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Custom (1)

Culture & Society

What is the meaning of Custom (1) in the Bible?

Custom functioned as a foundational source of law and social order in ancient societies, encompassing established practices, legal precedents, and traditional norms that regulated economic transactions, property rights, and community obligations.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing the authority of custom clarifies how biblical laws and narratives operate within a context where unwritten traditions and established precedents held significant legal and social weight alongside statutory codes, offering deeper insight into the cultural and legal dynamics of the ancient world.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Custom (1). Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Custom (1) in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Custom (1) clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Custom (1)." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/custom-1/
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