Original Languages
Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic words defined.
'hear, O Israel'
'Hear, O Israel' (Hebrew: שְׁמַע, Yisrael) calls for wholehearted obedience to God rather than just passive listening.
“the Woman Whom You Gave”
The phrase 'The woman whom you gave' appears in Genesis 3:12, where Adam shifts blame for his sin to God after eating the forbidden fruit.
Abad
The Hebrew word abad (עָבַד) means 'to perish' or 'to destroy,' often describing complete ruin or obliteration.
Abba
The word 'Abba' comes from Aramaic and means 'Father,' reflecting a term of intimate address.
Accursed
The word 'accursed' (Hebrew: *arar*, Greek: *kataraō*) means to be under divine judgment or separated from God’s blessing.
Adonai
Adonai is a Hebrew term meaning 'Lord' or 'Master,' often used in the Bible to express reverence and authority.
Agape
Agape, from the Greek word for selfless, sacrificial love, is central to Christian teaching.
Akouō
The Greek word *akouō* (ακούω) means to hear, listen to, or obey.
Allegorically
The Greek term *allegoreō* (from which we get 'allegorically') means to interpret or speak in a symbolic way, using stories to reveal deeper spiritual truths.
Amen
Amen, from the Hebrew אָמֵן (aman) and Greek ἀμήν, means 'to confirm' or 'to be firm.
Anechomenoi
The Greek term *anechomenoi* (ἀνεχομένοις) means 'being borne' or 'endured,' often tied to steadfastness in faith.
Aramaic
Aramaic (Hebrew: ܐܪܡܝܐ, Greek: Ἀραμαῖος) is a Semitic language that became prominent in the ancient Near East.
As You Have Done, It Shall Be Done to You
The phrase 'As you have done, it shall be done to you' (Hebrew: כִּי-מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יֵעָשֶׂה לָּךְ) reflects a principle of divine justice in Scripture, emphasizing that actions have consequences.
Asah
The Hebrew word *asah* (אָשַׂה) means 'to do' or 'to make,' often conveying intentional action.
Banah
The Hebrew word 'banah' (בנה) means 'to build' or 'construct,' often used in the context of creating structures, relationships, or spiritual foundations.
Bara
The Hebrew word *bara* (בָּרָא) means 'to create' and is used in Scripture to describe God bringing the universe into existence from nothing.
Barak (bless)
The Hebrew word *Barak* (בָּרַךְ) means 'to kneel' or 'to bless,' often linking physical posture with spiritual gratitude.
Because of Sarai
'Because of Sarai' (Hebrew: *לַעֲבוּרֵי שָׂרַי*, la'avurei Sarah) is a phrase from Genesis 16:1-2 that explains the cause-and-effect relationship between Sarai’s barrenness and Abram’s decision to take Hagar as a concubine.
Behold Now
The phrase 'Behold now' (Hebrew: hinneh) grabs attention, signaling a moment of urgency or revelation.
Behold, Your Servant Is in Your Power
The phrase 'Behold, your servant is in your power' (Hebrew: הִנֵּה עַבְדְּךָ בְּיָדְךָ) appears in Daniel 6:21, where Daniel declares his trust in God’s sovereignty after being rescued from the lion’s den.
Berith
The Hebrew word 'berith' (בְּרִית) means 'covenant'—a sacred agreement between parties, often involving mutual promises and obligations.
Berith Olam
Berith olam (בְּרִית עוֹלָם) translates to 'eternal covenant' in Hebrew.
Bohu
Bohu, from the Hebrew word meaning 'formless' or 'without shape,' appears in Genesis 1:2, where the earth is described as 'formless and empty' (tohu wabohu).
Came to Himself
The phrase 'came to himself' in Luke 15:17 (Greek: *eiselthōn eis heauton*) describes a moment of spiritual awakening, where the prodigal son realizes his foolishness and desperation.
Capital Cases
The term 'Capital Cases' refers to legal matters involving the death penalty, often linked to intentional murder or grave offenses in biblical law.
Chara
In the Bible, *chara* (from the Greek word for joy) describes a deep, lasting happiness rooted in God’s presence.
Charis
The Greek word 'charis' (χάρις) means grace - unmerited favor and divine empowerment.
Christ (christos)
The word *Christ* (Greek: *Christos*) means "anointed one" and points to Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills God’s plan for salvation.
Curds and Milk
In the Bible, 'curds and milk' (Hebrew: גְּבֵי חָלָב, gebey chalav) refers to a simple, nourishing dairy food often associated with hospitality and provision.
Da'at
The Hebrew word *da'at* (דַּעַת) translates to 'knowledge' or 'understanding' and often signifies a deep, relational awareness in Scripture.
