Pharisees
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Pharisees were a influential Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, distinguished by their commitment to both the Written Torah and the Oral Law, and their efforts to apply ritual purity standards to daily life beyond the Temple.
What is the meaning of Pharisees in the Bible?
The Pharisees were a influential Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, distinguished by their commitment to both the Written Torah and the Oral Law, and their efforts to apply ritual purity standards to daily life beyond the Temple.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the Pharisees clarifies the religious context of the New Testament, revealing the specific theological and legal debates between Jesus and the Jewish leadership of his time, and explaining the origins of Rabbinic Judaism.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.