Words, Words, Words!
Words, Words, Words
By John Holmes
Ps. 119:103 (Source: Logos Media)
This week, I've read a lot about words, their meaning, and their "context," as found in the Bible. Surprisingly, there is a lot of debate in the academic world about what precisely is meant by a word's "meaning" and "context." Some go so far as to say the reader gets to decide and make it all up for themselves-- they merely 'respond' to what they read and then find their own meaning within their own context. For such people, it is usually argued that a word means whatever you want it to mean. In other words, a word, verse, or book's meaning is relative to and decided by each reader's perspective. In these situations, it is impossible to discern what is true or false because truth itself becomes relative to each person. Of course, that's not how most of us live our daily lives. I don't ask for a "fire extinguisher" and mean a "peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
That said, we generally understand that it is unusual for a single word to express a complex concept on its own if others are to receive and understand the intended communication. A word must be combined with other words in order to convey a larger concept. For example, the word “piece” can have any number of meanings, but three different contexts can give it a specific meaning in each one: “Do you want a piece of jewelry,” or “Do you want a piece of pie?” or "The policeman found a piece on the robbery suspect before he was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm."
In the Bible, an interpreter must study the literary context (and background) as well as the historical setting of a specific passage to see if the words in it have a referential meaning (what a word refers to), a denotative or agreed upon meaning, or a connotative (special or more specific) meaning. This is because how one goes about finding the meaning of a word, a verse, or even a concept in the Bible can impact a translation's accuracy and even whether doctrine is right or wrong. Thus, a passage's context ought to be informed by the passage's situation in life, culture, literary structure, and other factors. Also, it is always good to review not just what is happening in the paragraph around a verse but several paragraphs on either side of a verse, and even the entire biblical book's context in light of how the verse relates to Scripture's overall narrative of salvation for mankind.
When asking yourself who determines the meaning of a passage in Scripture, an 'authorial-intent' approach works best. We should ask ourselves, "What did God intend to communicate through the human writer?" (1 Tim. 3:16-17) There was an original audience and an original author, and the Holy Spirit inspired the writer's Words (2 Pet. 1:21). Usually, we should expect the authorial intent of the two authors of any text of Scripture (Holy Spirit and the human penman/author) to be the same. At times, though, there can be a difference because of context. For example, this happens with some prophecies. First, God knew what the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy would be, but the human author did not know what the ultimate fulfillment would be. Later, Scripture provides context for explaining this. Another situation is dual fulfillment or multiple fulfillment of some prophecies. Sometimes, God had a partial fulfillment (a pre-fulfillment) that the human author did not know about when it was first given/made.
Today, there is little debate over the actual text of the Scriptures. By and large, biblical manuscripts are very consistent. The real question is, 'What does a verse in the Bible mean?' and meanings can overlap with other meanings, varying depending on time, place, audience, culture, genre, situation, circumstances, and more. For example, in the BDAG Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, you will find eight different but all valid meanings of kosmos, which generally means “world” in English. They are: (1) adornment (1 Pet 3:3), (2) order, (3) everything (the universe) (Matt. 13:35), (4) all beings above animal level (1 Cor 4:9), (5) planet earth (Mark 16:15), (6) humanity (John 3:16-17), (7) human existence (Matt 16:26), and (8) totality (James 3:6). So, the meaning of kosmos in John 3:16 can mean only one of the above definitions. The interpreter must decide which one God and John gave it. Personally having grown up in Texas and Mississippi, I am reminded of how we used the word "Coke" growing up as a child (for Coca-Cola). In my family, if you ask someone if they would like a "Coke" to drink, they're likely to say, "Sure, I'll take a Dr. Pepper!" Context is king!
