2.5 - Synonyms
December 30, 2004 | Comments: 2Biblical Hermeneutics Part Second Chapter 5
In continuing his treatment of the importance of ascertaining the meaning of individual words, the author in this chapter addresses the use of synonyms in the Biblical text. The Biblical languages have a richness of groups of synonyms in which the semantically related words have very nearly the same meaning. It is therefore incumbent upon the interpreter to carefully deduce the fine distinctions and shades of meanings among them in order to rightly understand the intended meaning.
To illustrate his point, the author adduces examples from both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, which demonstrate how understanding slight variations in meaning can significantly enhance our understanding of the inspired writer’s mind and heart. There are seven different Hebrew words that convey in various ways the idea of killing, and twelve which express the idea of sin. Terry lists ten proper names for God which each have their distinctive connotations. In Greek there are synonymous pairs which have important distinctions, such as ?? / ? and ? / ????. Careful study of the comparative use of these and other synonyms in Scripture serves to highlight how important it is for the exegete to take the necessary time to discover the various nuances of meaning between synonymous words.
Comments
Do you think we have made too much of this in the past. I remember as a child sitting in church listening to my father wax eloquent on the distinctions between “agape” and “phileo.” At the conclusion of John’s Gospel, is Jesus making important distinctions in his use of words in asking Peter repeatedly, “Do you love me?”
nathan on January 05, 2005 at 09:55 AM
As we discussed in person, there are important distinctions to be noted between agapao and phileo, and they are significant in John 21, as are also the different imperatives spoken by our Lord to Peter to feed His sheep.
andrew on January 08, 2005 at 07:29 PM
