CUSTOM (חֹק, H2976, statute; מִשְׁפָּט, H5477, judgment; דֶּ֫רֶכְ, H2006, way; Gr. ἔθος, G1621, custom; συνήθεια, G5311, usage). Custom, which refers to common usages or procedures, is represented by a number of terms in the Bible, each of which has its own particular connotation. The Heb. people were committed to traditional usages, reflected in their vocabulary.

חֹק, H2976, derived from a verb meaning “to engrave,” “inscribe,” or “ordain” means “statute,” “regulation,” “law,” “decree.” It is tr. “custom” (Lev 20:23; Judg 11:39), but by various other terms in other passages, a prescribed due (Lev 6:11), or law in general (Ps 94:20).

מִשְׁפָּט, H5477, means “judgment,” “right,” “law,” “rule,” hence “established tradition” or “legal precedent” (BDB, pp. 1048, 1049). As applied to the concept of custom it relates to a fixed mode of action (1 Sam 2:13); to habitual policy (1 Sam 27:11); to traditional form (Gen 40:13; Exod 21:9; Judg 18:7; 1 Kings 18:28; 2 Kings 11:14; 17:34; Ps 119:132; Ezek 42:11).

דֶּ֫רֶכְ, H2006, literally “way,” is a metaphorical meaning to convey the idea of manner or usage, particularly with reference to personal habits or to moral life (Judg 2:19; 1 Sam 18:14; 2 Chron 13:22; see BDB, p. 203).

The Gr. ἔθος, G1621, refers to custom in the sense of habit (Luke 22:39; Acts 25:16). A cognate form, a participle, eiōthos, appears in Luke 4:16. Occasionally it denotes social custom (John 19:40), though συνήθεια, G5311, is generally used in this sense (John 18:39; 1 Cor 11:16 KJV). Εθος, like מִשְׁפָּט, H5477, is applied to ancestral religious tradition whether Mosaic or rabbinical (Luke 1:9; 2:42; Acts 6:14; 15:1; 16:21; 21:21; 26:3; 28:17).