Bible Dictionary
SHERIFF
“Sheriff” is a conjectural translation of a Persian or Aramaic official mentioned in Daniel 3. The title probably refers to a lawyer, jurist, or other judicial officer.
Definition
Sheriff is a conjectural English rendering of an Aramaic title in Daniel. The title probably denotes a lawyer, jurist, or judicial officer whose business was to decide points of law.
Biblical Usage
The term occurs in the list of officials summoned by the king in Daniel 3.
Historical Background
The translation “sheriff” is uncertain. The Aramaic term is associated with judicial matters and may mean “judicial” or “a lawyer.”
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>sher'-if (Aramaic tiphtaye' "judicial," "a lawyer," "a sheriff" (Da 3:2 f]): Probably a "lawyer" or "jurist" whose business it was to decide points of law. At best, however, the translation "sheriff" is but a conjecture.</p>