judge

Everyday

1. A judge is the person in charge of a court of law who makes sure trials are fair and decides punishments. tree →
2. A judge is a person who decides who wins a competition. tree →
3. To judge is to form an opinion about someone or something. tree →
4. To judge a competition is to decide the winner. tree →
5. To judge a distance, size or speed is to estimate it. tree →

In the lessons

In citizenship lessons, judges work in courts and must be fair and follow the law. In maths, you judge (estimate) whether an answer is reasonable. In road safety, children learn to judge the speed and distance of cars before crossing. In respect lessons, «don't judge a book by its cover» means don't judge people by how they look. Phrases: «judge for yourself», «judge by», «don't judge», «a good judge of», «judging by».

Examples

• The judge said the man was guilty. tree →
• The judges chose her painting as the winner. tree →
• Don't judge people by their clothes. tree →
• It is hard to judge how fast a car is going. tree →
• Judging by the clouds, it will rain. tree →
• You can't judge a book by its cover. tree →
• My dad is a judge at the dog show. tree →
• Judge for yourself which answer makes sense. tree →
• "That I promise," said the judge. tree →

Note

Plural judges. Noun: judgement (UK) or judgment (USA). The «d» is silent: «juj». Judging other people unkindly is called being «judgemental».

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah a judge decides disputes among the people. To judge can also mean to rule or to vindicate. In the book of Judges the "judges" are leaders who delivered Israel from enemies and then ruled it for a number of years, such as Jephthah and Samson.

Interpretation. Tradition requires judges to be fair, honest and never to favour the rich or poor. The Torah commands Israel to set up judges in every town. The leaders in the book of Judges are read as chosen by God to save the people.

Examples

• Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. (Torah GEN.49.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. (Torah DEU.32.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• Set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us two. (Torah GEN.31.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Jephthah judged Israel six years. (Prophets JDG.12.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he judged Israel seven years. (Prophets JDG.12.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he judged Israel twenty years. (Prophets JDG.16.31, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural judges. Noun: judgement (UK) or judgment (USA). The «d» is silent: «juj». Judging other people unkindly is called being «judgemental».