Bible Journey Glossary of Terms
acrostic: a pattern formed by beginning lines or sections in alphabetic order
agnosticism: a position of doubt regarding God and the supernatural world
allusion: an indirect reference to an earlier passage
amanuensis: a scribe who wrote for another person (Romans 16:2; 1 Corinthians 16:21)
Amorites: Semitic people group(s) of nomadic origin
analogical thinking: reasoning by comparison
anthropology: the study of human societies and cultures
anthropomorphism: characteristics of God that are described in human terms
antithesis: the opposite
Apocalypse, apocalyptic: the dramatic and climactic end of human history, to be followed by the unchallenged reign of God through his Messiah
apodictic law: law based on absolutes; “you must not...”
apologetics: reasoned arguments for religious faith
apology: a defense
apostate: a person who abandons their faith
archetype, archetypal: ultimate person, place or thing that other examples resemble
autonomy: having the right or power of self-government
Asiatics: people from Asia (i.e., east of Egypt).
axis mundi: line connecting the center of the Earth to the heavens.
baptism: ritual immersion or sprinkling that marks purification and initiation
bar mitzvah: son of the covenant
bat mitzvah: daughter of the covenant
Bene Elohim: (Hebrew) Sons of God (Can be used for celestial beings generally)
Byzantine: relating to the Eastern Orthodox Church (centered in Byzantium/Istanbul)
calque: (French) a loan word from another language
canon: authoritative collection
canonization: admission into an authoritative collection
cataphatic: knowledge [of God] articulated by positive assertions
catechism: a summary of Christian doctrine and practice organized for initiates
casuistic law: case law, based on precedent and usually in “if/then” format
chiasm: a literary structure in which words, concepts or grammatical structures are repeated in reverse order (A, B, C, D, C’, B’ A’)
chozeh: (Hebrew) Seer
Christology: the doctrine of Christ
Christos: (Greek) anointed
chronos: time (chronological)
Classical Prophet: a prophet whose writings are in the Bible
classism: a referential or prejudicial treatment based on social class
codex: ancient manuscript in book format
corpus, corpora: collection(s) of written texts, often by the same author or from the same genre
covenant: formalized relationship involving obligations and promises
crook: shepherd’s staff
cuneiform: an ancient Mesopotamian writing system consisting of wedge-shaped characters pressed in clay
curse: the invocation of supernatural power for a negative effect
Deism: belief in a creator who is not personally involved in the universe
Denouement: lectionary
Deuterocanonical: secondary canon
Deuteronomic: the terms, themes and theology of Deuteronomy that are echoed in later Old Testament books
Deuteronomistic history: a scholarly reconstruction of the Old Testament historical books that presupposes a single literary source; also referred to as DH
diachronically: relating to the way things change over time
diakonos: (Greek) diaconal, deacon, those who serve
Diaspora: the dispersed population of any ethnic group from their historical, native homeland
Docetism: heresy that Christ did not have a physical body
Drash: (Hebrew) expanded, homiletical meaning of a passage
ecumenical: engaging multiple Christian traditions
ekklesia: (Greek) assembly
election: selection for a divine purpose
enmity: a state of hostility or opposition
ephod: (1) sleeveless garment worn by Israel’s priests; (2) religious image that functioned as an oracle
Eponymous: named after a person
Eschatology, (-logical): the study of end times
eternality: the condition or quality of being eternal
ethnocentrism: view of other cultures in terms of one’s own
etiology: a narrative explanation of causation or beginnings
euangelion/euanggelizo: (Greek) good news/preach good news
euphemism: the replacement of a word with one less blunt or embarrassing
euthus: (Greek) immediately
ex eventu: (Latin) Prophecy given after the event has occurred
ex nihilo: (Latin) [creation] out of nothing
exile: unwillingly removed from one’s native place
Exilic Prophets: prophets who wrote during the Exile
extispicy: the study of animal entrails (organs) for divination
