Bible Encyclopedias

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Beth-Din

(Heb. בֵּית דַּין, house of justice), a tribunal in religious causes among the Jews. The Jewish Church is governed by a presiding rabbi in the city or town where they maybe settled. He generally attaches to himself two other rabbins, and these combined form the Beth-Din. Their power was partly civil, partly ῥ ecclesiastical, and they received the name of Rulers of the Synagogue, because the chief government was vested in them. The Beth- Din had power to inflict corporal punishment, as scourging, but they could not condemn to death. (See SYNAGOGUE).