Synagogue, The Great
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Synagogue, The Great in the Bible?
A traditional assembly of 120 sages, often associated with Ezra, which is credited in rabbinic literature with canonizing the Hebrew Bible and standardizing Jewish liturgy, though its historical existence is largely regarded by modern scholars as a literary construct rather than a factual institution.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this tradition clarifies the historical context of the Hebrew Bible's compilation and highlights the rabbinic effort to preserve religious identity and textual authority during the Persian and early Hellenistic periods.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Synagogue, The Great. 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 Synagogue, The Great in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Synagogue, The Great clarify?
Related Topics
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
"Synagogue, The Great." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/synagogue-the-great/