Fall, the: the loss of paradise in the biblical story; the advent of human sin, evil and death
fatalism: belief that all things are predetermined
figure of speech: a non-literal use of a phrase or word for rhetorical
impact
flagellum: (Latin) flogging or whipping
foil: character who contrasts with one of the primary characters (usually protagonist)
foreshadow: a sign or hint of things to come
Former Prophets: certain historical books in the Hebrew Old
Testament (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings)
Fratricide: killing of one's brother
Fustigatio: (Latin) Beating
Gematria: an interpretive system that equates letters with numbers
general revelation: knowledge of God accessible through creation and history
genre: literary category
gnosis: (Greek) knowledge
Gnosticism: a set of beliefs in the early Christian era centered around esoteric, spiritual knowledge
Go'el: (Hebrew) Kinsman redeemer
Haftorah: readings from the biblical Prophets selected for Sabbath liturgies
Halakha: (Hebrew) the way (from the verb “to walk,” to reference obedience)
harmonizing: creating a composite account based on several sources (e.g., a harmonization of Jesus’ life based on the four New Testament Gospels)
Hasmonean: a Jewish dynasty, descendants of the Maccabees, that ruled Judea in the second century BC.
heresy: a belief that is contrary to the normative or orthodox view held by a religious group
hermeneutics: the study of interpretation
hermeneutic of suspicion: interpretive position that begins with doubt
hieroglyphics: the pictographic writing system of ancient Egypt
Hinneni: (Hebrew) Here I am
Historical-critical method: inquiry into the original world of the author and ancient events, using the tools of modern science and history
Historical Adam: the literal first man created, as referenced in Genesis 1–3
historicity: the historical accuracy of a person or event
homology: the state of having similar properties
hyperbole: exaggeration
iconoclast: one who attacks traditional beliefs and institutions
iconography: religious images
inclusio: literary framing device that begins and ends with similar elements
Intertestamental Period: the time between the writing of the final books of the Old Testament and the coming of Jesus
intertextuality, (intertextual): the relationship between different texts
Kai: (Greek) and
Kairos: (Greek) critical moments in time
Kataluma: (Greek) guest room
Korban: Hebrew) a gift dedicated to God
Latter Prophets: a subdivision of the books constituting the second main part of the Hebrew Bible, comprising those books which in Christian tradition are alone called the Prophets and which are divided into Major Prophets and Minor Prophets.
lectionary: list of Bible readings for church services
Lex talionis: (Latin) law of retaliation
LXX: abbreviation for the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament)
Ma’at: Egyptian goddess/concept of social order and justice
magic (-al), (-ian): the manipulation of objects and words to activate divine forces
Major Prophet: prophets whose writings are longer in length (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel)
manumission: release from slavery
manuscript: an author’s hand-written document
mashal: (Hebrew) saying
Messiah: Anointed One
Masoretic Text (MT): the authoritative text of the Hebrew Bible for Rabbinic Judaism
metanarrative: overarching, interconnected storyline
Midbar : (Hebrew) desert or wilderness; symbolically, can refer to "a place of revelation"
Midrash: Jewish commentary on a biblical passage (often with reference to other passages)
Mikveh, Mikvaot: (Hebrew) ritual bath(s)
Minha: (Hebrew) gift; also used in reference to grain and drink offerings
Minor Prophet: prophets whose writings are shorter (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi)
Minuscule: lower case script
miqdash: (Hebrew) holy
miracle(s), (miraculous): event(s) ascribed to supernatural intervention
Mishkan: (Hebrew) "dwelling" in reference to the Tabernacle
Mishnah, (-aic): an authoritative collection of Jewish interpretive traditions from the early centuries after Christ
mishpat: (Hebrew) Justice
mitzvah, mitsvot: commandment(s)
mnemonic device: a means of making things memorable and easier to grasp.
