WordsWords

• Smallest unit of speech with complete meaning • Smallest unit of speech with complete meaning

• A group of letters arranged in a specific pattern to form a linguistic symbol representing an idea

• A group of letters arranged in a specific pattern to form a linguistic symbol representing an idea• A brief statement (cf. Gal. 5:14) or command• A brief statement (cf. Gal. 5:14) or command

• Promise• Promise

• News or tidings• News or tidings

• Logos--Creation; Jesus; divine communication• Logos--Creation; Jesus; divine communication

• Scripture• Scripture

Definition of a Word:Definition of a Word:Definition of a Word:Definition of a Word:

WordsWords

• Letter• Letter

• Phoneme – a sound that serves to contrast meaning

• Phoneme – a sound that serves to contrast meaning

• Morpheme – the smallest grouping of letters with independent meaning

• Morpheme – the smallest grouping of letters with independent meaning

• Word• Word

• Sentence• Sentence

• Discourse/book• Discourse/book

• Unit/paragraph/pericope• Unit/paragraph/pericope

Levels of AnalysisLevels of AnalysisLevels of AnalysisLevels of Analysis

Language is a triad of:Language is a triad of: phonologyphonology (sound) (sound)

morphologymorphology (spelling/structure)(spelling/structure)

syntaxsyntax (order) (order)

Language is a triad of:Language is a triad of: phonologyphonology (sound) (sound)

morphologymorphology (spelling/structure)(spelling/structure)

syntaxsyntax (order) (order)

WordsWords

Sound in the Bible:

Alliteration (Psalm 119)

Assonance (1 Tim 3:16; Lamentations)Paronomasia (pun) (Amos 8:2 – qets; qayits)Onomatopoeia (Gen 1:2)

WordsWords

• Denotation vs. Connotation• Denotation vs. Connotation

• Words change in meaning• Words change in meaning

• Synonyms cf. Mt 26:22-25 “Lord” vs. “Rabbi”• A single Greek word may be translated by several English words.• A single English word my represent several Greek words.

• Synonyms cf. Mt 26:22-25 “Lord” vs. “Rabbi”• A single Greek word may be translated by several English words.• A single English word my represent several Greek words.

• Idioms• Idioms

• Transliterations• Transliterations

• Religious Terminology• Religious Terminology

Special ConsiderationsSpecial ConsiderationsSpecial ConsiderationsSpecial Considerations

WordsWords

•Dictionary•Dictionary

• Usage• Usage

• Context• Context

TCBL, NIDNTT, Kittle, BAG, etc.TCBL, NIDNTT, Kittle, BAG, etc.

Concordances: Computer, NIV,

Strongs, Wigrams

Concordances: Computer, NIV,

Strongs, Wigrams

Three Sources for Three Sources for

a Word Studya Word StudyThree Sources for Three Sources for

a Word Studya Word Study

The BibleThe Bible

WordsWordsRules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:

1.1. Every word has only one intended meaning Every word has only one intended meaning in each use -- the author’s. (Barring, of in each use -- the author’s. (Barring, of course, puns and other figures of speech). course, puns and other figures of speech). Therefore, context and usage determines Therefore, context and usage determines the definition of a word. The best way to the definition of a word. The best way to determine the meaning of a word is to play determine the meaning of a word is to play mental “follow the leader with the author.”mental “follow the leader with the author.”

2.2. Words have multiple meanings within a Words have multiple meanings within a given range. They also change, grow, get given range. They also change, grow, get married, have kids, and sometimes die.married, have kids, and sometimes die.

WordsWordsRules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:

3.3. Meaning is not found in words, or even in Meaning is not found in words, or even in sentences, but in the pericope.sentences, but in the pericope.

4.4. Law of Parsimony: All other factors being Law of Parsimony: All other factors being equal, the simplest explanation is to be equal, the simplest explanation is to be preferred.preferred.

5.5. Every word is interchangeable with its Every word is interchangeable with its meaning. meaning.

6.6. Clusters of a word in one passage may Clusters of a word in one passage may offer a good definition for the word. offer a good definition for the word.

WordsWordsRules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:

7.7. Words are to be understood literally unless Words are to be understood literally unless the context demands otherwise; this the context demands otherwise; this would include religious and technical would include religious and technical terminology.terminology.

