Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The legal power or right of an authority to handle a particular case; judicial authority over a cause or class of causes; as, certain suits or actions, or the cognizance of certain crimes, are within the jurisdiction of a particular court, that is, within the limits of its authority or commission. 2. (n.) The authority of a sovereign power to govern or legislate; the right of making or enforcing laws; the power or right of exercising authority. 3. (a.) Sphere of authority; the limits within which any particular power may be exercised, or within which a government or a court has authority. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia JURISDICTION joo-ris-dik'-shun (exousia): The word exousia is well known in New Testament Greek. It is derived from the word exesti, and suggests the absence of any hindrance to an act. It contains the idea of right and might (Cremer). In the New Testament it means right, authority, capability (Romans 9:21); power, strength (Matthew 9:8); right and might (John 5:27). Thus it gets the meaning of the powers of the magistrate, which it bears in later Greek (Titus 3:1 Romans 13:1-3). And in this sense it is used in Luke 23:7, where it is translated "jurisdiction."

Multi-Version Concordance Jurisdiction (4 Occurrences) Luke 20:20 They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. (See RSV) Luke 23:7 When he found out that he was in Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Romans 7:1 Or don't you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives? (See NAS) Nehemiah 3:7 Next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, that appertained to the throne of the governor beyond the River. (See RSV)