moadim: (Hebrew) appointed times
monotheistic: believing in a single God
myth, (-ical), (-ically), (-ology): stories about gods and goddesses that are integrated into a religious and supernatural worldview
nabi: (Hebrew) sayer, prophet
narrative lament: a story that follows the same contours of a lament: initial sense of God’s absence/abandonment with final trust in exoneration
narrative liturgy: a psalm or ritual that follows the same contours of a lament: initial sense of God’s absence/abandonment with final trust in exoneration
obduracy: thick-headed
omen: a sign of future misfortune or evil
omer: a biblical unit of measure; seta dry measure for grain that is equivalent to approximately 2 quarts (imperial system) or 2 liters (metric system)
onomatopoeia: a poetic form where words sound like what they mean.
oracle: a message from the divine world to the human world, often mediated by a priest(ess) or prophet(ess)
Oral Prophets: non-literary prophets who functioned ~300 years prior to the prophets of last 17 books of Old Testament (e.g., Elijah, Elisha Ahijah, Micaiah, Huldah)
original sin: the universal, innate, human tendency to sin, inherited from Adam as a result of the Fall.
ostracon: a broken piece of pottery used as a writing surface
over-realized eschatology: Christians who expect the “age to come” to be fully present in this age
pagan: associated with non-Abrahamic religion, typically polytheistic
Pantheon: the entire system of deities within a culture or kingdom
papyrus: plant-based sheets used for writing in ancient Egypt
parable: a fictional story that is laid alongside a literal reality to bring greater clarity and meaning to that reality
parabolē: lay alongside
parabolic miracles: miracles as object lessons that proved a point or clarified an aspect of Jesus’ ministry
parabolic prophetic warning: an action that illustrated the prophet’s message
paradigm(atic): a prime example
paradox: a seemingly self-contradictory statement
parallel(s): something similar to something else (e.g., poem, story, law, etc.)
Parallelism: the pairing of ideas in lines of biblical poetry either by echoing the initial line in the second (synonymous), contrasting the initial line with the second (antithetical) or otherwise extending the thought of the first in the second (synthetic)
Parashah: weekly scripture reading (Jewish Bible)
parchment: flat, thin skin-based material used for ancient documents
pastoral: herding culture
Pater familias: (Latin) the male head of a Roman household
patriarchal: a culture defined by male authority
patrilineal: a culture where ancestry is defined by male lineage
patrilocal: a culture where married couples live in the husband’s hometown
Pax Romana: (Latin) Roman peace
Peshat: (Hebrew) simple, literal meaning
Pesher: interpretive commentary
pleroō: (Greek) to fulfill
polis: (Greek) city
polygamous: marriage to more than one spouse
polytheistic: believing in multiple gods
Post-exilic Prophets: prophets who wrote after the Exile
Pre-classical Prophet: a non-writing prophet who prophesied in an earlier era
Pre-exilic Prophets: prophets who wrote prior to the Exile
prediction: a statement about specific future events that often includes “what” and “when” elements 154
primogeniture: inheritance rights of the firstborn
principle: an observable reality or idea that is generally true and on which one can depend
progressive revelation: the Bible’s increasingly fuller clarity about God over time
promise: an oath or assurance of something (e.g., a future blessing or redemption)
prophecy: a statement about the present or future that often includes words of promise and/or judgment (often follow an “if ... then ...” format)
prophet: God’s spokesperson who called people back to their covenant relationship in the present and usually delivered a twofold message of warning and hope for the future.
