Drive | נָדַד (nadad) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘drive’ is multifaceted, evoking images of steering, propelling, or pushing forward. Its Old English roots lie in ‘drīfan’, implying a forceful or directed movement. In the Biblical context, ‘drive’ primarily translates from the Hebrew verb נָדַד (nadad), meaning to flee, retreat, or wander aimlessly. Notably, the semantic range […]
Drink | πίνω (pino) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The word ‘drink’ in English is derived from the Old English ‘drincan’, signifying the act of consuming a liquid. In the New Testament, the Greek verb πίνω (pino) is frequently used, encapsulating both the physical act of drinking and metaphorical interpretations. Notable occurrences of πίνω are found in various contexts, such […]
Dwell | (Greek: κατοικέω, Hebrew: שָׁכַן) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘dwell’ originates from the Old English ‘dwelian,’ meaning to mislead or to err. However, over time, its meaning shifted to ‘delay,’ ‘linger,’ and eventually ‘remain.’ In the Biblical context, ‘dwell’ predominantly translates from the Greek word ‘κατοικέω’ (katoikeō) and the Hebrew word ‘שָׁכַן’ (shakan). ‘Katoikeō’ carries the connotation […]
Dream | חֲלוֹם (Chalom) – Hebrew | ὄναρ (Onar) – Greek | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘dream’ originates from the Old English ‘drēam,’ which historically meant joy or music but evolved to denote the images and emotions experienced during sleep. In the Hebrew Bible, ‘dream’ is primarily translated from חֲלוֹם (Chalom), while in the New Testament, the Greek term ὄναρ (Onar) is used. Dreams […]
Drunk | μεθύω (methuo) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English term ‘drunk’ originates from the Old English ‘druncen’, historically linked to the concept of being overcome or absorbed by a substance. In the Bible, the Greek equivalent most often found is ‘μεθύω’ (methuo), a verb meaning ‘to be drunk’ or ‘to get intoxicated’. This term appears in several contexts, […]
Doubt | Διακρίνω (diakrinō) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘doubt’ finds its roots in the Old French ‘douter,’ which stems from the Latin ‘dubitare,’ meaning to hesitate or waver in opinion. In the New Testament, the Greek word often translated as ‘doubt’ is Διακρίνω (diakrinō), which carries a richer and more nuanced meaning, literally translating to ‘to […]
Dying | ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English term ‘dying’ originates from the Old English ‘dēag,’ gradually evolving into the Middle English ‘dyen.’ In the New Testament, the Greek verb ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) is frequently employed, translating to ‘to die,’ ‘to pass away,’ or ‘to cease to live.’ This term appears in significant contexts, primarily highlighting the physical […]
Dominion | κυριότης (kyriotēs) | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The term ‘dominion’ finds its roots in the Old French ‘dominion,’ which originated from the Latin ‘dominio,’ denoting ownership or control. In the Biblical context, especially in the New Testament, it translates to the Greek word κυριότης (kyriotēs), which signifies lordship or sovereign power. This term occurs in passages like 2 […]
Doctrine | διδασκαλία (didaskalia) | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The term ‘doctrine’ is derived from the Latin ‘doctrina’, meaning teaching or instruction. In the New Testament, the Greek word translated as ‘doctrine’ is διδασκαλία (didaskalia), primarily signifying what is taught. The semantic range of διδασκαλία encompasses teachings, instructions, and precepts, especially those of a religious nature. This term appears notably […]
Divide | διαιρέω (diaireō) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English term ‘divide’ traces its roots to the Latin ‘dividere’, meaning to separate or distribute. However, in the biblical context, the Greek word often translated as ‘divide’ is διαιρέω (diaireō). This term, primarily found in the New Testament, conveys the idea of distributing, separating, or dispersing. The semantic range of […]
Biblical Distress | θλῖψις (thlipsis) | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The term ‘distress’ in English translations of the Bible mainly corresponds to the Greek word θλῖψις (thlipsis), a noun that signifies pressure, affliction, or tribulation. This word is deeply evocative, painting a picture of being compressed or squeezed, signifying severe mental or societal pressure. The usage of θλῖψις is widespread in […]
Disease | νόσος (Greek, nosos) | ḥālāh (Hebrew)
Definition The term ‘disease’ in the Bible typically refers to physical ailments and conditions causing pain, distress, or dysfunction. In the Greek New Testament, ‘disease’ is translated from the word ‘νόσος’ (nosos), often implying a long-term or chronic affliction. In the Hebrew Old Testament, one of the words translated as ‘disease’ is ‘חלה’ (ḥālāh), indicating […]
Disciples | μαθητές (mathētēs) | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘disciple’ is derived from the Latin ‘discipulus’ meaning ‘learner,’ which translates the Greek word μαθητής (mathētēs). This Greek term signifies one who engages in learning through instruction from another, a pupil or an apprentice. The concept is notably prevalent in the New Testament, primarily referencing the followers of […]
