Questions tagged [etymology]
Questions about the origin of a word
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What does the name (יַעְבֵּץ) Jabez mean in Hebrew?
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him
Jabez, saying, “Because I gave birth to him in pain.” Now Jabez
called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that ...
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Etymology of Behemoth
In Job 40:15, there is a creature referred to as "behemot" (בהמות). One interpretation suggests it is the plural form of the word "behemah" (בהמה), meaning "beast". Since ...
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Does the indicated etymology of «word» stem from an etymology of «λόγος»?
According to etymonline on «word»: The meaning "promise" was in Old English, as was the theological sense.
Does Greek «λόγος», as in John 1:1, also have the meaning "promise"?
Edit:...
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What is the etymology of “Israel”
Is “Israel” a three word hybrid of “Isis”, “Ra”, and “El”? If so, is Isis a representation of chaos and destruction and Ra representation of order and construction? In this case, does the name ...
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2 Maccabees 1:36: original version of the verse
Some translations of 2 Maccabees 1:36 seem to explain the etymology of the term "Naphtha":
Nehemi′ah and his associates called this “nephthar”, which means purification, but by most people ...
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Etymological History of Satana in Koine Greek
Can someone point me to an academic book on the etymological root of “satanas” (G4567)? Did it originate in the LXX when translating Job? Was satanas used extensively in Greco-Roman literature in ...
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What does the name Sarah and Sarai really mean?
God changes Sarai's name in Genesis 17:15 to Sarah.
15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
I've found some conflicting ...
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2 Thess. 2:11; Strong (G1753, energeia) delusion (G4106, plane); planet energy?
Do the etymological meanings of these words; have any link, in reference to the power of the hosts of heaven (Dan.8.10; 11.38; Eph.2.2; 6.12)?
The similar context of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, with ...
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Historical basis for 'evangelion' in specific military context?
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God.
I heard a sermon once that claimed the word evangelion (good news, gospel) as used in Mark 1:1 was meant to specifically refer to a ...
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What does Rabboni really mean?
I’ve read it said from Albert Pike that Rabboni isn’t Aramaic, but it is derived from the Hebrew “RB BNI”, meaning master builder or master of builders in Hebrew. Is this true?
Mark 10:51
And Jesus ...
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Greek Rendering of Joshua the son of Nun
Why is Hebrew יהושע בן נון rendered into Greek as Ιησους Ναυη rather than perhaps Νουν?
The LXX seems to consistently use Ναυη for the character נון in all cases:
Joshua 1:1
εἶπε ὁ Κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ ...
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What is the oldest manuscript evidence for the name Satan and its etymological origin?
I have heard that the Greek name ό Σατανάς (Satan) derives from the Hebrew word שָׂטָן (shaitan), but I have not yet seen any manuscript evidence to support this etymology. Considering there are known ...
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Septuagint/LXX—why 70 and not 72?
The answer to this might be "go back in time to ask those who said it" but …
There are several documents extant that say 72 scholars produced the Septuagint. So why is it called Septuagint (...
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Is it possible for the meaning of the name Michael to be rendered as a statement rather than a question?
Abarim publications has the following definition and etymology for the Hebrew name Michael:
Meaning
Who Is Like God?, What Is God Like?
Etymology
From (1) מי (mi), "who?", (2) כ (ke), "...
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How was Esau's wife named Judith?
When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. (Genesis 26:34)
According to Hebrew etymology (Strong's ...
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What is the difference of the words πόρνος (pornos) alongside μοιχός (moichos) in Hebrews 13:4 compared to πορνείας (porneias) in 1 Thess 4:3?
Q: What is the difference of the words πόρνος (pornos) alongside
μοιχός (moichos) in Hebrews 13:4 compared to πορνείας (porneias) in 1 Thess 4:3?
Texts to compare:
“Marriage is honorable among all, ...
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What is the etymology of the Greek word episkopos (επισκοπος) and how should it be translated in Titus 1:7
I understand that the word bishop comes from the Greek word ‘episkopos’, which means overseer, superintendent, supervisor, or foreman. Also derived from ‘episkopos’ are the English words episcopacy, ...
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Κηφάς (Greek proper name) < κεϕαλή (head) < πέτρος (rock)?
Are Κηφάς (a Greek proper name < Aramaic כיפא, kēp̄ā, "rock"), κεϕαλή (head), and πέτρος (rock) etymologically related?
Jn. 1:42: "Thou shalt be called Cephas (Κηφάς), which is ...
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What's the difference between ἱεροῦ hieron & ναὸν naos?
