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 can we infer about archangel(s) from the text of the Bible? [closed]
Among the Christians I know it is believed that Michael is the only Archangel because only he is mentioned as being one (I realize the flaw, but believed nonetheless).
However, there are several ...
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Why are there three nouns and only one verb in Genesis 9:4 : '... but flesh (with its) life blood not (shall ye) eat'?
The literal rendering given for Genesis 9:4 states six Hebrew words :
... but flesh ('with its' from prepositional inflection) life blood not ('shall ye' from verbal inflection) eat.
As it stands, ...
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Luke 13: 1-5 - What "μετανοῆτε" means in the context of Jesus' answer, semantically, repent of sin or turn from sin?
Text: Luke 13:1-5(ESV)
There were some present at that very time who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he
answered them, “Do you think that these ...
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Fourth plague in Egypt--what was it?
This is how the fourth plague is described in Exodus chapter 8:20-21
(טז) וַיֹּאמֶר יְדֹוָד אֶל משֶׁה הַשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר וְהִתְיַצֵּב
לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה הִנֵּה יוֹצֵא הַמָּיְמָה וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו כֹּה ...
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Healing of the Centurion's παῖς (servant, son?) in Matthew 8:5-13
I have heard it said that the Centurion in Matthew 8 was refering to his "παῖς" in the sense of servant or slave, and all translations seem to take it that way. I've heard people go on to say that ...
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What does the word 'idols' mean in 1 John 5:21 and what exactly is idolatry?
'Little children, guard yourselves from idols' (1 John 5:21).
What was John's meaning? Did he mean, "Be careful not to end up in the local pagan temple" or does he intend to convey another type of ...
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Was the "Kingdom at Hand" (Matthew 4:17) postponed by the Jewish rejection of Jesus; did they have the power to trump Jesus's anticipation?
At Hand Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Matt. 4:17) Also see Be sure of this, that the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. (Luke 10:11). The Greek is gar eggiken e basileia ton ouranon ...
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In what sense is God 'Holy'?
Question:
If 'Holy', (ἅγιος at Biblehub.com, and at logeion.uchicago.edu), is interpreted as 'separated unto', 'consecrated', 'dedicated to', or 'sacred', then in what sense can God be considered Holy?...
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What are the "firstfruits of the Spirit" in Romans 8:23?
"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:23 ESV.
...
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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 is the meaning of αφεσις, aphesis, in Luke 4:18?
I have listed the seventeen biblical occurrences of αφεσις recorded in Young’s Concordance and have tabulated the translation of the word in six different versions, namely The Wycliffe (1388), The ...
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What does the "rod of an almond tree" in Jer 1:11 refer to?
In Jeremiah 1:11, what does the "rod of an almond tree" refer to?
11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
...
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Luke 23:54 - How should "Sabbath Dawning" be Interpreted?
The Syriac of Luke 23:54 seems to affirm an interpretation of "Sabbath Dawning". In addition, the same word seems to be used 43 times in the Syriac New Testament to mean "Dawn".
So,...
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Does calling the Sabbath a "sign" (אות) between God and Israel mean it was given to distinguish Israel from other nations?
In various passages, God calls the Sabbath a "sign" (Hebrew, אות) between Him and Israel (all NKJV, emphasis mine):
"Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths ...
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Different words to describe the "rod serpent"
In Exodus 4:3 (KJV)
And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
Serpent comes from the word nachash and the outline of ...
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Dreaming a Dream vs. Dreaming
I have had this question sitting in MY for some time unanswered, despite repeated bounties, so I think I'll give it a try here.
Throughout the Bible, the root חלם, to dream, is used. Often, a dream ...
user22655
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Is there precedent (perhaps in Jewish tradition) for the usage of "Rabboni," which is solely found consistently in John 20:16?
John 20:16
New International Version
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in
Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").
New Living ...
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What did Sarah mean by calling Abraham her "lord"?
In Genesis 18:12 Sarah says,
After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?
The word "lord" is Strong's Hebrew 113, אָדוֹן.
1 Peter 3:6 suggests that her calling her husband "...
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What does "faith in Jesus Christ" mean in Romans 3:22?
"the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe". Romans 3:22. ESV.
In this verse is Jesus Christ the source of faith? Christians have faith because they are in ...
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What's the significance of pomegranates?
I'm curious about the significance of pomegranates - rimmown.
While this word occurs 32 times in 25 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV, we can limit the scope of this question to Exodus.
In ...
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What is the emphasis of προς in 1 John 2:1 ('with' the Father)?
τεκνια μου ταυτα γραφω υμιν ινα μη αμαρτητε και εαν τις αμαρτη παρακλητον εχομεν προς τον πατερα ιησουν χριστον δικαιον [1 John 2:1 - TR (undisputed)]
My little children, these things write I unto ...
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The meaning of "know" in Gen. 4:17
I am wondering about the use of "know" in the sexual sense in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., "[Cain] knew his wife" in Gen. 4:17). Is this an euphemism by the first translators into English, or was this ...
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In Amos 9:13 - What does "The Plowman will Overtake the Reapers" Mean?
1. The Text :
NAS, Amos 9:13 - When the plowman will overtake [וְנִגַּ֤שׁ] the reaper ...
2. Question, A Word-Study :
These are at least two very different understandings of "overtake" in this ...
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Is there any significance to using φάγω vs ἐσθίω?
Matthew (for one example) uses two different words for eating, and I'm trying to figure out if there's any difference in meaning. In Matthew 12:1, he uses ἐσθίω:
...and His disciples were hungry, ...
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Can "יָתוֹם" designate someone who has lost his father but not his mother?
The word "יָתוֹם" has been translated as "fatherless" by numerous translations (ESV KJV NASB etc, cf. Psalm 109:9), but "orphan" by others (LXX, Vulgate, TNK etc), dictionaries mentioning the two ...
