Subject: World English Bible Glossary
Last updated: 17 Jul 2000
World English Bible Glossary
The following words used in the World English Bible (WEB)
(http://eBible.org/bible/web) are not very common, either because
they refer to ancient weights, measures, money, or proper names, or
because they are in some way unique to the Bible.
Comments, corrections, and suggested additions to this list are
welcome at [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is a draft document that is being
regularly updated. For a current copy, please get
http://eBible.org/bible/web/glossary.htm or
http://eBible.org/bible/web/webtxt.zip.
Abaddon
Abaddon is Hebrew for destruction.
Abba
Abba is a Chaldee word for father, used in a respectful,
affectionate, and familiar way, like papa, dad, or daddy. Often used
in prayer to refer to our Father in Heaven.
adultery
Adultery is having sexual intercourse with someone besides your own
husband or wife. In the Bible, the only legitimate sexual intercourse
is between a man and a woman who are married to each other.
alpha
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. It is sometimes used
to mean the beginning or the first.
amen
Amen means "so be it" or "it is certainly so."
angel
"Angel" literally means "messenger" or "envoy," and is usually used
to refer to spiritual beings who normally are invisible to us, but
can also appear as exceedingly strong creatures or as humans.
Apollyon
Apollyon is Greek for destroyer.
apostle
"Apostle" means a delegate, messenger, or one sent forth with orders.
This term is applied in the New Testament in both a general sense
connected with a ministry of establishing and strengthening church
fellowships, as well as in a specific sense to "The 12 Apostles of
the Lamb" (Revelation 21:14). The former category applies to a
specific ministry that continues in the Church (Ephesians 4:11-13)
and which includes many more than 12 people, while the latter refers
to the apostles named in Matthew 10:2-4, except with Judas Iscariot
replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:26).
Armageddon
See Har-magedon.
assarion
An assarion is a small Roman copper coin worth one tenth of a
drachma, or about an hour's wages for an agricultural laborer.
aureus
An aureus is a Roman gold coin, worth 25 silver denarii. An aureus
weighed from 115 to 126.3 grains (7.45 to 8.18 grams).
baptize
Baptize means to immerse in, or wash with something, usually water.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit, fire, the Body of Christ, and suffering
are also mentioned in the New Testament, along with baptism in water.
Baptism is not just to cleanse the body, but as an outward sign of an
inward spiritual cleansing and commitment. Baptism is a sign of
repentance, as practiced by John the Baptizer, and of faith in Jesus
Christ, as practiced by Jesus' disciples.
bath
A bath is a liquid measure of about 22 liters, 5.8 U. S. gallons, or
4.8 imperial gallons.
batos
A batos is a liquid measure of about 39.5 liters, 10.4 U. S. gallons,
or 8.7 imperial gallons.
Beersheba
Beersheba is Hebrew for "well of the oath" or "well of the seven." A
city in Israel.
behold
Look! See! Wow! Notice this! Lo!
cherub
A cherub is a kind of angel with wings and hands that is associated
with the throne room of God and guardian duty. See Ezekiel 10.
cherubim
Cherubim means more than one cherub or a mighty cherub.
choenix
A choenix is a dry volume measure that is a little more than a liter
(which is a little more than a quart). A choenix was the daily ration
of grain for a soldier in some armies.
cor
A cor is a dry measure of about 391 liters, 103 U. S. gallons, or 86
imperial gallons.
corban
Corban is a Hebrew word for an offering devoted to God.
crucify
Crucify means to execute someone by nailing them to a cross with
metal spikes. Their hands are stretched out on the crossbeam with
spikes driven through their wrists or hands. Their feet or ankles are
attached to a cross with a metal spike. The weight of the victim's
body tends to force the air out of his lungs. To raise up to breathe,
the victim has to put weight on the wounds, and use a lot of
strength. The victim is nailed to the cross while the cross is on the
ground, then the cross is raised up and dropped into a hole, thus
jarring the wounds. Before crucifiction, the victim was usually
whipped with a Roman cat of nine tails, which had bits of glass and
metal tied to its ends. This caused chunks of flesh to be removed and
open wounds to be placed against the raw wood of the cross. The
victim was made to carry the heavy crossbeam of his cross from the
place of judgment to the place of crucifixion, but often was
physically unable after the scourging, so another person would be
pressed into involuntary service to carry the cross for him. Roman
crucifixion was generally done totally naked to maximize both shame
and discomfort. Eventually, the pain, weakness, dehydration, and
exhaustion of the muscles needed to breathe make breathing
impossible, and the victim suffocates.