8.8. New or rare words are defined by context, New or rare words are defined by context, then etymology, the earliest versions, and then etymology, the earliest versions, and finally by kindred languages and finally by kindred languages and analogous words.analogous words.

9.9. Most N.T. authors are Hebraic in thought; Most N.T. authors are Hebraic in thought; therefore one may need to trace the word therefore one may need to trace the word back to the O.T.back to the O.T.

WordsWordsRules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:Rules for defining a word:

10.10. Synonyms, when used together, Synonyms, when used together, generally accentuate their similarity generally accentuate their similarity rather than their differences unless a rather than their differences unless a particularly acute distinction is being particularly acute distinction is being made. This is especially true in poetry.made. This is especially true in poetry.

WordsWords

• Context• Context

• Translations (See Wilson & Gardner p. 87)• Translations (See Wilson & Gardner p. 87)

• Concordances: Clusters, authors, dates, language

• Concordances: Clusters, authors, dates, language• Etymology• Etymology

• Non-Biblical usage – history of the word• Non-Biblical usage – history of the word

• Dictionaries and Word Studies• Dictionaries and Word Studies

• Synonyms/Antonyms• Synonyms/Antonyms

Steps for Researching a Steps for Researching a WordWord

Steps for Researching a Steps for Researching a WordWord

• Commentaries• Commentaries• Context• Context

WordsWords

EtymologyEtymology1. Looking Back1. Looking Back

• English examples--Butterfly, Pineapple, comfort.

• English examples--Butterfly, Pineapple, comfort.• Greek examples--UPERETES = under-rower; MONOGENES = Only begotten.

• Greek examples--UPERETES = under-rower; MONOGENES = Only begotten.

2. Looking Forward2. Looking Forward

• Dynamite--Rom. 1:16, Hilarious giver--2 Cor. 9:7; Metamorphosis, Rom. 12:2.

• Dynamite--Rom. 1:16, Hilarious giver--2 Cor. 9:7; Metamorphosis, Rom. 12:2.

Errors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word Studies

WordsWords

Badly Used DefinitionsBadly Used Definitions1. Definitions that are obsolete, unknown or

unlikely1. Definitions that are obsolete, unknown or

unlikely• MARTUS--cf. Carson, p. 35.• MARTUS--cf. Carson, p. 35.

• Berkeley & Mickelsen, "The 'head' of the Epistles," CT 25:4 (Feb. 20, 1981):20-23.

• Berkeley & Mickelsen, "The 'head' of the Epistles," CT 25:4 (Feb. 20, 1981):20-23.

2. Using rare meanings without contextual support2. Using rare meanings without contextual support

• A.T. Robinson and the used of eis in Acts 2:38 to mean "because of" rather than "into."

• A.T. Robinson and the used of eis in Acts 2:38 to mean "because of" rather than "into."

Errors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word Studies

WordsWords

Misuse of cultural background material

Misuse of cultural background material1. Craming background material into a word.1. Craming background material into a word.

• Water (Jn. 3:5) = male semen• Water (Jn. 3:5) = male semen

• Tent-maker = leather worker.• Tent-maker = leather worker.

2. Linking language and cultural mindset2. Linking language and cultural mindset

• Silva, Biblical Words and Their Meanings, 53-73; "Bilingualism and the Character of N.T. Greek" Bib 69 (1980); 198-219.

• Silva, Biblical Words and Their Meanings, 53-73; "Bilingualism and the Character of N.T. Greek" Bib 69 (1980); 198-219.

• Hebrew has no future tense. (Watch TDNT)

• Hebrew has no future tense. (Watch TDNT)

Errors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word Studies

3. Semitic background in the Greek N.T.3. Semitic background in the Greek N.T.

WordsWords

Similarities between wordsSimilarities between words1. Parallelomania1. Parallelomania

• See Samuel Sandmel, "Parallelomania," JBL 81(1962): 2-13.

• See Samuel Sandmel, "Parallelomania," JBL 81(1962): 2-13.

2. Synonyms and false categories: Words are more like concentric circles than boxes.

2. Synonyms and false categories: Words are more like concentric circles than boxes.

• Trench's synonyms of the N.T. is especially susceptible.

• Trench's synonyms of the N.T. is especially susceptible.

• Abused Synonyms--Love (agapao and phileo); know (oida and ginosko); etc.

• Abused Synonyms--Love (agapao and phileo); know (oida and ginosko); etc.

Errors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word StudiesErrors in Word Studies