Dictionaries :: Word

Word:

wurd: The commonest term in the Old Testament for "word" is dabhar (also "matter" "thing"); in the New Testament logos ("reason," "discourse," "speech"); but also frequently rhema. Rhema is a "word" in itself considered; logos is a spoken word, with reference generally to that which is in the speaker's mind. Some of the chief applications of the terms may thus be exhibited:

(1) We have the word of Yahweh (or God; see below)

(a) as the revelation to the patriarch, prophet, or inspired person (Ge 15:1; Ex 20:1; Nu 22:38, etc.);

(b) as spoken forth by the prophet (Ex 4:30; 34:1; 2Ki 7:1; Isa 1:10, etc.).

(2) The word is often a commandment, sometimes equivalent to "the Law" (Ex 32:28; Nu 20:24; De 6:6; Ps 105:8; 119:11,17; Isa 66:2, etc.).

(3) As a promise and ground of hope (Ps 119:25,28,38, etc.; 130:5, etc.).

(4) As creative, upholding, and preserving (Ps 33:6; compare Ge 1:3; Ps 147:15,18; Heb 1:3; 11:3; 2Pe 3:5,7).

(5) As personified (in Apocrypha, The Wisdom of Solomon 18:15; Ecclesiasticus 1:5, the Revised Version margin "omitted by the best authorities").

(6) As personal (Joh 1:1). Logos in Philo and Greek-Jewish philosophy meant both reason or thought and its utterance, "the whole contents of the divine world of thought resting in the Nous of God, synonymous with the inner life of God Himself and corresponding to the logos endiathetos of the human soul; on the other hand, it is the externalizing of this as revelation corresponding to the logos prophorikos in which man's thought finds expression (Schultz). Compare also the references to Creation by "the word of God" and its personifications; see LOGOS; incarnated in Jesus Christ (Joh 1:14; 1 Joh 1:1,2; Re 19:13, "His name is called, The Word of God," Ho Logos tou Theou). See PERSON OF CHRIST.

(7) Cannot be broken, endureth forever (2Ki 10:10; Ps 119:89; Isa 40:8, etc.).

(8) A designation of the gospel of Christ: sometimes simply "the word"; with Jesus "the word of the Kingdom" (Mt 13:19; Mr 2:2; Ac 4:4,29,31, etc.). In John's Gospel Jesus frequently speaks of His "word" and "works" as containing the divine revelation and requirements made through Him, which men are asked to believe in, cherish and obey (Joh 5:24; 6:63,68, etc.); "the words of God" (Joh 3:34; 8:47; 14:10; 17:8,14, etc.); His "word" (logos and rhema) is to be distinguished from lalia, speech (compare Mt 26:73; Mr 14:70), translated "saying," Joh 4:42 (4:41, "Many more believed because of his own word" (logos); 4:42, "not because of thy saying" (lalia), the Revised Version (British and American) "speaking"); in the only other occurrence of lalia in this Gospel (Joh 8:43) Jesus uses it to distinguish the outward expression from the inner meaning, "Why do ye not understand my speech?" (lalia), "Even because ye cannot hear my word" (logos).

(9) "Words" are distinguished from "power" (1Co 4:20; 1Th 1:5); are contrasted with "deed" (Mal 2:17; 1Co 4:20; 1 Joh 3:18). (10) Paul refers to "unspeakable words" (arrheta rhemata) which he heard in Paradise (2Co 12:4), and to "words (logoi).... which the Spirit teacheth" (1Co 2:13).

For "word" the Revised Version (British and American) has "commandment" (Nu 4:45, etc.); for "words," "things" (Joh 7:9; 8:30; 9:22,40; 17:1), "sayings" (Joh 10:21; 12:47,48); for "enticing words," "persuasiveness of speech" (Col 2:4); conversely, "word" for "commandment" (Nu 24:13; 27:14; Jos 8:8, etc.), with numerous other changes.