cubit
A cubit is a unit of linear measure, from the elbow to the tip of the
longest finger of a man. This unit is commonly converted to 0.46
meters or 18 inches, although that varies with height of the man
doing the measurement. There is also a "long" cubit that is longer
than a regular cubit by a handbreadth. (Ezekiel 43:13)
cummin
Cummin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway
in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.
darnel
Darnel is a weed grass (probably bearded darnel or Lolium temulentum)
that looks very much like wheat until it is mature, when the seeds
reveal a great difference. Darnel seeds aren't good for much except
as chicken feed or to burn to prevent the spread of this weed.
denarii
denarii: plural form of denarius, a silver Roman coin worth about a
days wages for a laborer.
denarius
A denarius is a silver Roman coin worth about a day's wages for an
agricultural laborer. A denarius was worth 1/25th of a Roman aureus.
devil
The word "devil" comes from the Greek "diabolos," which means "one
prone to slander; a liar." "Devil" is used to refer to a fallen
angel, also called "Satan," who works to steal, kill, destroy, and do
evil. The devil's doom is certain, and it is only a matter of time
before he is thrown into the Lake of Fire, never to escape.
didrachma
A didrachma is a Greek silver coin worth 2 drachmas, about as much as
2 Roman denarii, or about 2 days wages. It was commonly used to pay
the half-shekel temple tax.
drachma
A drachma is a Greek silver coin worth about one Roman denarius, or
about a day's wages for an agricultural laborer.
El-Elohe-Israel
El-Elohe-Israel means "God, the God of Israel" or "The God of Israel
is mighty."
ephah
An ephah is a measure of volume of about 22 liters, 5.8 U. S.
gallons, 4.8 imperial gallons, or a bit more than half a bushel.
Gehenna
Gehenna is one word used for Hell. It comes from the Hebrew
Gey-Hinnom, literally "valley of Hinnom." This word originated as the
name for a place south of the old city of Jerusalem where the city's
rubbish was burned. At one time, live babies were thrown crying into
the fire under the arms of the idol, Moloch, to die there. This place
was so despised by the people after the righteous King Josiah
abolished this hideous practice, that not only was it made into a
garbage heap. Bodies of diseased animals and executed criminals were
thrown there and burned.
gittith
Gittith is a musical term possibly meaning "an instrument of Gath."
goad
a sharp, pointed prodding device used to motivate reluctant animals
(such as oxen and mules) to move in the right direction.
gospel
Gospel means "good news" or "glad tidings," specifically the Good
News of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection for our salvation,
healing, and provision; and the hope of eternal life that Jesus made
available to us by God's grace.
Hades
Hades: The nether realm of the disembodied spirits.
Har-magedon
Har-magedon, also called Armegeddon, is most likely a reference to
hill ("har") of Megiddo, near the Carmel Range in Israel. This area
has a large valley plain with plenty of room for armies to maneuver.
hin
A hin was about 6.5 liters or 1.7 gallons.
homer
One homer is about 220 liters, 6.2 U. S. bushels, 6.1 imperial
bushels, 58 U. S. gallons, or 48.4 imperial gallons.
Ishmael
Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar. Ishmael literally means,
"God hears."
Jehovah
See "Yahweh."
Jesus
Jesus is the English transliteration of the Greek form of God's
unique Son's name. The Hebrew form of the same name, "Joshua" or
"Yeshua", means "Yahweh saves."
kodrantes
A kodrantes is a small coin worth one half of an Attic chalcus or two
lepta. It is worth less than 2% of a day's wages for an agricultural
laborer.
lepta
Lepta are very small, brass, Jewish coins worth half a Roman quadrans
each, which is worth a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are
worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker's daily wages.
Leviathan
Leviathan is a poetic name for a large aquatic creature, posssibly a
crocodile or a dinosaur.
Mahalath
Mahalath is the name of a tune or a musical term.
Maschil
Maschil is a musical and literary term for "contemplation" or
"meditative psalm."
michtam
A michtam is a poem.
mina
A mina is a Greek coin worth 100 Greek drachmas (or 100 Roman
denarii), or about 100 day's wages for an agricultural laborer.
myrrh
Myrrh is the fragrant substance that oozes out of the stems and
branches of the low, shrubby tree commiphora myrrha or comiphora
kataf native to the Arabian deserts and parts of Africa. The fragrant
gum drops to the ground and hardens into an oily yellowish-brown
resin. Myrrh was highly valued as a perfume, and as an ingredient in
medicinal and ceremonial ointments.
