Order

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Τάξις (Strong'S #5010 — Noun Feminine — taxis — tax'-is )

"an arranging, arrangement, order" (akin to tasso, "to arrange, draw up in order"), is used in  Luke 1:8 of the fixed succession of the course of the priests; of due "order," in contrast to confusion, in the gatherings of a local church,   1—Corinthians 14:40; of the general condition of such,  Colossians 2:5 (some give it a military significance here); of the Divinely appointed character or nature of a priesthood, of Melchizedek, as foreshadowing that of Christ,   Hebrews 5:6,10;  6:20;  7:11 (where also the character of the Aaronic priesthood is set in contrast); 7:17 (in some mss., ver. 21).

A — 2: Τάγμα (Strong'S #5001 — Noun Neuter — tagma — tag'-mah )

a more concrete form of No. 1, signifying "that which has been arranged in order," was especially a military term, denoting "a company;" it is used metaphorically in  1—Corinthians 15:23 of the various classes of those who have part in the first resurrection.

B — 1: Ἀνατάσσομαι (Strong'S #392 — Verb — anatassomai — an-at-as'-som-ahee )

"to arrange in order" (ana, "up," and the Middle Voice of tasso, "to arrange"), is used in  Luke 1:1; AV, "to set forth in order" (RV, "to draw up"); the probable meaning is to bring together and so arrange details in "order."

B — 2: Διατάσσω (Strong'S #1299 — Verb — diatasso — dee-at-as'-so )

"to appoint, arrange, charge, give orders to," is used, in the Middle Voice, in  Acts 24:23 , "gave order" (RV);  1—Corinthians 11:34 , "will I set in order;" in the Active Voice, in  1—Corinthians 16:1 , "I gave order" (RV). See Command , No. 1.

B — 3: Ἐπιδιορθόω (Strong'S #1930 — Verb — epidiorthoo — ep-ee-dee-or-tho'-o )

"to set in order" (epi, "upon," dia, "through, intensive," and orthos, "straight"), is used in  Titus 1:5 , in the sense of setting right again what was defective, a commission to Titus, not to add to what the Apostle himself had done, but to restore what had fallen into disorder since the Apostle had labored in Crete; this is suggested by the epi.

C — 1: Καθεξῆς (Strong'S #2517 — Adverb — kathexes — kath-ex-ace' )

is translated "in order" in  Luke 1:3;  Acts 11:4 , RV (AV, "by order");  Acts 18:23 . See Afterward , No. 3.

 2—Corinthians 11:32

King James Dictionary

OR'DER, n. L. ordo.

1. Regular disposition or methodical arrangement of things a word of extensive application as the order of troops or parade the order of books in a library the order of proceedings in a legislative assembly. Order is the life of business.

Good order is the foundation of all good things.

2. Proper state as the muskets are all in good order. When the bodily organs are in order, a person is in health when they are out of order, he is indisposed. 3. Adherence to the point in discussion, according to established rules of debate as, the member is not in order, that is, he wanders from the question. 4. Established mode of proceeding. The motion is not in order. 5. Regularity settled mode of operation.

This fact could not occur in the order of nature it is against the natural order of things.

6. Mandate precept command authoritative direction. I have received an order from the commander in chief. The general gave orders to march. There is an order of council to issue letters of marque. 7. Rule regulation as the rules and orders of a legislative house. 8. Regular government or discipline. It is necessary for society that good order should be observed. The meeting was turbulent it was impossible to keep order. 9. Rank class division of men as the order of nobles the order of priests the higher orders of society men of the lowest order order of knights military orders, &c. 10. A religious fraternity as the order of Benedictines. 11. A division of natural objects, generally intermediate between class and genus. The classes, in the Linnean artificial system, are divided into orders, which include one or more genera. Linne also arranged vegetables, in his natural system, into groups of genera, called order. In the natural system of Jussieu, orders are subdivisions of classes. 12. Measures care. Take some order for the safety and support of the soldiers.

Provide me soldiers whilst I take order for my own affairs.

13. In rhetoric, the placing of words and members in a sentence in such a manner as to contribute to force and beauty of expression, or to the clear illustration of the subject. 14. The title of certain ancient books containing the divine office and manner of its performance. 15. In architecture, a system of several members, ornaments and proportions of columns and pilasters or a regular arrangement of the projecting parts of a building, especially of the columns, so as to form one beautiful whole. The orders are five, the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. The order consists of two principal members, the column, and the entablature, each of which is composed of three principal parts. Those of the column are the base, the shaft, and the capital those of the entablature are the architrave, the frize, and the cornice. The height of the Tuscan column  Isaiah 14 modules or semidiameters of the shaft at the bottom, and that os the entablature 3 1/2. The height of the Doric order  Isaiah 16 modules and that of the entablature 4 that of the Ionic  Isaiah 18 modules, and that of the entablature 4 1/2, that of the Corinthian order  Isaiah 20 modules, and that of the entablature 5. The height of the Composite order agrees with that of the Corinthian.

