Jastrow: שׁוֹפֵט

שׁוֹפֵט m. (b. h.; שָׁפַט) judge, ruler. R. Hash. 25ᵇ (ref. to Deut. XVII, 9) הא אין לך לילך אלא אצל ש׳ שבימיו this teaches that you have to go to him who is the authority in his days (independently of what your opinion about him may be); Yalk. Deut. 911; Yalk. Sam. 114. Ḥag. 14ᵃ (ref. to Is. III, 2) ש׳ זה דיין וכ׳ by shofeṭ is meant the judge that decides a true case according to truth; a. fr.—Pl. שׁוֹפְטִים. Sifré Deut. 144 (ref. to Deut. XVI, 18) אם יש שוטרים יש ש׳ וכ׳ where there are officers (to execute the law), there are judges; where there are no executors, there are no judges. Tanḥ. Shof’ṭim 2, v. שׁוֹטֵר. Y. Snh. I, 19ᵃ bot. (ref. to Deut. XXI, 2) זקניך שהן שׁוֹפְטֶיךָ thy elders that are thy judges. Ruth R. to I, 1 שׁוֹפְטֵיהֶם; B. Bath. 15ᵇ שׁוֹפְטָיו, v. שָׁפַט; a. fr.