Dabar
The Hebrew word *dabar* (דָּבָר) means 'word' or 'speech,' often representing God’s active, creative commands in Scripture.
Doulos (servant/slave)
The Greek word *doulos* (δοῦλος) means 'servant' or 'slave,' emphasizing total devotion and submission to another.
Echad
The Hebrew word *echad* (אֶחָד) means 'one' and is central to understanding biblical concepts of unity and oneness.
El Shaddai
El Shaddai (Hebrew: אֵל שַׁדַּי) is often translated as 'God Almighty' or 'God of the Mountain.
Elogisthe
The Greek word 'elogisthe' (from 'eulogeo,' meaning 'to speak well of' or 'bless') appears in Matthew 5:12, where Jesus says, 'Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
Elohim
Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים), the plural form of 'el,' means 'God' or 'divine' and is used throughout the Old Testament to denote God’s supreme authority and creative power.
Engiken
The term 'engiken' (from the Greek *engiken*, meaning 'to come near' or 'to approach') appears in 1 Corinthians 16:17, where it describes the refreshing impact of fellow believers who support and encourage the church.
Erets
The Hebrew word *erets* (אֶרֶץ), often translated as 'land' or 'earth,' refers to the physical world God created.
Euangelion
Euangelion (Greek: εὐαγγέλιον) means 'good news,' especially the message of God’s kingdom and salvation through Jesus.
Every Nation, Tribe, People, and Language
The phrase 'every nation, tribe, people, and language' (Greek: *ethnos, phulē, lēalē, glossa*) in Scripture emphasizes the universal scope of God's redemptive plan.
Gathered to His People
The biblical phrase 'gathered to his people' (Hebrew: *qāḇaš*) is used to describe the end of a life, particularly when a person joins their ancestors in death.
Gehenna
Gehenna, derived from the Hebrew 'Ge Hinnom,' refers to a valley near Jerusalem later symbolizing divine judgment and eternal punishment in the New Testament.
Great Chasm
The term 'Great Chasm' (Greek: *chasma megas*) describes an unbridgeable divide between heaven and hell, as seen in Luke 16:26 where it separates the rich man in torment from Abraham and Lazarus.
Greek Lexicon
A Greek lexicon is a reference tool that helps scholars and readers understand the meanings of words in the original Greek New Testament.
H-s-d
The Hebrew term 'hesed' (h-s-d) refers to God's steadfast love, covenantal loyalty, and compassionate devotion.
Hades
Hades (Greek: ᾅδης) is a biblical term referring to the realm of the dead, often contrasted with the afterlife.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah is a Hebrew term meaning 'Praise the Lord,' combining 'hallel' (praise) and 'Yah' (a name for God).
Haplotes
The Greek word *haplotes* (ἁπλότης) means 'singleness of purpose' or 'unified simplicity.
Haqar
The Hebrew term *haqar* (חָקַר) means 'to weigh, examine, or consider carefully.
Hear
The biblical term 'Hear' (Hebrew: שָׁמַע, 'shema'; Greek: ἀκούω, 'akouo') means more than just physical hearing - it’s about active, intentional listening that leads to obedience.
Hebrew Alphabet
The Hebrew alphabet, known as ʾālēph-bēṭ in Hebrew, is the 22-letter script used to write the Old Testament.
Hebrew Doubling
Hebrew doubling, or 'Mazik' in Hebrew, refers to the grammatical feature where consonants are doubled in words, often indicating emphasis, plurality, or a specific form.
Hebrew Language
The Hebrew language, derived from the term 'Ivrit,' is the linguistic heritage of the Israelites and the primary medium through which God revealed His covenant to His people.
Hebrew Word Qadash
The Hebrew word *qadash* (קָדַשׁ) means 'to consecrate' or 'set apart as holy,' often describing something dedicated to God’s sacred purposes.
Hessed
Hessed (חֶסֶד), a Hebrew term often translated as 'lovingkindness' or 'steadfast love,' describes God's unwavering, merciful loyalty toward His people.
Hosanna
The word *Hosanna* (from Hebrew) means 'save, we pray' or 'save now.
I Will Go
The phrase 'I will go' in Scripture often conveys purposeful movement or divine direction, derived from Hebrew (lecha) or Greek (poreuthesomai) roots.
Jehovah Rapha
Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רֹפֵא) translates to 'The Lord Who Heals,' combining YHWH (a name for God) with 'rapha' (to heal, cure, or make whole).
Kaleō (καλέω)
The Greek word *kaleō* (καλέω) means 'to call' in a relational, purposeful sense, often reflecting God’s active invitation or summons.
