Editing Theocracy (section)

== Definition ==
The term ''theocracy'' derives from the [[Koine Greek]] {{lang|grc|θεοκρατία}}, "rule of God", a term used by [[Josephus]] for the [[kingdoms of Israel and Judah]],<ref>English form the 17th century (''[[OED]]'').
The Greek term is explicitly coined by Josephus and isn't attested elsewhere in Ancient Greek; Josephus marks it as a [[Nonce word|nonce]] coinage by calling it a "strained expression".
W. Whiston tr. [[Josephus]], ''Against Apion'' ii. §17 (1814) IV. 340: "He [Moses] ordained our government to be what, by a strained expression, may be termed a Theocracy", translating {{lang|grc|ὡς δ'ἄν τίς εἴποι, βιασάμενος τὸν λόγον, θεοκρατίαν}}
</ref> reflecting the view that "God himself is recognized as the head" of the state.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14568a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716192010/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14568a.htm |date=2017-07-16 }} "A form of civil government in which God himself is recognized as the head."</ref> The common, generic use of the term, as defined above in terms of rule by a church or analogous religious leadership, may be more accurately described as an ecclesiocracy.<ref>Stephen Palmquist, [http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ppp/bth ''Biblical Theocracy: A vision of the biblical foundations for a Christian political philosophy''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414204146/http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ppp/bth |date=2012-04-14 }} (Hong Kong: Philopsychy Press, 1993), introduced these more precise uses of the terms in arguing that theocracy (in this pure sense) is the only political system defended in the Bible. While Palmquist defends theocracy in this pure form as a viable (though "non-political") political system, he warns that what normally goes by this name is actually ecclesiocracy, the most dangerous of all political systems.</ref>

In an ecclesiocracy, the religious leaders assume a leading role in the state, but do not claim that they are instruments of divine revelation.

A related phenomenon is a secular government co-existing with a state religion or delegating some aspects of civil law to religious communities. For example, in [[Israel]] (which is sometimes referred to as a theocracy<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leifer |first=Joshua |date=2023-03-30 |title=Israel hasn't been a democracy for a long time. Now, Israelis need to face this fact |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/30/israel-hasnt-been-a-democracy-for-a-long-time-now-israelis-need-to-face-this-fact |access-date=2025-01-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ginat |first=Gitit |date=2025-01-09 |title=Israel's Protesters Refuse to Be Donkeys |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/24/israel-protests-haredim-secular-netanyahu-judicial-coup/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Should Israel Be a Theocracy? |date=2015 |work=Zionism and Judaism: A New Theory |pages=86–118 |editor-last=Novak |editor-first=David |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/zionism-and-judaism/should-israel-be-a-theocracy/34C46ECF15600CBF5EA84C4DD9964EBE |access-date=2025-01-11 |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/CBO9781316163719.006 |isbn=978-1-107-09995-1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-09 |title=Netanyahu's Government Takes a Turn Toward Theocracy |url=https://govt.dartmouth.edu/news/2023/01/netanyahus-government-takes-turn-toward-theocracy |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Department of Government |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yashiv |first=Eran |title=Israel's future: A Jewish theocracy that resembles Iran {{!}} Opinion |url=https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2024-04-12/ty-article-opinion/.premium/israels-future-a-jewish-theocracy-that-resembles-iran/0000018e-ce0f-d4f3-ab9e-ef1f00b60000 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250102125050/https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2024-04-12/ty-article-opinion/.premium/israels-future-a-jewish-theocracy-that-resembles-iran/0000018e-ce0f-d4f3-ab9e-ef1f00b60000 |archive-date=2025-01-02 |access-date=2025-01-11 |work=Haaretz.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Avishai |first=Bernard |date=2023-01-07 |title=Netanyahu's Government Takes a Turn Toward Theocracy |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/netanyahus-government-takes-a-turn-toward-theocracy |access-date=2025-01-11 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-27 |title=75 years of Israel: A 'Jewish state' to a full theocracy? |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/75-years-israel-jewish-state-full-theocracy-622570?amp |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>), [[Marriage in Israel|marriage]] is governed by officially recognized religious bodies who each provide marriage services for their respected adherents, yet no form of civil marriage (free of religion) exists, nor marriage by non-recognized minority religions.

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, there are two meanings for the word ''theocracy'': (1) government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided; and (2) a state governed by a theocracy.