Quick Definition
I ordain, enact
Strong's Definition
to legislate, i.e. (passively) to have (the Mosaic) enactments injoined, be sanctioned (by them)
Derivation: from G3550 (νομοθέτης);
KJV Usage: establish, receive the law
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
νομοθετέω, νομοθέτω: passive, perfect 3 person singular νενομοθέτηται; pluperfect 3 person singular νενομοθέτητο (on the omission of the augment see Winers Grammar, 72 (70); Buttmann, 33 (29)); (νομοθέτης); from (Lysias), Xenophon, and Plato down; the Sept. several times for δεψΘδ;
1. to enact laws; passive laws are enacted or prescribed for one, to be legislated for, furnished with laws (often so in Plato; cf. Ast, Platonic Lexicon, ii., p. 391 (for examples)); ὁ λαός ἐπ' αὐτῆς (R G ἐπ' αὐτῇ) νενομοθέτηται (R G νενομοθέτητο) the people received the Mosaic law established upon the foundation of the priesthood, Heb_7:11 (Winers Grammar, § 39, 1 b.; cf. Buttmann, 337 (290); many refer this example (with the genitive) to time (A. V. under it); see ἐπί, A. II.,cf. B. 2 a. γ.).
2. to sanction by law, enact: τί, passive Heb_8:6 (cf. Winers Grammar, and Buttmann, as above).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
νομοθετέω nomothe teō 2x
to impose a law, give laws;
in NT pass.,
to have a law imposed on one s self, receive a law, Heb_7:11 ;
to be enacted, constituted, Heb_8:6
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
νομοθετέω , -ῶ ,
[in LXX for H3384 hi .;]
1. intrans ., to make laws; pass ., to be furnished with laws: Heb_7:11 .
2. Trans ., to ordain by law, enact: pass ., Heb_8:6 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
νομοθετέω [page 429]
An interesting ex. of this verb is found in a letter ol remonstrance from the Senate of Antinoφpolis to the epistrategus Antonius Alexander, in which they vindicated the privilege bestowed on them by Hadrian to be exempt from public burdens outside their own city, P Oxy VIII.1119 .16 (A.D. 254) θεὸς Ἁδριανὸς . . . . . . ἐνομοθέτησεν σαφῶς παρὰ νόμοις μὲν ἡμεῖν ἄρχειν καὶ λειτουργεῖν , πασῶν δὲ ἀπηλλάχθη τῶν παρ᾽ ἄλλοις ἀρχῶν τε καὶ λειτουργιῶν , the deified Hadrian clearly established the law that we should bear office and burdens nowhere but at home, and we were relieved of all offices and burdens elsewhere (Ed.). For the pass., which alone occurs in the NT, see OGIS 329 .18 (mid. ii/B.C.) τὰ καλῶς καὶ δικαίως νενομοθετημένα ἡμῖν ὑπὸ τῶ [ν βα ]σιλέων , ib. 493 .56 (ii/A.D.) ταῦτα μὲν ὑμεῖς ὀρθῶς καὶ καλῶς . . νενομοθετήσθω .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
νομοθετέω νομοθετέω, φυτ. -ήσω "to make law", Plat. , Xen. , etc.:— Mid. "to make laws for oneself, frame laws", Plat. trans. "to ordain by law", τι id=Plat. , etc.:—Pass., impers., περὶ ταῦτα οὕτω σφι νενομοθέτηται "it hath been" so "ordained by law", Hdt.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
νομοθετέω, -ῶ
[in LXX for יָרָה hi. ;]
__1. intrans., to make laws; pass., to be furnished with laws: Heb.7:11.
__2. Trans., to ordain by law, enact: pass., Heb.8:6.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Enact (3549) nomotheteo
Has been enacted (3549) (nomotheteo from nomos = a law + tÃthemi = to put, set; cp nomothetes = "lawgiver" referring to God) is literally to put a law and means to enact laws, make laws, give laws or establish as law (legislate).
In the passive voice it means -- laws are enacted or prescribed for one, to be legislated for, furnished with laws.
TDNT writes that...
This word means either a. “to give laws” or b. “to settle matters legally.” In the passive in Hebrews 7:11 the point is receiving the law - the whole law and not just cultic legislation. In Hebrews 8:6 the reference is to the general enactment of either the ministry (leitourgia) or the covenant (diatheke) most likely the former, although nothing essential is at stake.
The only other NT use of nomotheteo is in Hebrews...
Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? (see note Hebrews 7:11) (the people received the Mosaic law established upon the foundation of the priesthood)
There are 9 uses of nomotheteo in the Lxx (Ex 24:12; Deut 17:10; Ps. 25:8, 12; 27:11; 84:6; 119:33, 102, 104) and in most of these uses this word carries the sense of to instruct or to teach
Psalm 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs (Lxx translates with nomotheteo) sinners in the way.
Psalm 27:11 Teach (Lxx translates with nomotheteo) me Thy way, O LORD, And lead me in a level path, Because of my foes.
Psalm 119:33 Teach (Lxx translates with nomotheteo) me, O LORD, the way of Thy statutes, And I shall observe it to the end.
Better (2909) (kreitton, comparative of agathos = intrinsically good) means better (in sense of more useful or more profitable).
Better covenant...better promises - Clearly the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant, because the New Covenant has better promises than the Old Covenant.
What are those better promises? Jeremiah summarizes them as (1) An inner understanding of God's laws which are God will put in their minds and write on their hearts; (2) An intimate relationship with God for they shall be His people and all shall know Him form the least to the greatest; (3) Mercy for their iniquities so that their sins will absolutely not be remembered by Him (which equates with forgiveness of all sins).
Vincent observes that...
Both here and in the following chapter, the ideas of the sanctuary and the covenant are closely united. God’s covenant was embodied in the sanctuary. The ark was “the ark of the covenant”; the tables of the law were “the tables of the covenant.” The essence of a covenant is the establishment of a relationship. The sanctuary was the meeting-place of God and man. The ritual of sacrifice adjusted the sinner’s relation to a holy God. All the furniture and all the ordinances of the tabernacle assumed the covenant between God and His people. Thus the two ideas belong together. The minister of the Levitical sanctuary was the mediator of the old covenant. A new covenant implies a new ministry, a better covenant implies a better ministry. Christ’s priesthood implies a sanctuary. The new sanctuary implies a new covenant. This covenant is a better covenant because it was established upon better promises (Hebrews 8: Word Studies)