proto-: original, first
protocanonical: books accepted into the biblical canon early and without dispute
protoevangelion: the first expression of the Gospel (Genesis 3:15)
prototype: the initial model for subsequent developments and examples
proverb: a short saying used to promote wise behavior through figurative language and analogies (and may also include a statement of a principle)
psalms of lament: a category of Psalms known for a pattern moving from an initial sense of God’s absence/abandonment to final trust in exoneration
pseudonym: pen name
Pseudepigrapha: books falsely attributed to a prominent historical figures
“Q” document: a reconstructed (and therefore hypothetical) source for content common to the Synoptic Gospels
Qadosh: (Hebrew) holy
Qina meter: 3-2 meter
Qol: (Hebrew) voice, sound, thunder
redemptive analogy: cultural traditions that can provide a path to understanding the Gospel
Religio licita: (Latin) legitimate religion
regal: fit for a king; royal
remez: (Hebrew) a hint or echo of something that has come before
remnant: a small remaining quantity
retribution: God’s eventual judgment of human behavior, usually in a form that matches the offense
ritual, (-ly): a set of actions performed to a certain standard or in accord with a procedure, usually in a broadly defined ceremonial context
riv: (Hebrew) to take to court
sapiential: related to wisdom
scroll: a roll of parchment used for writing
Second (or New) Exodus: a new divine rescue from captivity (patterned after the Exodus from Egypt)
Second Temple Period: the centuries of the rebuilt temples in Israel: 516 BC to AD 70
Sect(-arian): religious groups that have a political orientation
Sensus plenior: (Latin) surplus meaning
Septuagint: the Greek translation of the Old Testament dating to the third century BC and following; also referred to as LXX (seventy), from the story of the 72 translators who produced it
sh'lamim: (Hebrew) peace or fellowship; also used in reference to the peace offering
shelakhim: (Hebrew) those formally sent
shuv: (Hebrew) return, repent
Simchat Torah: (Hebrew) “Rejoicing in the Torah,” a fall festival at end of the annual Torah-reading cycle
simile: comparison using “like” or “as”
simultaneity, (simultaneously): everything exists in the same plane, at the same time
sod: (Hebrew) secret meaning
Source Criticism: the study of sources assumed to be used by biblical writers and editors.
sovereignty, (sovereign): the exercise of the highest power and authority
Sukkot (Hebrew): Festival of Tabernacles
suzerain: a sovereign who has a covenant treaty with his people/ vassals
sympathetic magic: rituals expected to trigger supernatural events
syncretism: the mixing of two religious, philosophical or cultural systems
synchronic: as though the text was revealed all at once
synoptic: summary or similar
Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the three Gospels that share a great deal of content, largely believed to have shared common sources)
Takkanot: oral laws that became binding within normative Judaism
Talitha koum: (Aramaic) Little girl, arise!
Talmud: a written compilation of Jewish Oral Torah that includes the Mishnah and Gemara (There is both a Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud.)
Tanakh: an acronym for the three main groups of Old Testament books—Torah (“Pentateuch”), Nevi’im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”)
Targums: Aramaic paraphrases of biblical books
tavnit: (Hebrew) pattern
tell: archaeological mound
testament: final statement written at the end of a person’s life (i.e., memoir)
text criticism: the study of the transmission of biblical texts through history. The object of text criticism is to make sense of the textual history of all variants and to establish the original texts.
theodicy: the problem of evil, suffering and divine authority
theophany: a dramatic appearance of God, usually accompanied by
fire or bright lightning and thunder or other loud noise
Toledot: (Hebrew) generations or descendants
Torah: the teaching or Law given on Mt. Sinai (the complete five books of Moses)
tradition: complex of related ideas (examples: Second Exodus and Messianic traditions)
transcendence: the state of being beyond the range of normal perception
triclinium: three-sided table
triadic structures: three-layered literary patterns
typology: a correspondence between people, institutions, places and events
tzedakah: (Hebrew) righteousness
Uncial: script with capital letters
verberatio: (Latin) scourging, always associated with other punishments such as crucifixion
Wisdom Literature: a distinct collection of literature within the Old Testament that aims to offer various types of commentary on various types of experiences.
Writing Prophets: prophets whose writings are recorded in the Bible
Ziggurat: a large religious structure in ancient Mesopotamia, typically of significant height