Officer

It is obvious that most, if not all, of the Hebrew words rendered “officer” are either of an indefinite character or are synonymous terms for functionaries known under other and more specific names, as “scribe,” “eunuch” etc. The two words so rendered in the New Testament denote—

• An inferior officer of a court of justice, a messenger or bailiff, like the Roman viator or lictor. (Matthew 5:25; Acts 5:22)

• Officers whose duty it was to register and collect fines imposed by courts of justice. (Luke 12:58)