Die | Αποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The word ‘die’ is represented in the New Testament primarily by the Greek verb ‘αποθνῄσκω’ (apothnēskō), meaning ‘to die’ or ‘to pass away’. This verb conveys not only the physical cessation of life but also, in certain contexts, a spiritual or metaphorical death. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the […]
Devil | Διάβολος: The Many Faces of Evil
The figure of “the Devil” appears in various forms throughout the Bible, from the talking serpent in Genesis to the dragon of Revelation. He is depicted as tempter, accuser, fallen angel, and personification of evil. This complex character has roots in ancient Jewish and early Christian texts and has evolved significantly over the centuries. While […]
Destroy ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘destroy’ is translated in the New Testament primarily from the Greek verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi), which carries a range of meanings including to destroy, lose, or perish. This verb is a complex term encompassing both the cessation of existence and the concept of ruin without complete annihilation. In the […]
Despise in the Bible | καταφρονέω (kataphroneō) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The word ‘despise’ originates from the Old French ‘despire,’ or Latin ‘despicere’ meaning to look down on or scorn. In the New Testament, the Greek verb καταφρονέω (kataphroneō) carries the meaning of thinking little or nothing of, to view with contempt, or to disdain. This word occurs in several key verses, […]
Desolate in the Bible | ἔρημος (erēmos) | Adjective
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The word ‘desolate’ in English, conveying a sense of abandonment or emptiness, is often translated from the Greek word ‘ἔρημος’ (erēmos), an adjective found frequently in the New Testament. This Greek term carries connotations of solitude, barrenness, and isolation, painting pictures of uninhabited and desolate places or the emotional state of […]
Desireth ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeō) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The term ‘desireth’ finds its roots in the Old English ‘dēsīrian’, indicating a longing or yearning for something. In the biblical context, this word is predominantly translated from the Greek word ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeō), which is a verb. ἐπιθυμέω appears numerous times in the New Testament, carrying a range of connotations from […]
Desire in the Bible | ἐπιθυμία (epithymia) | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘desire’ is a complex term encapsulating longing, craving, or a strong wish. Its Greek equivalent, ἐπιθυμία (epithymia), found in the New Testament, conveys a similar spectrum of intense yearnings, whether noble or ignoble. This term appears in various contexts, from the harmless longing for food (Philippians 1:23) to […]
Biblical Desert | ἔρημος (Greek), מדבר (Hebrew)
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The term ‘desert’ in the Bible is translated from the Greek word ‘ἔρημος’ (erēmos) and the Hebrew word ‘מדבר’ (midbar). In Greek, ‘ἔρημος’ primarily conveys the notion of a solitary, uninhabited, or desolate place. In Hebrew, ‘מדבר’ also suggests a wilderness or an uninhabited land. These words are often found in […]
Descend in the Bible | καταβαίνω (Greek Verb)
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word ‘descend’ is derived from the Old French ‘descendre’ and Latin ‘descendere’, meaning to come or go down. In the Greek New Testament, the verb ‘καταβαίνω’ (katabaino) carries this meaning. This term appears in various contexts, such as physical descent from a place (John 4:47), divine intervention (Matthew 3:16), […]
Depart in the Bible | ἀπέρχομαι (Greek) | Verb
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The English word “depart” is derived from the Old French ‘departir’, meaning to divide or separate. In the Bible, its Greek counterpart is ἀπέρχομαι (apérchomai), a verb signifying to go away, leave, or depart. This word appears in several New Testament passages, reflecting various contexts. For instance, in Matthew 8:34, it […]
Day in the Bible | Ημέρα (Greek) / יוֹם (Hebrew) | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The word ‘day’ in English is derived from Old English ‘dæg’. In the New Testament, the Greek equivalent is ‘ημέρα’ (hēmera), signifying a 24-hour period or daylight hours. In the Hebrew Bible, ‘יוֹם’ (yom) carries a similar meaning. The semantic range of ‘day’ varies: it can denote a literal day, a […]
Daughter | Θυγάτηρ (Thugater) | Noun
Etymology and Semantic Analysis The word ‘daughter’ in English translations of the Bible is primarily derived from the Greek word ‘Θυγάτηρ’ (Thugater) in the New Testament and the Hebrew word ‘בַּת’ (Bath) in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, ‘Θυγάτηρ’ carries a direct and literal meaning, referring to a female offspring. This term appears […]