We are also dealing with Hebrew word usage from 3,600-2400 years ago and Greek word usage almost 2,000 years ago. The word’s original meaning may be very different from its meaning in a later context. Some words age well with time, and others have meanings that change over time. So, again, the context matters when it comes to determining the meaning of a word. Consider the following English examples that have changed in the New American Standard Bible (NASB) since the King James Version 1611:
1. “Mean man” meant “common man” in 1611. Today, it means “cruel man” or “bad man.”
2. “Peculiar” meant “belonging to one person” in 1611. Today, it means “Strange.”
a. God’s people are called a “peculiar people” in Deut 14:2, 26:18; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9 in KJV. In the NASB, it is translated as “a people for God’s own possession.”
3. “Suffer” meant “allow” or “let” in 1611. Today it means to “endure hardship.”
a. Matt 19:14 says, “Suffer little children” in the KJV. NASB has ‘Let the children alone.”
b. Mark 5:19 says, “Suffered him not” in the KJV. NASB has “did not let him.”
c. Mark 5:37 says, “he suffered no man to follow him” in the KJV. NASB has “He allowed
no one to accompany Him.”
4. “Prevent” meant “to come before” in 1611. Today it means “to hinder.”
a. Ps 88:13 says, “in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee” in the KJV. NASB has “in
the morning my prayer comes before you.”
b. 1 Thess. 4:15 says, “We which are alive… shall not prevent them who are asleep” in the
KJV. NASB has “we who are alive… will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
5. KJV: “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke” (Ex 19:18)
NASB: “And Mount Sinai was all in smoke” (Ex 19:18)
6. KJV: “Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.” (Luke 17:9); In the NASB: “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?”
7. Others: “neesings” = “sneezes” (Job 41:18); “wimples” = “cloaks” (Isa 3:22); “crisping pons” = “money purses” (Isa 3:22); “ouches of gold” = “settings of gold” (Ex 28:13); “sod” = “cooked” or “boiled” (Gen 25:29); “chode” = “contended” (Gen 31:36; Num 20:3); “chapt” = “cracked” (Jer 14:4); “wot” = “know” (Gen 21:26; Josh 2:5; Acts 7:40).
Amid all of this, we must always keep in mind that the Bible does not contradict itself. If the meaning of a word or passage sounds strange or does not make sense, we must investigate further with humility. Occasionally, people will give examples where they think contradiction occurs, but a harmonized explanation is always possible with careful study (again, often informed by context). For example, I recently read an article by pastor and Greek scholar Bill Mounce, who discussed a website that lists Bible “contradictions," such as God says he will punish “the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation” (Exod. 20:54; cf. Deut. 5:9). But in Ezekiel 18 God says, “The person who sins is the one who will die.” So which is it? Are children punished for the sins of their parents, or does the parents’ punishment end with them? If we read further, there is a contextual clue that something else is happening. God will show “love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” I agree with Mounce, obviously he does not mean that one righteous parent insures God’s love for the next thousand generations, but also notice that in this case, the promise is for “those who love me and keep my commandments.” The one who sins will indeed die (Ezek. 18:20). As generation after generation spirals down into hatred of God and slavery to sin, at any point, a person can respond to the Holy Spirit, break the sin cycle, and find salvation in Jesus Christ. A repentant child can affect his or her descendants for generation after generation.
Examples like those above show us why it is important for Christians to understand both context and to take the time to use a concordance and conduct Hebrew or Greek word studies from time to time (examining what the Scripture means in light of other Scripture). A concordance contains an alphabetical listing of all the words (in English or their original language) that are present in the Bible. Many options exist, but I know that several free online resources can be found on the Blue Letter Bible's website. Knowing the exact Hebrew or Greek word lets a person decide its best translation in the specific biblical context. It also lets you compare the same word in other biblical contexts as well as how it is used in a context that is outside of the Bible (such as in the secular writings of the first-century Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus) in order to compare meanings. Sometimes, the same English word is used to translate different Hebrew or Greek words in the Bible. So, if you're thinking there's a 'word salad' in there somewhere, do not lose heart. With word study, contextual consideration, and letting Scripture interpret Scripture, the Holy Spirit will help you determine the exact meaning of the words in question. And if you're not sure in your personal study of the Bible, be proactive! Ask a spiritually mature brother or sister in Christ to come alongside you.