Kyrios
Kyrios (Greek for "Lord") is a title of divine authority and sovereignty, often used in the New Testament to describe Jesus.
Legal Language
In the Bible, 'legal language' refers to the formal, structured way divine laws and covenants are communicated, often found in passages like Deuteronomy 4:13-14, where God inscribes His commandments on stone tablets.
Life (greek: Ζωή)
The Greek word 'ζωή' (zōē) refers to life—especially the eternal, abundant life found in Christ.
Linguistic Diversity
Linguistic diversity, derived from the Greek word 'σπεῖραν' (speiran), meaning 'to scatter' or 'confuse,' refers to the multiplicity of languages and dialects among humanity.
Logos
In the Bible, the Greek term *Logos* (λόγος) means 'word,' 'speech,' or 'expression,' often pointing to intentional communication.
Logos (word)
The Greek word 'logos' (λόγος) means 'word,' 'speech,' or 'reason.
Malak
The Hebrew word *malak* (מַלַּךְ) means 'messenger' and often refers to angelic beings who deliver God's messages.
Maranatha
Maranatha is an Aramaic phrase meaning 'Our Lord, come!' or 'The Lord is coming!' - a heartfelt plea for Christ’s return.
Merism
A merism is a rhetorical device where opposing terms (like 'heaven and earth' or 'from one end to the other') are paired to emphasize completeness.
Messiah (mashiach)
The term 'Messiah' (Hebrew: Mashiach, Greek: Christos) means 'anointed one,' referring to a divinely appointed savior.
Mishpat (justice)
Mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט), a Hebrew term, means 'justice' or 'judgment' and emphasizes fairness, right living, and God’s standard for righteous behavior.
Mitzvah (commandment)
The Hebrew word *mitzvah* (מִצְוָה) means 'commandment' or 'instruction,' rooted in a verb meaning 'to command.
Mot Tamut
The Hebrew term 'mot tamut' (מ֣וֹת תָּמ֗וּת) literally means 'dead, dead' or 'the dead,' emphasizing finality and divine judgment.
Musterion
The Greek word *musterion* (μυστήριον) means 'mystery' - a truth once hidden but now revealed by God.
Natan
The Hebrew name *Natan* means 'he who has been given' and appears in Scripture as the name of a prophet who anointed David's son Solomon (1 Kings 1:34).
Nephesh
The Hebrew word *nephesh* (נֶפֶשׁ) is often translated as "soul" or "life" and appears over 700 times in Scripture.
Nikaō
The Greek word 'nikaō' (νικάω) means 'to conquer' or 'to overcome,' often used in the New Testament to describe triumphing over challenges through faith in Christ.
Nikeo
The Greek word 'nikeo' (νικέω) means 'to conquer' or 'to overcome.
Olah
The Hebrew word *olah* (אֹלָה) means 'burnt offering,' a sacrifice completely consumed by fire to symbolize total surrender to God.
Olam
The Hebrew word *olam* (Hebrew: עַד-עוֹלָם) means 'forever' or 'eternal,' often describing God’s unending faithfulness and the lasting nature of His promises.
Outcry
The biblical term 'outcry' (Hebrew: tse'akah) refers to a loud, desperate cry for help, often from oppression or need.
Pan
Pan (from the Greek πᾶν) means 'all' or 'every' and is used in Scripture to emphasize completeness.
Parakletos
The Greek word Parakletos (παράκλητος) means 'advocate,' 'helper,' or 'intercessor,' and appears in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of John.
Phileo
Phileo (Greek: φιλέω) is a New Testament word for affectionate, relational love.
Pistis
Pistis (Greek: πίστις) is a New Testament term meaning 'faith' or 'trust,' central to the Christian life.
Pneuma
Pneuma (πνεῦμα in Greek) means 'wind,' 'breath,' or 'spirit,' capturing both the tangible and spiritual aspects of life.
Poiema
The Greek word *poiema* (ποίημα) means 'workmanship' or 'masterpiece,' derived from *poiein*, meaning 'to make' or 'to create.
Qadosh (holy)
The Hebrew word *qadosh* (קָדוֹשׁ) means 'holy' and comes from the root *qadash* (קָדַשׁ), which means 'to consecrate' or 'set apart.
Racham
The Hebrew word *racham* (רַחַם) means 'to show mercy, have compassion, or be gracious.
Raqia
The Hebrew word *raqia* (רָקִיעַ) means 'firmament' or 'expanse' and is central to understanding God’s creation of the heavens in Genesis 1:6-8.
Raqîa
The Hebrew word *raqîa* (רָקִיעַ) means 'expanse' or 'firmament' and appears in Genesis 1:6-8, where God creates a 'firmament' to separate the waters above from the waters below.