In orders, set apart for the performance divine service ordained to the work of the gospel ministry.

In order, for the purpose to the end as means to an end. The best knowledge is that which is of the greatest use in order to our eternal happiness.

General orders, the commands or notices which a military commander in chief issues to the troops under his command.

OR'DER,

1. To regulate to methodize to systemize to adjust to subject to system in management and execution as, to order domestic affairs with prudence. 2. To lead to conduct to subject to rules or laws.

To him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God.  Psalms 50 .

3. to direct to command. the general ordered his troops to advance. 4. To manage to treat.

How shall we order the child?  Judges 13 .

5. To ordain. Not used. 6. To direct to dispose in any particular manner.

Order my steps in thy word.  Psalms 119 .

OR'DER, to give command or direction.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) The disposition of a column and its component parts, and of the entablature resting upon it, in classical architecture; hence (as the column and entablature are the characteristic features of classical architecture) a style or manner of architectural designing.

(2): ( n.) An assemblage of genera having certain important characters in common; as, the Carnivora and Insectivora are orders of Mammalia.

(3): ( n.) A number of things or persons arranged in a fixed or suitable place, or relative position; a rank; a row; a grade; especially, a rank or class in society; a group or division of men in the same social or other position; also, a distinct character, kind, or sort; as, the higher or lower orders of society; talent of a high order.

(4): ( n.) A body of persons having some common honorary distinction or rule of obligation; esp., a body of religious persons or aggregate of convents living under a common rule; as, the Order of the Bath; the Franciscan order.

(5): ( n.) An ecclesiastical grade or rank, as of deacon, priest, or bishop; the office of the Christian ministry; - often used in the plural; as, to take orders, or to take holy orders, that is, to enter some grade of the ministry.

(6): ( n.) To put in order; to reduce to a methodical arrangement; to arrange in a series, or with reference to an end. Hence, to regulate; to dispose; to direct; to rule.

(7): ( n.) The placing of words and members in a sentence in such a manner as to contribute to force and beauty or clearness of expression.

(8): ( n.) Hence: A commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods; a direction, in writing, to pay money, to furnish supplies, to admit to a building, a place of entertainment, or the like; as, orders for blankets are large.

(9): ( n.) The customary mode of procedure; established system, as in the conduct of debates or the transaction of business; usage; custom; fashion.

(10): ( n.) To admit to holy orders; to ordain; to receive into the ranks of the ministry.

(11): ( n.) To give an order for; to secure by an order; as, to order a carriage; to order groceries.

(12): ( n.) To give an order to; to command; as, to order troops to advance.

(13): ( n.) A command; a mandate; a precept; a direction.

(14): ( n.) That which prescribes a method of procedure; a rule or regulation made by competent authority; as, the rules and orders of the senate.

(15): ( n.) Conformity with law or decorum; freedom from disturbance; general tranquillity; public quiet; as, to preserve order in a community or an assembly.

(16): ( n.) Rank; degree; thus, the order of a curve or surface is the same as the degree of its equation.

(17): ( v. i.) To give orders; to issue commands.

(18): ( n.) Right arrangement; a normal, correct, or fit condition; as, the house is in order; the machinery is out of order.

(19): ( n.) Regular arrangement; any methodical or established succession or harmonious relation; method; system

(20): ( n.) Of material things, like the books in a library.

(21): ( n.) Of intellectual notions or ideas, like the topics of a discource.

(22): ( n.) Of periods of time or occurrences, and the like.

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

Method; the established manner of performing a thing. Nothing can be more beautiful in religion and morals than order. The neglect of it exposes us to the inroads of vice, and often brings upon us the most perplexing events. Whether we consider it in reference to ourselves, our families, or the church, it is of the greatest importance. As to the first, order should be attended to as it respects our principles,  Hebrews 13:9 .  James 1:8 : our tempers,   Proverbs 17:14 .  Ephesians 4:31; our conversation,  Colossians 4:6; our business,  Proverbs 22:29; our time,  Psalms 90:12 .  Ecclesiastes 3:1; our recreations; and our general conduct,  Philippians 1:27 .  2 Peter 1:5 , &c.

2. As it regards our families, there should be order; as to the economy or management of its concerns,  Matthew 12:25; as to devotion, and the time of it,  Joshua 24:15; as to the instruction thereof,  Ephesians 6:1 .  Genesis 18:19 .  2 Timothy 1:5 .