Blessings!
That said, we generally understand that it is unusual for a single word to express a complex concept on its own if others are to receive and understand the intended communication. A word must be combined with other words in order to convey a larger concept. For example, the word “piece” can have any number of meanings, but three different contexts can give it a specific meaning in each one: “Do you want a piece of jewelry,” or “Do you want a piece of pie?” or "The policeman found a piece on the robbery suspect before he was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm."
In the Bible, an interpreter must study the literary context (and background) as well as the historical setting of a specific passage to see if the words in it have a referential meaning (what a word refers to), a denotative or agreed upon meaning, or a connotative (special or more specific) meaning. This is because how one goes about finding the meaning of a word, a verse, or even a concept in the Bible can impact a translation's accuracy and even whether doctrine is right or wrong. Thus, a passage's context ought to be informed by the passage's situation in life, culture, literary structure, and other factors. Also, it is always good to review not just what is happening in the paragraph around a verse but several paragraphs on either side of a verse, and even the entire biblical book's context in light of how the verse relates to Scripture's overall narrative of salvation for mankind.
When asking yourself who determines the meaning of a passage in Scripture, an 'authorial-intent' approach works best. We should ask ourselves, "What did God intend to communicate through the human writer?" (1 Tim. 3:16-17) There was an original audience and an original author, and the Holy Spirit inspired the writer's Words (2 Pet. 1:21). Usually, we should expect the authorial intent of the two authors of any text of Scripture (Holy Spirit and the human penman/author) to be the same. At times, though, there can be a difference because of context. For example, this happens with some prophecies. First, God knew what the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy would be, but the human author did not know what the ultimate fulfillment would be. Later, Scripture provides context for explaining this. Another situation is dual fulfillment or multiple fulfillment of some prophecies. Sometimes, God had a partial fulfillment (a pre-fulfillment) that the human author did not know about when it was first given/made.
Today, there is little debate over the actual text of the Scriptures. By and large, biblical manuscripts are very consistent. The real question is, 'What does a verse in the Bible mean?' and meanings can overlap with other meanings, varying depending on time, place, audience, culture, genre, situation, circumstances, and more. For example, in the BDAG Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, you will find eight different but all valid meanings of kosmos, which generally means “world” in English. They are: (1) adornment (1 Pet 3:3), (2) order, (3) everything (the universe) (Matt. 13:35), (4) all beings above animal level (1 Cor 4:9), (5) planet earth (Mark 16:15), (6) humanity (John 3:16-17), (7) human existence (Matt 16:26), and (8) totality (James 3:6). So, the meaning of kosmos in John 3:16 can mean only one of the above definitions. The interpreter must decide which one God and John gave it. Personally having grown up in Texas and Mississippi, I am reminded of how we used the word "Coke" growing up as a child (for Coca-Cola). In my family, if you ask someone if they would like a "Coke" to drink, they're likely to say, "Sure, I'll take a Dr. Pepper!" Context is king!
We are also dealing with Hebrew word usage from 3,600-2400 years ago and Greek word usage almost 2,000 years ago. The word’s original meaning may be very different from its meaning in a later context. Some words age well with time, and others have meanings that change over time. So, again, the context matters when it comes to determining the meaning of a word. Consider the following English examples that have changed in the New American Standard Bible (NASB) since the King James Version 1611:
1. “Mean man” meant “common man” in 1611. Today, it means “cruel man” or “bad man.”
2. “Peculiar” meant “belonging to one person” in 1611. Today, it means “Strange.”
a. God’s people are called a “peculiar people” in Deut 14:2, 26:18; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9 in KJV. In the NASB, it is translated as “a people for God’s own possession.”