Nicolaitans
Nicolaitans were most likely Gnostics who taught the detestable lie
that the material and physical realms were entirely separate and that
immorality in the physical realm wouldn't harm your spiritual health.
omega
Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. It is sometimes used
to mean the last or the end.
Peniel
Peniel is Hebrew for "face of God."
Praetorium
Praetorium: the Roman governor's residence and office building, and
those who work there.
quadrans
A quadrans is a Roman coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius
is about one day's wages for an agricultural laborer.
rabbi
Rabbi is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for "my teacher," used
as a title of respect for Jewish teachers.
Rahab
Rahab is either (1) The prostitute who hid Joshua's 2 spies in
Jericho (Joshua 2,6) and later became an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew
1:5) and an example of faith (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). (2)
Literally, "pride" or "arrogance" -- possibly a reference to a large
aquatic creature (Job 9:13; 26:12; Isaiah 51:9) or symbolically
referring to Egypt (Psalm 87:4; 89:10; Isaiah 30:7).
Rhabboni
Rhabboni: a transliteration of the Hebrew word for "great teacher."
Sabbath
The seventh day of the week, set aside by God for man to rest.
saints
The Greek word for "saints" literally means "holy ones." Saints are
people set apart for service to God as holy and separate, living in
righteousness. Used in the Bible to refer to all Christians and to
all of those who worship Yahweh in Old Testament times.
Samaritan
A Samaritan is a resident of Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jews
generally detested each other during the time that Jesus walked the
Earth.
sata
A sata is: a dry measure of capacity approximately equal to 13 liters
or 1.5 pecks.
Satan
Satan means "accuser." This is one name for the devil, an enemy of
God and God's people.
scribe
A scribe is one who copies God's law. They were often respected as
teachers and authorities on God's law.
selah
Selah is a musical term indicating a pause or instrumental interlude
for reflection.
sexual immorality
The term "sexual immorality" in the New Testament comes from the
Greek "porneia," which refers to any sexual activity besides that
between a husband and his wife. In other words, prostitution (male or
female), bestiality, homosexual activity, any sexual intercourse
outside of marriage, and the production and consumption of
pornography all are included in this term.
Sheol
Sheol is the place of the dead; the nether world; the grave; death.
Shibah
Shibah is Hebrew for "oath" or "seven." See Beersheba.
shigionoth
Victorious music.
soul
"Soul" refers to the emotions and intellect of a living person, as
well as that person's very life. It is distinguished in the Bible
from a person's spirit and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews
4:12)
span
The length from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger
when the hand is stretched out (about 9 inches or 22.8 cm.).
spirit
Spirit, breath, and wind all derive from the same Hebrew and Greek
words. A person's spirit is the very essence of that person's life,
which comes from God, who is a Spirit being (John 4:24, Genesis 1:2;
2:7). The Bible distinguishes between a person's spirit, soul, and
body (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12). Some beings may exist as
spirits without necessarily having a visible body, such as angels and
demons (Luke 9:39, 1 John 4:1-3).
stadia
stadia: plural for "stadion," a linear measure of about 184.9 meters
or 606.6 feet (the length of the race course at Olympia).
stater
A stater is a Greek silver coin equivalent to four Attic or two
Alexandrian drachmas, or a Jewish shekel: just exactly enough to
cover the half-shekel Temple Tax for two people.
talent
A measure of weight or mass of 3000 shekels.
Tartarus
Tartarus is the Greek name for an underworld for the wicked dead;
another name for Gehenna or Hell.
teraphim
Teraphim are household idols that may have been associated with
inheritance rights to the household property.
Yahweh
"Yahweh" is God's proper name. In Hebrew, the four consonants roughly
equivalent to YHWH were considered too holy to pronounce, so the
Hebrew word for "Lord" (Adonai) was substituted when reading it
aloud. When the Old Testament was translated to Greek, this tradition
was used to translate God's name to "Lord" (Kurios). Some English
Bibles translate God's proper name to "LORD" or "GOD" (usually with
small capital letters), based on that same tradition. This can get
really confusing, since two other words ("Adonai" and "Elohim")
translate to "Lord" and "God," and they are sometimes used together.
The ASV of 1901 (and some other translations) render YHWH as
"Jehovah" (which is a result of mixing the consonants "YHWH" with the
vowels in "Adonai"). The most probable pronunciation of God's proper
name is "Yahweh." In Hebrew, the name "Yahweh" is related to the
active declaration "I AM." See Exodus 3:13-14. Since Hebrew has no
tenses, the declaration "I AM" also implies "I WAS" and "I WILL BE."
Compare Revelation 1:8.
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