Questions tagged [word-study]
Investigation into the meaning or use of an individual word across a specific Biblical text or collection. This can include etymology, morphology, and usage as the word appears in text. This should not be exhaustive for all uses through the entire Bible or testament for frequently used words.
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What is the meaning of "achri/at/until" in Philippians 1:6?
Philippians 1:6
"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ". NKJV My emphasis.
Philippians 1:6
"And ...
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1 Samuel 1:20 - what are the implications of the pun on Samuel's name, or was it actually Saul?
In 1 Sam. 1:20, why does Hannah apparently make a pun on her son's name that makes no sense if his name was Samuel, but makes perfect sense if his name was Saul?
The bible if full of puns made by ...
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Is casting lots considered prophecy?
In Joshua 18:6 (NASB)
And you shall write a description of the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. Then I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God.
or in Jonah ...
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Gospel of Thomas, What is Putting a 'Foot in Place of a Foot?'
I've wondered about this for years, what does Thomas mean? The passage is below, Thomas 1:22:
Jesus said to them, "When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and ...
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In 2 Kings 2:9 what does it mean for Elisha to want "a double portion" from Elijah?
Answers on this question conclude that "portion" refers to inheritance. Just before Elijah is taken to Heaven, Elisha asks for a "double portion" of his spirit.
2 Kings 2:9 When they had crossed ...
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Why מצא instead of נמצא in Genesis 2:20?
(Genesis 2:20, Masoretic) וַיִּקְרָ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם שֵׁמֹ֗ות לְכָל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְעֹ֣וף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּלְאָדָ֕ם לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדֹּֽו׃
(DRB) And Adam called all the ...
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In Judges 15:20 what does it mean that Samson "judged" Israel for twenty years?
KJV Judges 15:20 And he [Samson] judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
To read Samson's story is to watch a man of action, always anxious to be in the action. At least in the KJV,...
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Is the word "begotten" in John 3:16 of Authorized Version a problem that creates confusion when establishing the Deity of Christ? [closed]
The Authorized Version has the word "begotten" in
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have ...
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Is "the bread is in effect common" (1 Samuel 21:5) as translated by the NKJV accurate?
The MT reads:
וַיַּ֩עַן֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־אִשָּׁ֤ה
עֲצֻֽרָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם בְּצֵאתִ֕י וַיִּהְי֥וּ
כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל ...
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How are we to understand the words "womb" "begotten" and "morning" in Psalm 110:3?
Psalm 110:3 Brenton Septuagint Translation, With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints: I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.
Psalm 110:3 Peshitta ...
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Is Proverbs 25:20 about singing songs to an "evil" heart or to a "sad" one?
Proverbs 25: 20 (NASB, literal translation in bold)
"Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,
Is he who sings songs to an evil heart."
I didn't understand this when ...
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How are we to understand the word "quickly" in Revelation 22:12 according to our idea of time? [duplicate]
Revelation 22:12 ASV Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.
What is the time gap that can be derived from the use of the word quickly in this ...
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What does the word "prototokos" mean in Colossians 1:15?
What does the Greek word "prototokos" mean in English as used in Colossians 1:15?
Col 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn [prōtotokos] over all creation. [NIV]
...
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What did Lilies mean in Solomon's era or from what he taught about plants that caused Huram to cast them onto the pillars of the temple? 1 Kings 7:19
According to Exodus 31:2-3, Bezalel had divine wisdom and used it in his crafting of the tabernacle. Huram succeeded him and crafted the articles for the temple.
The capitals which were on top of ...
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How might the NLT justify putting "diakonon" as "deacon" in view of John 2:9?
NLT Romans 16:1 "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea."
Another question on this site looks at diakonon being male, here I want to take another focus....
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Did Paul call Timothy "my own son in the faith" or "a true child in the faith"?
In the KJV, 1 Timothy 1:2 says:
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith...
In the English translation in The Interlinear Bible (called "King James II Version") (TIB), however, it says:
to ...
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In John 4:24, what does it mean to "worship in Spirit and truth"?
John 4:24 says "God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
How do we know we are worshipping in Spirit and in truth?
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What does "vanity" mean in "the creature was made subject to vanity" in Romans 8:20?
I suggest: "Vanity" describes either Adam's sin [ the first recorded sin] or God's reaction to that sin, the curse of Gen 3.
The A.V. always translates "mataiotei" as "vanity". It comes in three ...
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In the New Testament, What is the Origin of "Believe In" and "Believe Into"?
Is there any Extra-Biblical source, (in Classical Greek, or Semitic sources), or a syntactical rule, behind the construction: ["πιστεύων ἐν" and "πιστεύων εἰς" + "Some Leader"]* — Or, is this ...
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How should σπεύδω be understood in 2 Peter 3:12?
2 Peter 3:12 reads:
while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because
of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the
celestial bodies will melt away in a ...
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Are musical instruments included in Ephesians 5:19?
In Ephesians 5:19, Christians are told to speak "to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (NKJV). Does the phrase "...
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Why was Ham the only one among Noah's three sons who had a land named after him. Psalm 105:23
Psalm 105:23 (NKJV)
Israel also came into Egypt, And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
Psalm 106:22 (NKJV)
Wondrous works in the land of
Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea.
Noah had three sons; Shem, ...
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Comparing the words "beginning" and God's "word" in 2 Peter 3:4-5 with John 1:1-3
2 Peter 3:4-5 ASV and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they ...
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What is Jer. 48:11 refering to?
What does Jer. 48:11 refer to when it says that his smell/taste remains in him and his scent is not changed? What does the smell/taste and scent refer to?
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Is Elijah really asking if Baal is "on the porta-potty" in 1 Kings 18:27? [duplicate]
Was Baal in The Loo?