What's the difference between ἱεροῦ hieron & ναὸν naos?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the
priests in the temple (ἱεροῦ hieron, G2411) profane the sabbath, and are ...
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Blessed Vs Happy: Which translation is more accurate in beatitudes Matthew 5?
Most early literal translators chose Happy instead of Blessed in the beatitudes, Matthew 5. Even the earliest English versions used Eadige meaning Happy, and then in the 14th century, Wycliffe seems ...
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In Philippians 4:5, what does Paul mean when he states, “Let your moderation be known unto all men”?
While analyzing this particular verse, the word used for moderation in the Koine Greek is "epieikies" meaning equitable, fair, and/or fitting. How does that translate to moderation or in ...
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What is the meaning of the Hebrew word Israel - Struggle or Prince? Any scholarly resources on this? cf. Genesis 32:28
The Hebrew word Israel gets translated Struggle and Prince i.e. Gen 32:28. Are there any good scholarly resources that can help clarify which meaning is more accurate?
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Etymology of the name Mary? [closed]
Why does Strongs 4813 say "מרים [miryâm] \meer-yawm'\" is
From 4805; rebelliously; {Mirjam} the name of two Israelitesses: - Miriam
when St. Jerome writes (Liber de Nominibus Hebraicis col. 886):
...
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According to Genesis 4:1f, could Cain and Abel be twins?
In English, the Bible states:
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, 'I have gotten a man from the LORD.'
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was ...
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Why is עֲרוּמִּ֔ים (Gen 2:25) translated "naked," and in the very next verse its singular form, עָר֔וּם (Gen 3:1), is translated "crafty/shrewd?"
I am curious as to why the Hebrew word for "crafty/shrewd," עָרוּם, used to characterize the serpent in the Garden in Genesis 3:1 is the same word in Genesis 2:25, describing Adam and Eve, yet ...
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Why was Noah specifically required to build an ark with Gopher wood?
Genesis 6:14
" Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and
cover it inside and outside with pitch.
There were different kinds of wood that could have served this purpose but ...
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What is the appropriate translation for מַעֲדַנֹּ֑ת in 1 Samuel 15?
Traditional Jewish commentators render this as some version of 'shackled', academic translations (such as JPS) offer 'faltered steps'. The word מַעֲדַנֹּ֑ת appears to have the root ayin.dalet.nun. ...
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Why is "ishah" translated "woman" instead of "offering by fire," more to the true etymology of that term in Hebrew before vowel points? [closed]
This is not dealing with just the Judges 4:4 reference, already asked; but we see throughout that the word is translated "woman" or "offering by fire," especially in Leviticus. In fact, it looks like ...
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Question with regard to dual meanings in the Hebrew words "Erev" and "Boker" in Genesis 1
This is a long and sometimes rambling account of my investigation into the creation account, specifically with regard to the word "Boker" or morning. It is one of the most fascinating concepts I have ...
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Meaning of ἐνδημέω and ἐκδημέω in 2 Cor 5?
I was studying 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 when I noticed that two terms that play a major part in its interpretation are very unusual Greek words:
ἐνδημέω - endēmeō
ἐκδημέω - ekdēmeō
They are clearly ...
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Meaning behind Job's three daughters' names? Job 42:14
And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name
of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. (Job 42:14)
These are his three new daughters after God restored ...
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What does "Christian" mean (Acts 11:26)?
The word "Christian" is first used in Acts 11:26.
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught a significant number of ...
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Why does Strong's have two different entries for the word "Adam"?
As far as I can tell, these are the exact same word, down to the cantillation marks. And H121 even says, "the same as H120".
From Strong's:
H120 - 'adam אָדָם, from אָדַם (H119):
man, ...
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What is the meaning of Beth Aven (בית און)?
in Joshua 7:2 are EL (אל) and AVEN (און) used in contrast to each other.
וישלח יהושע אנשים מיריחו העי אשר עם־בית און מקדם לבית־אל ויאמר אליהם לאמר עלו ורגלו את־הארץ ויעלו האנשים וירגלו את־העי׃
in ...
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If Joshua can be translated why Is the name of Jesus translated "Jesus" but his name in hebrew was Joshua?
This question is in regard to Matthew 1:21, "His name shall be called Jesus for he will save his people from their sins." The question has two parts.
1) Strongs equates the name "Jesus" with the ...
user2027
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On what basis is the name "Ephraim" given the etymology of "ash heap"?
The name Ephraim seems to commonly be given two etymologies, one referring to an "ash heap" and the other referring to "fruitfulness". Example I can understand the fruitfulness etymology linking ...
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