The Etymology of the Courts
1. COURT Aramaic/Hebrew: qārā — to call, summon kārṭā — enclosure, walled assembly Latin: cohors — courtyard of a temple or ruler Modern Legal Meaning: A summoned assembly inside a sovereign’s enclosed jurisdiction. 2. BAR Aramaic/Hebrew: paroket — the veil separating temple courts Latin: barra — barrier, gate Modern Legal Meaning: A jurisdictional veil separating the public from the priestly/legal class. 3. BENCH / BANC Aramaic/Hebrew: mizbe’ach — raised altar platform Latin: bancus — raised table; banking table Modern Legal Meaning: The judge’s elevated seat of authority and commercial valuation. 4. JUDGE Aramaic/Hebrew: dayyan — divine adjudicator shaphat — one who decides, governs Greek/Latin: iudex — one who “speaks the law” (jus + dicere) Modern Legal Meaning: Administrator of jurisdiction, valuation, and issuance of orders (commercial instruments). 5. ATTORNEY Aramaic/Hebrew (conceptual): shaliach — delegate, agent Latin: attornare — to turn over, transfer, assign Modern Legal Meaning: A mediator who “turns” a man into the PERSON and transfers him into Roman civil/Admiralty jurisdiction. 6. BAILIFF Aramaic/Hebrew: ba’al — master, lord, possessor Latin: ballivus — steward, overseer Modern Legal Meaning: Court enforcer who protects the court’s interests and maintains possession over the PERSON. 7. CLERK Aramaic/Hebrew: sōfer — scribe, record-keeper Greek/Latin: clericus — cleric, priest Modern Legal Meaning: Official scribe whose written entries become the controlling legal record. 8. SUMMONS Aramaic/Hebrew: qeri’ah — a calling forth Latin: sub + monere — to warn under authority Modern Legal Meaning: Commercial invocation calling the PERSON into the court’s jurisdiction. 9. PLEA Aramaic/Hebrew: peh — mouth, declaration Latin: plicare — to fold, bind, weave Modern Legal Meaning: A binding verbal agreement forming the basis of surety and commercial obligation. 10. SURETY Aramaic/Hebrew: arav — one who guarantees or binds oneself for another