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Sin Vs Transgression: is there a technical difference? Lev 16:16 "uncleannesses, transgressions, all their sins"
What is the basic difference between sin vs. transgression? khata or chata/ḥāṭā and pesha
Take for example Lev 16:16 ESV to be specific about the various words describing sin:
Thus he shall make ...
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In Genesis 1:1 (a), are there any Hebrew articles?
אֱלֹהִ֑ים .... בָּרָ֣א ... בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית
In the beginning ... created ... God
In the Greek text of John 1:1, ('In the beginning' ... 'with God') there is no article with 'beginning' (arche) but there ...
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What does "fear of the Lord" in 2 Chronicles 14:13-15 mean?
2 Chronicles 14:13-15 13 Asa and the people who were with him
pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none
remained alive, for they were broken before the Lord and his army. ...
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In Matthew 7:23 does Jesus say he will "profess" or "confess" to the goats or that he "agrees with" them?
[Matthew 7:22-23 KJV] 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then ...
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What is the difference between οἴδασιν (in John 15:21) and γνόντες (in Romans 1:21)?
I have quoted John 15:21 and Romans 1:21 from the ESV.
ESV John 15:21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know (οἴδασιν) him who sent me.
ESV Romans 1:...
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In Jeremiah 29:8 what kind of dream was Israel not to listen to?
In Jeremiah, which dreams is God saying to not listen to?
NKJV, Jeremiah 29:8 - For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your ...
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Why did Moses use the hebrew word "Miqveh"(meaning hope) to describe the gathering together of the waters in Genesis 1:10
The word Miqveh in Hebrew means hope.
H4723
Original: מּקוא מקוה מקוה o
Transliteration: miqveh miqvêh miqvê'
Phonetic: mik-veh'
BDB Definition:
hope
ground of hope
...
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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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Can men kill/take away our ψυχὴν (psychēn) or not? Matthew 10:28 vs. other passages (word study)
A.
And be not afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul [psychēn], but fear rather Him who is able both soul [psychēn] and body to destroy in gehenna
[Matthew 10:28 YLT]
vs....
user38524
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Why is "gave" aorist in John 17:6, in contrast to others as listed?
John 17:2 "whom you have given him".. dedokas, perfect.
John 17:6 "whom you gave me" ........... edokas, aorist.
John 17:6 "you gave them to me"...........edokas, ...
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What is meant by "reward" in the context of "And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6)?
Matthew 6:2-4 (ESV):
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to ...
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What does 'wrest' the scriptures mean, 2 Peter 3:16?
In 2 Peter 3:16, the apostle Peter says :
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable ...
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Why is the sharp sword not "double-edged," in Revelation 19:15?
I am reading in the book of Revelation at chapter 1,where John sees a vision of a man.John then goes on to give a detailed description of the man who is without question-Jesus Christ.
I notice that ...
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What does the sentence "their grapes are filled with poison" in Deu 32:32,33 (NIV) mean?
Sodom is known for having been more decadent than Israel. And judging on the below Bible verses, their decadence seem to have had something to do with their drinking culture. Was their grapes ...
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What does the phrase " if you are willing to receive it" mean in Matthew 11:14?
Matthew 11:14 (NKJV)
14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Could it be John was Elijah in a symbolic sense, so that John was not actually Elijah but served in the ...
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What is the “Light” of Genesis 1:3?
In Genesis 1:3 (ESV), it is written,
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
The Hebrew word which is translated into English as "light" is אֹור (or) (Strong's H216).
Is this "...
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Meaning and significance of the greek word "ἅπτομαι" (haptomai \ haptou) in John 20:17 [duplicate]
I have always been struck by the "oddness" and also variation in the translation of Jesus statement in John 20:17 to Mary magdeline after his resurrection. It is rendered in various english ...
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What's the difference between enthymesis (ἐνθύμησις) and ennoia (ἔννοια) as in Heb 4:12?
Both,ἐνθύμησις as well as ἔννοια, can be translated as thought. So, I am wondering what is the semantic difference between the two and in how far do they differ from dialogismos / διαλογισμός OR ...
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"I am" in Greek Septuagint translation of Exodus 3:14 vs. John 8:58 - how do they compare?
Exodus 3:14 YLT
And God saith unto Moses, 'I AM THAT WHICH I AM;' He saith also, 'Thus dost thou say to the sons of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
How does the translation of the Greek ...
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Greek: Jerusalem, why is this sometimes plural?
I'm trying to understand the use of the city name Jerusalem in the New Testament. In some places, it appears as a proper noun, singular, feminine (Strongs 2419), And then in other places, it appears ...
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What is the status of the word "because" in 1 Peter 2:8? ESV
"They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do". ESV
There are other questions on this site which go into this verse without, I think, quite settling this point: ...
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What does "were hardened" mean in Romans 11:7?
"The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened." ESV.
Why this hardening took place is, I think, explained in Romans 11:11 "through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles".
What I ...
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What are "dominions" as the word appears in Colossians 1:16?
"For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.." E.S.V.
Possible areas for consideration:
Do we need to ...
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Are the luminaries of Gen. 1:14-15 the same as the stars of Gen. 1:16?
Young's Literal Translation of Gen. 1:14-15:
"14 And God saith, `Let luminaries be in the expanse of the heavens, to make a separation between the day and the night, then they have been for ...
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In Genesis 6:3, could הוּא בָשָׂר be understood as “he is carnal”?
In Gen. 6:3, the Hebrew text states,
ג וַיֹּאמֶר יַהְוֶה לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי בָאָדָם לְעֹלָם בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר וְהָיוּ יָמָיו מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה
which the King James Version translates into ...
user862