Written by W. L. Walker

Word: A Title of Jesus

Jhn 1:1, 14; 1Jo 5:7; Rev 19:13

Word: Reference Concerning

See JESUS, NAMES OF

Word:

• Exd 13:9; Exd 19:9; Exd 24:3-4
• Deu 4:2; Deu 4:5-6; Deu 4:8; Deu 4:10; Deu 4:14; Deu 6:6-9; Deu 8:3; Deu 17:18-19; Deu 27:2-3; Deu 27:8; Deu 29:29; Deu 30:11-14; Deu 31:9-13; Deu 31:19; Deu 31:21; Deu 31:26
• Jos 1:8; Jos 3:9; Jos 8:32-35
• 2Sa 22:31
• 1Ch 16:15
• 2Ch 15:3
• Job 22:22; Job 23:12
• Psa 1:2; Psa 12:6; Psa 17:4; Psa 19:7-11; Psa 33:4; Psa 37:31; Psa 40:8; Psa 43:3; Psa 78:1; Psa 78:7-8; Psa 85:8; Psa 93:5; Psa 94:12; Psa 102:18; Psa 107:19; Psa 111:7; Psa 119:9; Psa 119:11-12; Psa 119:14-16; Psa 119:18-20; Psa 119:23-25; Psa 119:28; Psa 119:30-31; Psa 119:33; Psa 119:35; Psa 119:41; Psa 119:45-52; Psa 119:54; Psa 119:61; Psa 119:66-67; Psa 119:70; Psa 119:72; Psa 119:74; Psa 119:76-78; Psa 119:81-83; Psa 119:86; Psa 119:89; Psa 119:92-93; Psa 119:96-100; Psa 119:103-105; Psa 119:109; Psa 119:111; Psa 119:113; Psa 119:115; Psa 119:119; Psa 119:127-131; Psa 119:133; Psa 119:138; Psa 119:140-144; Psa 119:148; Psa 119:151-153; Psa 119:157-163; Psa 119:165; Psa 119:167; Psa 119:172-174; Psa 138:2; Psa 147:15; Psa 147:19
• Pro 6:20-23; Pro 22:21; Pro 30:5-6
• Ecc 5:1; Ecc 12:10-11
• Isa 2:3; Isa 8:16; Isa 8:20; Isa 28:13; Isa 30:21; Isa 34:16; Isa 40:8; Isa 51:7; Isa 55:10-11
• Jer 8:9; Jer 13:15; Jer 15:16; Jer 22:29; Jer 23:28-29; Jer 23:36
• Eze 3:3; Eze 3:10; Eze 44:5
• Dan 10:21; Dan 12:4; Dan 12:9
• Hsa 6:5
• Amo 8:11-13
• Mic 2:7
• Hab 2:2
• Zec 7:7
• Mat 5:17; Mat 7:24-25; Mat 11:13; Mat 11:15; Mat 13:23; Mat 13:33; Mat 15:3; Mat 15:9; Mat 22:29
• Mar 1:15; Mar 7:9; Mar 7:13; Mar 12:24; Mar 13:31
• Luk 1:37; Luk 4:22; Luk 8:11-15; Luk 11:28; Luk 16:17; Luk 16:29; Luk 16:31; Luk 24:32; Luk 24:45
• Jhn 2:22; Jhn 5:24; Jhn 5:39; Jhn 6:63; Jhn 8:31-32; Jhn 10:35; Jhn 15:3; Jhn 17:8; Jhn 17:17; Jhn 17:19-20; Jhn 20:31
• Act 10:15; Act 17:11; Act 20:32; Act 26:18; Act 26:22
• Rom 3:1-2; Rom 4:23-24; Rom 6:17; Rom 9:4; Rom 9:6; Rom 10:17; Rom 12:2; Rom 15:4; Rom 16:26
• 1Cr 2:13; 1Cr 7:6; 1Cr 7:12; 1Cr 9:10; 1Cr 10:11; 1Cr 11:2; 1Cr 15:3
• 2Cr 2:17; 2Cr 3:6
• Gal 1:8; Gal 1:11-12
• Eph 1:12-13; Eph 3:3-5; Eph 5:26; Eph 6:17
• Phl 2:16
• Col 1:5; Col 3:16
• 1Th 1:5; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 4:1-2; 1Th 5:20
• 2Th 2:14-15
• 1Ti 4:5-6; 1Ti 6:3-4
• 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 2:8-9; 2Ti 2:15; 2Ti 3:15-16
• Hbr 1:1-2; Hbr 2:1-3; Hbr 4:2; Hbr 4:12; Hbr 6:5; Hbr 10:7; Hbr 10:28; Hbr 11:3
• Jam 1:18-19; Jam 1:21-25
• 1Pe 1:23-25; 1Pe 2:2
• 2Pe 1:4; 2Pe 1:19-21; 2Pe 3:1-2; 2Pe 3:15-16
• 1Jo 1:4-5; 1Jo 2:7-8; 1Jo 2:12; 1Jo 2:14; 1Jo 2:21; 1Jo 5:11; 1Jo 5:13
• Jud 1:3; Jud 1:17
• Rev 1:2-3; Rev 22:18-19

