Judge of Israel

Judge of Israel is one of several names that speak of God as the Judge.

Judge of Israel, or Israel's ruler (Shofet Yisra’el) pictured in the Hebrew text of Micah 5:1.

Judge of Israel, or Israel’s ruler (Shofet Yisra’el) in the Hebrew text of Micah 5:1.

Judge of Israel in Hebrew:

Shofet Yisra’el

Strong’s Concordance numbers: 8199, 3478

Bible reference: Mic. 5:1

Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. (Micah 5:1 KJV)

The NIV has “Israel’s Ruler” in this verse because judges were often synonymous with rulers. It is possible that the reference is to a human ruler rather than to God.

There are plenty of similar names for God in which He is described as the Judge: Righteous judge, Judge of (all) the earth, God of justice, our Lawgiver, and Judge of the living and the dead.