Judgment seat

Judgment seat [EBD]

(Matt. 27:19), a portable tribunal (Gr. bema) which was placed according as the magistrate might direct, and from which judgment was pronounced. In this case it was placed on a tesselated pavement, probably in front of the procurator's residence. (See GABBATHA.)

JUDGMENT SEAT [ISBE]

JUDGMENT SEAT - (bema, "a raised place," "platform," "tribune," Mt 27:19; Jn 19:13; see GABBATHA; Acts 12:21 margin (text "throne"); 18:12,16 ff; 25:6,17): In Greek law courts, one bema was provided for the accuser, another for the accused; but in the New Testament the word designates the official scat of a judge, usually of the Roman governor; also of the emperor (Acts 25:10); then of God (Rom 14:10), of Christ (2 Cor 5:10). The word kriterion, "a tribunal," "bench of judges" (Jas 2:6) occurs also in 1 Cor 6:2-4, and is there translated in the Revised Version margin by "tribunals."

See also JUDGE.