Word:

denotes

(I) "the expression of thought," not the mere name of an object,

(a) as embodying a conception or idea, e.g., Luk 7:7; 1Cr 14:9, 19;

(b) a saying or statement,

(1) by God, e.g., Jhn 15:25; Rom 9:9; 9:28, RV, "word" (AV, "work"); Gal 5:14; Hbr 4:12;

(2) by Christ, e.g., Mat 24:35 (plur.); Jhn 2:22; 4:41; 14:23 (plur.); Jhn 15:20. In connection with (1) and (2) the phrase "the word of the Lord," i.e., the revealed will of God (very frequent in the OT), is used of a direct revelation given by Christ, 1Th 4:15; of the gospel, Act 8:25; 13:49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10; 1Th 1:8; 2Th 3:1; in this respect it is the message from the Lord, delivered with His authority and made effective by His power (cp. Act 10:36); for other instances relating to the gospel see Act 13:26; 14:3; 15:7; 1Cr 1:18, RV; 2Cr 2:17; 4:2; 5:19; 6:7; Gal 6:6; Eph 1:13; Phl 2:16; Col 1:5; Hbr 5:13; sometimes it is used as the sum of God's utterances, e.g., Mar 7:13; Jhn 10:35; Rev 1:2, 9;

(c) discourse, speech, of instruction, etc., e.g., Act 2:40; 1Cr 2:13; 12:8; 2Cr 1:18; 1Th 1:5; 2Th 2:15; Hbr 6:1, RV, marg.; doctrine, e.g., Mat 13:20; Col 3:16; 1Ti 4:6; 2Ti 1:13; Tts 1:9; 1Jo 2:7;

(1) His distinct and superfinite Personality,

(2) His relation in the Godhead (pros, "with," not mere company, but the most intimate communion),

(3) His deity; in Jhn 1:3 His creative power; in Jhn 1:14 His Incarnation ("became flesh," expressing His voluntary act; not as AV, "was made"), the reality and totality of His human nature, and His glory "as of the only begotten from the Father," RV (marg., "an only begotten from a father"), the absence of the article in each place lending stress to the nature and character of the relationship; His was the Shekinah glory in open manifestation; Jhn 1:18 consummates the identification: "the only-begotten Son (RV marg., many ancient authorities read "God only begotten,"), which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him," thus fulfilling the significance of the title "Logos," the "Word," the personal manifestation, not of a part of the Divine nature, but of the whole Deity (see IMAGE).

The title is used also in 1Jo 1:1, "the Word of life" combining the two declarations in Jhn 1:1, 4 and Rev 19:13 (for 1Jo 5:7 see THREE).

Word:

denotes "that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing;" in the singular, "a word," e.g., Mat 12:36; 27:14; 2Cr 12:4; 13:1; Hbr 12:19; in the plural, speech, discourse, e.g., Jhn 3:34; 8:20; Act 2:14; 6:11, 13; 11:14; 13:42; 26:25; Rom 10:18; 2Pe 3:2; Jud 1:17; it is used of the Gospel in Rom 10:8 (twice), Rom 10:17, RV, "the word of Christ" (i.e., the "word" which preaches Christ); Rom 10:18; 1Pe 1:25 (twice); of a statement, command, instruction, e.g., Mat 26:75; Luk 1:37, RV, "(no) word (from God shall be void of power);" Luk 1:38; Act 11:16; Hbr 11:3.

The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," Eph 6:17; here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.

Notes:

(1) Epos, "a word," is used in a phrase in Hbr 7:9, lit., "(as to say) a word," RV, "(so to) say," AV, "(as I may so) say;" logos is reasoned speech, rhema, an utterance, epos, "the articulated expression of a thought" (Abbott-Smith).

(2) In Rom 16:18, AV, chrestologia, "useful discourse" (chrestos, "beneficial"), is rendered "good words" [RV, "smooth... (speech)"].

(3) For logikos, 1Pe 2:2 (RV, "spiritual"), rendered "of the word," AV, see MILK.

(4) For the verb apangello, rendered "to bring word," see BRING, No. 36.

(5) In Mat 2:13, AV, eipon, "to tell" (RV) is rendered "bring... word."

(6) For "enticing words," Col 2:4, see ENTICE and PERSUASIVENESS.

(7) For "strifes of words," 1Ti 6:4, AV, and "strive... about words," 2Ti 2:14, see STRIFE, STRIVE.

(8) For suntomos, Act 24:4, "a few words," see FEW, B. For the same phrase see FEW, A, Nos. 1 and 2.