3. “Suffer” meant “allow” or “let” in 1611. Today it means to “endure hardship.”
a. Matt 19:14 says, “Suffer little children” in the KJV. NASB has ‘Let the children alone.”
b. Mark 5:19 says, “Suffered him not” in the KJV. NASB has “did not let him.”
c. Mark 5:37 says, “he suffered no man to follow him” in the KJV. NASB has “He allowed
no one to accompany Him.”
4. “Prevent” meant “to come before” in 1611. Today it means “to hinder.”
a. Ps 88:13 says, “in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee” in the KJV. NASB has “in
the morning my prayer comes before you.”
b. 1 Thess. 4:15 says, “We which are alive… shall not prevent them who are asleep” in the
KJV. NASB has “we who are alive… will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
5. KJV: “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke” (Ex 19:18)
NASB: “And Mount Sinai was all in smoke” (Ex 19:18)
6. KJV: “Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.” (Luke 17:9); In the NASB: “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?”
7. Others: “neesings” = “sneezes” (Job 41:18); “wimples” = “cloaks” (Isa 3:22); “crisping pons” = “money purses” (Isa 3:22); “ouches of gold” = “settings of gold” (Ex 28:13); “sod” = “cooked” or “boiled” (Gen 25:29); “chode” = “contended” (Gen 31:36; Num 20:3); “chapt” = “cracked” (Jer 14:4); “wot” = “know” (Gen 21:26; Josh 2:5; Acts 7:40).
Amid all of this, we must always keep in mind that the Bible does not contradict itself. If the meaning of a word or passage sounds strange or does not make sense, we must investigate further with humility. Occasionally, people will give examples where they think contradiction occurs, but a harmonized explanation is always possible with careful study (again, often informed by context). For example, I recently read an article by pastor and Greek scholar Bill Mounce, who discussed a website that lists Bible “contradictions," such as God says he will punish “the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation” (Exod. 20:54; cf. Deut. 5:9). But in Ezekiel 18 God says, “The person who sins is the one who will die.” So which is it? Are children punished for the sins of their parents, or does the parents’ punishment end with them? If we read further, there is a contextual clue that something else is happening. God will show “love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” I agree with Mounce, obviously he does not mean that one righteous parent insures God’s love for the next thousand generations, but also notice that in this case, the promise is for “those who love me and keep my commandments.” The one who sins will indeed die (Ezek. 18:20). As generation after generation spirals down into hatred of God and slavery to sin, at any point, a person can respond to the Holy Spirit, break the sin cycle, and find salvation in Jesus Christ. A repentant child can affect his or her descendants for generation after generation.
Examples like those above show us why it is important for Christians to understand both context and to take the time to use a concordance and conduct Hebrew or Greek word studies from time to time (examining what the Scripture means in light of other Scripture). A concordance contains an alphabetical listing of all the words (in English or their original language) that are present in the Bible. Many options exist, but I know that several free online resources can be found on the Blue Letter Bible's website. Knowing the exact Hebrew or Greek word lets a person decide its best translation in the specific biblical context. It also lets you compare the same word in other biblical contexts as well as how it is used in a context that is outside of the Bible (such as in the secular writings of the first-century Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus) in order to compare meanings. Sometimes, the same English word is used to translate different Hebrew or Greek words in the Bible. So, if you're thinking there's a 'word salad' in there somewhere, do not lose heart. With word study, contextual consideration, and letting Scripture interpret Scripture, the Holy Spirit will help you determine the exact meaning of the words in question. And if you're not sure in your personal study of the Bible, be proactive! Ask a spiritually mature brother or sister in Christ to come alongside you.
Blessings!
Posted in Coffee Hour w/ Pastor John
Posted in Words, Hermenuetics, Meaning, Authorial Intent, Context, What did God Say?, KJV, NASB, 1611, contradiction
Posted in Words, Hermenuetics, Meaning, Authorial Intent, Context, What did God Say?, KJV, NASB, 1611, contradiction
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