This is regarding the following scripture:
1 Kings 18:27 New International Reader's Version (NIRV) At noon Elijah
began to tease them. “Shout louder!” he said. “I’m sure Baal is ...
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What is significance of "wife of [your] youth" such as in Malachi, Proverbs, or Isaiah 54?
This phrase appears often. Does it have different significance than the concept of "wife"? Examples:
Malachi 2:14
But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the ...
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Is it fair to say that the "enfleshment" of John 1:14 was caused by the Word?
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 KJV
The word in question is γίνομαι (...
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What is meant by “power” in the context of Acts 1:8?
Acts 1:7-8 (NIV):
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you ...
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Does the expression "(to be) filled with the Spirit" denote a temporary experience or a permanent state of being?
Variants of the expression "(to be) filled with the Spirit" can be found multiple times in the Bible:
and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with ...
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In 2 Peter 1:4 what does Peter mean by "partakers of the divine nature"?
3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his ...
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How do we understand God's rejection of Saul in 1 Sam. 15:23, 28?
The verses in question read as follows:
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also ...
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Has Paul's concept in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 been misunderstood?
ο κατεχων αρτι εως εκ μεσου γενηται [TR - undisputed] 2 Thess 2: 7 (b)
... only he who now letteth (will let), until he be taken out of the way. [KJV]
... he who restrains at present until out of [...
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How might "one mind" in Philippians 2:2 compare with "your mind" in Mark 12:30?
"complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." Philippians 2:2 ESV -One mind. mind/phroneo.
"And you shall love the Lord your ...
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Is the god in Daniel 11:38 a god of "Fortresses" or of "Egypt"?
מִצְרַ֖יִם (miṣ·ra·yim) is the original Hebrew name for Egypt. Mizraim is the dual form of matzor, meaning a "mound" or "fortress".
מָֽעֻזִּ֔ים (mā·‘uz·zîm) is the name of the god ...
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What does the greek word ὑπάρχων (hyparchōn) tell us about Jesus' existence in Philippians 2:6?
Philippians 2:6 YLT who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God,
ὑπάρχων (hyparchōn) Strong's 5225: To begin, am, exist, be in possession. From hupo and archomai; to begin ...
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In Romans 6:7, why is δεδικαίωται translated "freed" in many English versions?
Romans 6:7 invariably discusses a believer's freedom from sin in most English translations:
NET ©
(For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)
NIV ©
because anyone who has died has ...
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What does "prophecy" mean in Romans 12:6?
Romans 12:6-7
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his ...
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Did David become Saul's armor bearer before or after he killed Goliath?
In 1st Sam 16:17-23 Saul sent for David
However in 1st Sam 17:55-56 after he killed Goliath
Saul asks Abner who he was
In 1st Sam 18:2 he did not let him return home
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Does 'blot out' give a false impression of the meaning of the Hebrew in Isaiah 43:25?
Robert Young's Analytical Concordance gives machah as the word in both Isaiah 43:25 and Isaiah 44:22 (and occurring a total of sixteen times in the Hebrew Bible) :
I -- I am He who is blotting out ...
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What does "baptism now saves you" mean in 1 Peter 3:21 [duplicate]
What does baptism now saves you mean in
1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the
removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good
conscience—through the ...
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Why does Romans 14:11 use two different Voices?
Ro 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow (2578) (5692) to me, and every tongue shall confess (1843) (5698) to God.
Do the two differences in "Voice" ...
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What is the difference in meaning between “fellowship” in 1 Corinthians 1:9 & “communion” in 2 Corinthians 13:14?
What is the difference in meaning between “fellowship” in 1 Corinthians 1:9 & “communion” in 2 Corinthians 13:14?
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship ...
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What is the force of τε as used in Hebrews 4:12 [TR]?
... μερισμου ψυχης τε και πνευματος αρμων τε και μυελων και κριτικος ενθυμησεων και εννοιων καρδιας [TR - Beza, Stephanus, Elzevir and Scrivener all identical]
... dividing asunder of soul and spirit,...
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What does it mean for God to magnify his word above his name ? Psalm 138:2
Singing Psalm 138 this morning, I find I am no further forward in understanding verse 2 than when I read it and heard it in my youth, without it ever being explained to me.
"Thou hast made great ...
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What Kind of Poor, are the Poor in Spirit?
The “poor” in the verse “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven[,]” (Mat. 5:3 NIV) is the An.Gr. “ptōchoi”. While this word does refer to poor people Strong’s Concordance ...
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Who is/are the referent(s) of the Greek words "ho Theos" at Mark 13:19 and what does it mean there. Is it the same every else too?
The following verses have the words "ho Theos" in their Greek translations. There are a lot more.
Mark 1:1 Matthew 3:9 Mark 13:19 Luke 2:19 Acts 2:11 John 8:42,47 Luke 1:26 Acts 26:6 ...
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Why does the Aramaic Bible in Plain English put "The old is sweet"?
Luke 5:39
"And no man drinks old wine and at once desires the new , for he says,'The old is sweet'.
Commenting on this verse Ellicott says: "new or sweet wine, drunk within a year or so of ...
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In James 2:23, does the use of the word "fulfilled" (ἐπληρώθη) suggest that Genesis 15:6 was a prophecy about the future (IE: Genesis 22:12)?
[Jas 2:20-26 NASB] (20) But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son ...
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What does "Blessed" mean in 1 Peter 1:3?
" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the ressurrection of Jesus Christ from the ...
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What is the exact meaning of הׇיְתָה in Genesis 1:2?
In the first clause of Genesis 1:2 there is a verb הׇיְתָה. Some versions translate it as "was" when it also bears the meaning "to become" and many more. My question is what should הׇיְחׇה be ...
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