The meaning of Order in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
or'-der ('arakh, "to arrange"; tassein (> diatassein, taxis, tagma)): "Order" in Biblical phrases may indicate (1) arrangement in rows, (2) sequence in time, (3) classification and organization, (4) likeness or manner, (5) regulation, direction or command, or (6) the declaring of a will. In many passages it is difficult if not impossible to determine from the English text alone in which of these senses the word is used.
1. Arrangement in Rows:
The fundamental idea suggested by the Hebrew, Greek and English words is that of arrangement in rows. Thus "order" is used in the Bible of arranging wood for an altar (Leviticus 1:7; I Kings 18:33; compare Hebrew Genesis 22:9; Isaiah 30:33); of laying out flax-stalks for drying (Joshua 2:6); of preparing offerings (Leviticus 1:8, Leviticus 1:12; compare Leviticus 6:5; Judges 6:26); of arranging lamps (Exodus 27:21; Exodus 39:37; Leviticus 24:3-4; compare Psalms 132:17); of placing the shewbread on the table (Exodus 40:4, Exodus 40:23; Leviticus 6:12; Leviticus 24:8; II Chronicles 13:11); of drawing up the battle array (I Chronicles 12:38 (Hebrew 39, 'adhar)); and of arranging weapons in order for battle (Jeremiah 46:3, the American Standard Revised Version "prepare"). As a verb "to order" in the older versions usually has the obsolete sense "to arrange" and not the more usual English meanings, "to demand" or "to direct." Thus: "In the tent of meeting shall Aaron order it" (Leviticus 24:4, the American Standard Revised Version "keep in order"); "Order ye the buckler and shield" (Jeremiah 46:3; compare Psalms 119:133; Job 23:4, the American Standard Revised Version "set in order"; Judith 2:16; The Wisdom of Solomon 8:1; 15:1; Ecclesiasticus 2:6). The Hebrew pa'am (literally, "hoof-beat," "occurrence," "repetition") in the plural conveys the idea of an architectural plan (Ezekiel 41:6). Another word, shalabh, literally, "to join," in connection with the tabernacle, has in some versions been translated as including the idea of orderly arrangement (Exodus 26:17). The word "order" standing by itself may mean orderly or proper arrangement (1 Esdras 1:10; The Wisdom of Solomon 7:29; 1 Macc 6:40; Colossians 2:5). Akin to the idea of arranging things in a row is that of arranging words (Job 33:5; Job 37:19; Psalms 5:3), of recounting things in order (Isaiah 44:7; Luke 1:1 the King James Version (diatassein); Luke 1:3; Acts 11:4 (kathexes)), of setting forth a legal case (Job 23:4; Job 13:18; compare Psalms 50:21). From the idea of arranging in order for the purpose of comparison the Hebrew 'arakh acquires the meaning "to compare" (Isaiah 40:18; Psalms 89:7). This is clearly the meaning of 'en 'arokh 'elekha (Psalms 40:5 (Hebrew 6)), where "They cannot be set in order unto thee" must be interpreted to mean "There is nothing that can be compared unto thee."
2. Sequence in Time:
As the fundamental meaning of 'arakh is arrangement in space, that of cadhar is order or sequence in time. In later Hebrew cedher was used in the sense of "program." In Job 10:22 lo' cedharim, absence of regularity, in the description of the uncertain period that follows death probably means "confusion in time." (The Septuagint (pheggos) suggests, in the place of cedharim, a word for "light," possibly tsohorayim.) In the New Testament we find "order" used of time in connection with the resurrection of the dead (I Corinthians 15:23 (tagma)) and of a succession of places visited (Acts 18:23 (kathexes)). The phrase "in order unto" (Psalms 119:38) expresses causal sequence and hence, purpose.
3. Classification and Organization:
The idea of classification is present in the Hebrew taqan, translated "set in order," with reference to a collection of proverbs (Ecclesiastes 12:9). The same stem is used with reference to the arranging of singers before the altar (Hebrew Ecclesiasticus 47:9), The classification of priests according to their service is spoken of as "ordering" (I Chronicles 24:3, I Chronicles 24:19, Hebrew paqadh). Next to the high priests ranked priests of the second order (mishneh, II Kings 23:4; compare II Kings 25:18 parallel Jeremiah 52:24). The related concept of organization is present where the Hebrew kun (literally, "to establish".) is translated "order" (Isaiah 9:7 the King James Version, "to establish" the American Standard Revised Version; Psalms 119:133; II Chronicles 29:35; compare 1 Macc 16:14). A similar use of the term "order" is found in the New Testament in connection with the organization of the affairs of the church (I Corinthians 16:1 (diatassein); Titus 1:5 (epidiorthoo); I Corinthians 11:34).
4. Likeness or Manner:
"Order," in the sense of likeness or manner, is used in the phrase "after the order of Melchisedek" to translate the Hebrew 'al dibherath, or rather the archaic form 'al dibherathi (Psalms 110:4), which in other passages is translated "because of" (compare Ecclesiastes 3:18; Ecclesiastes 7:14; Ecclesiastes 8:2). This well-known phrase is rendered in Septuagint kata ten taxin, a translation adopted in Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 7:17, where the passage from Psalm is made the basis of an extended argument, in the course of which "order" is taken in the sense of "likeness" (Hebrews 7:16).
5. Regulation, Direction, Command:
In the sense of regulation, we find "order" as a translation of mishpaT (which is literally, "the ruling of a shopheT," whether as a judicial decree or legislative act) in connection with the conduct of priests (I Chronicles 6:32 (Hebrew 17); II Chronicles 30:16; compare Luke 1:8; 1 Esdras 1:6), and with reference to the Nazirite regulations in the story of Samson (Judges 13:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "manner"), church services (I Corinthians 14:40) and, in the older English VSS, with reference to other ritual matters (I Chronicles 15:13; I Chronicles 23:31; II Chronicles 8:14, the American Standard Revised Version "ordinance"). The phrase 'al yadh, literally, "according to the hand of," translated in Ezra 3:10; I Chronicles 25:2-3, I Chronicles 25:6 twice in various ways, means "under the direction of," or "under the order of," as translated in the last instance. The modern sense of "command" is suggested here and in several other instances (1 Esdras 8:10; 1 Macc 9:55). He "that ordereth his conversation aright" (sam derekh, Psalms 50:23) is probably one who chooses the right path and directs his steps along it. "Who shall order the battle?" (I Kings 20:14) is corrected in the American Standard Revised Version: "Who shall begin the battle?" (compare II Chronicles 13:3, Hebrew 'acar, literally, "to bind," hence, "to join" or "begin"; compare proelium committere).
6. Declaring of Last Will:
The phrase "to set one's house in order" (Isaiah 38:1 parallel II Kings 20:1; II Samuel 17:23), used of Hezekiah and Ahithophel, in contemplation of death, means to give final instructions to one's household or to make one's will. The Hebrew tsawah used in this phrase is the stem found in the later Hebrew tsawwa'ah, "a verbal will" (Babha' Bathra' 147a, 151b; BDB). Great moral weight was attached in Biblical times to the charges laid upon a household by a deceased father or remoter ancestor, not only as to the disposition of property but also as to personal conduct. (Compare the case of the Rechabites, where the same Hebrew expression is used, tsiwwah 'alenu, Jeremiah 35:6.)
Nathan Isaacs
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