3. In respect to the church, order should be observed as to the admission of members,  2 Corinthians 6:15; as to the administration of its ordinances,  1 Corinthians 14:33;  1 Corinthians 14:40; as to the attendance on its worship,  Psalms 27:4; as to our behaviour therein,  Colossians 1:10 .  Matthew 5:16 . To excite us to the practice of this duty, we should consider that God is a God of order,  1 Corinthians 14:33; his works are all in the exactest order,  Ephesians 1:11 .  Psalms 104:25 .  Ecclesiastes 3:11; heaven is a place of order,  Revelation 7:1-17;  Revelation 8:1-13;  Revelation 9:1-21;  Revelation 10:1-11;  Revelation 11:1-19;  Revelation 12:1-17;  Revelation 13:1-18;  Revelation 14:1-20;  Revelation 15:1-8;  Revelation 16:1-21;  Revelation 17:1-9 . Jesus Christ was a most beautiful example of regularity. The advantages of order are numerous. "The observance of it, " says Dr. Blair, "serves to correct that negligence which makes us omit some duties, and that hurry and precipitancy which makes us perform others imperfectly. Our attention is thereby directed to its proper objects. We follow the straight path which Providence has pointed out to us; in the course of which all the different business of life presents itself regularly to us on every side. Ser. vol. 2: p. 23.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Order See Priest (in NT), 775 a .

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ôr´dẽr ( ערך , ‛ārakh , "to arrange"; τάσσειν , tássein ( diatássein , táxis , tágma )): "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;  1 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 ,  Leviticus 24:4; compare  Psalm 132:17 ); of placing the shewbread on the table ( Exodus 40:4 ,  Exodus 40:23;  Leviticus 6:12;  Leviticus 24:8;  2 Chronicles 13:11 ); of drawing up the battle array ( 1 Chronicles 12:38 (Hebrew 39, ‛ādhar )); 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  Psalm 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, shālabh , 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;  Psalm 5:3 ), of recounting things in order ( Isaiah 44:7;  Luke 1:1 the King James Version ( diatassein );  Luke 1:3;  Acts 11:4 ( kathexḗs )), of setting forth a legal case ( Job 23:4;  Job 13:18; compare  Psalm 50:21 ). From the idea of arranging in order for the purpose of comparison the Hebrew ‛ārakh acquires the meaning "to compare" ( Isaiah 40:18;  Psalm 89:7 ). This is clearly the meaning of 'ēn ‛ărōkh 'ēlekhā ( Psalm 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 ‛ārakh is arrangement in space, that of ṣādhar is order or sequence in time. In later Hebrew ṣēdher was used in the sense of "program." In   Job 10:22 lō' ṣedhārı̄m , absence of regularity, in the description of the uncertain period that follows death probably means "confusion in time." (The Septuagint (φέγγος , phéggos ) suggests, in the place of ṣedhārı̄m , a word for "light," possibly cohŏrayim .) In the New Testament we find "order" used of time in connection with the resurrection of the dead ( 1 Corinthians 15:23 ( tagma )) and of a succession of places visited ( Acts 18:23 ( kathexes )). The phrase "in order unto" ( Psalm 119:38 ) expresses causal sequence and hence, purpose.

3. Classification and Organization:

The idea of classification is present in the Hebrew tāḳan , 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" ( 1 Chronicles 24:3 ,  1 Chronicles 24:19 , Hebrew pāḳadh ). Next to the high priests ranked priests of the second order ( mishneh ,  2 Kings 23:4; compare  2 Kings 25:18 parallel   Jeremiah 52:24 ). The related concept of organization is present where the Hebrew kūn (literally, "to establish".) is translated "order" ( Isaiah 9:7 the King James Version, "to establish" the American Standard Revised Version;   Psalm 119:133;  2 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 ( 1 Corinthians 16:1 ( diatassein );  Titus 1:5 ( epidiorthóō );  1 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 dibherāthı̄ (  Psalm 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 katá tḗn táxin , 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 mishpāṭ (which is literally, "the ruling of a shōphēṭ ," whether as a judicial decree or legislative act) in connection with the conduct of priests (  1 Chronicles 6:32 (Hebrew 17);   2 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 ( 1 Corinthians 14:40 ) and, in the older English Vss , with reference to other ritual matters ( 1 Chronicles 15:13;  1 Chronicles 23:31;  2 Chronicles 8:14 , the American Standard Revised Version "ordinance"). The phrase ‛al yadh , literally, "according to the hand of," translated in  Ezra 3:10;  1 Chronicles 25:2 ,  1 Chronicles 25:3 ,  1 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" ( sām derekh ,  Psalm 50:23 ) is probably one who chooses the right path and directs his steps along it. "Who shall order the battle?" ( 1 Kings 20:14 ) is corrected in the American Standard Revised Version: "Who shall begin the battle?" (compare  2 Chronicles 13:3 , Hebrew 'āṣar , 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   2 Kings 20:1;  2 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 cāwāh used in this phrase is the stem found in the later Hebrew cawwā'āh , "a verbal will" ( Bābhā' Bathrā' 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, ciwwāh ‛ālēnū ,  Jeremiah 35:6 .)

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Order'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/o/order.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.