mount
Sinai; the publication of the gospel; the publication of statutes or edicts. ...
/p/publication.htm - 7k

Armenian
... Mesrob had been a court secretary, and as such was well acquainted with Pahlavi,
Syriac and Greek, in which three languages the royal edicts were then published ...
/a/armenian.htm - 18k

Annul (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) To make void or of no effect; to nullify; to abolish; to do away with; --
used appropriately of laws, decrees, edicts, decisions of courts, or other ...
/a/annul.htm - 11k

Versions
... Mesrob had been a court secretary, and as such was well acquainted with Pahlavi,
Syriac and Greek, in which three languages the royal edicts were then published ...
/v/versions.htm - 81k

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