Rhema
Rhema (Greek: ῥῆμα) refers to a spoken word, especially one from God, carrying divine authority and life-changing power.
Ruach
Ruach (Hebrew: רוַח) means 'wind,' 'breath,' or 'spirit,' bridging the physical and spiritual.
Š-l-ḥ (shin-lamed-ḥet)
In the Hebrew Bible, the term š-l-ḥ (ש-ל-ח, shin-lamed-ḥet) refers to a deep-seated sin or iniquity, often linked to rebellion against God.
Š-l-m
The Hebrew root š-l-m (שָׁלוֹם) means 'peace' but carries a deeper biblical meaning of wholeness, completeness, and covenantal harmony.
Šābat (שָׁבַת)
The Hebrew word šābat (שָׁבַת) means 'to rest' or 'cease,' and in Greek is often translated as σαββατεύω (sabbateuo), meaning 'to keep the Sabbath.
Sarx
In the Bible, the Greek term *sarx* (σάρξ) refers to human flesh or nature, often carrying the idea of our physical, sinful condition.
Say You Are My Sister
The phrase 'Say you are my sister' appears in Genesis 12:13, where Abram instructs Sarai to lie about their relationship to Pharaoh to avoid harm.
Segullah
Segullah (Hebrew: שְׁגֻלָּה, segûlāh) refers to something cherished or a treasured possession.
Semantics
Semantics, derived from the Greek 'semantikos' (meaning-giving), refers to the study of meaning in language.
Shalom
Shalom (שָׁלוֹם), a Hebrew word often translated as 'peace,' encompasses far more than the absence of conflict - it signifies wholeness, harmony, and well-being.
Shama
The Hebrew word *shema* (שָׁמַע) means to hear, listen, or obey, and its Greek counterpart is *akouo* (ἀκούω).
She Is My Sister
The phrase 'She is my sister' appears in Genesis 12:11-13 when Abram tells Pharaoh that Sarai, his wife, is his sister to avoid persecution.
Shekinah
Shekinah (from the Hebrew root meaning 'to dwell' or 'to reside') refers to God's visible, tangible presence among His people, especially in the tabernacle and temple.
Sheol
Sheol, a Hebrew word meaning 'the grave' or 'the abode of the dead,' appears over 60 times in the Old Testament.
Sōzō (σώζω)
The Greek word *sōzō* (σώζω) means 'to save' or 'to preserve,' and it's central to the message of the Bible.
Tapeinoo
The Greek word *tapeinoo* (ταπεινόω) means to humble oneself or adopt a lowly attitude.
Teleioo
The Greek word 'teleioō' (τελειόω) means to complete, perfect, or bring to fulfillment.
The Thing Has Come from the Lord
The phrase 'The thing has come from the Lord' (Hebrew: *hadavar me'et YHWH*) affirms that an event or decision originates from God’s will.
Tohu
The Hebrew word 'tohu' (תֹּהוּ) means 'emptiness' or 'formless waste,' describing a state of chaos without order.
Tohu Wa-bohu (תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ)
The Hebrew phrase *tohu wa-bohu* (תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ) describes a state of formless chaos or emptiness.
Torah (instruction)
The Hebrew word *Torah* (תּוֹרָה) means 'instruction' or 'teaching' and is central to understanding God’s will for His people.
Tsedeqa
The Hebrew word *tsedeqa* (צְדָקָה) often translates to 'righteousness' or 'justice' and is rooted in the idea of living in harmony with God's character and commands.
Tsedeqa (righteousness)
Tsedeqa (righteousness) comes from the Hebrew word *tsadaq*, meaning 'to be just' or 'to act uprightly.
Tzedakah (righteousness)
Tzedakah (Hebrew: צדקה) means righteousness, living justly, and showing mercy, rooted in God's character.
Walking in the Cool of the Day
The phrase "Walking in the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8) comes from the Hebrew *charaph*, meaning to walk or move about.
Workmanship (poiēma)
The Greek word *poiēma* (ποιημα) means 'workmanship' or 'masterpiece,' derived from the verb *poieo* (to make or create).
Yada
The Hebrew word *yada* (יָדָה) means to know, understand, or acknowledge, often implying a deep, personal relationship.
Yahweh (yhwh)
The Hebrew name YHWH (Yahweh) means 'I AM' and is God's personal name revealed in Scripture.
Yahweh Shalom
Yahweh Shalom (YHWH Shalom) means 'The Lord is Peace' in Hebrew.
Zarah
The Hebrew word *zarah* (זָרָה) means 'stranger,' 'foreigner,' or 'outsider,' and appears in Exodus 22:21, where God commands, 'You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.