The book of Ruth has to do with a godly Moabite woman, Ruth by name, who joined herself to the Hebrew people during the days of the judges. She was a widow who married an Israelite by the name of B...

The term "sabbath" is derived from the Hebrew shabath, to "cease." The use of this word for the "seventh day" reflects the Genesis account of creation, when, after six days of creative activity, Je...

This word is derived from a Greek term meaning "separated." (a) "Saint" refers to an ordinary member of Christ's church who has submitted to gospel obedience (Phil. 1:1; 4:21; 2 Thes. 1:10). (b) A ...

"Salvation" is the result of having been "saved." The verb "save" (sozo) had a variety of ancient meanings. It could signify to deliver, to heal, to liberate, to preserve, etc., depending upon the ...

This book contains the historical record of the change in Israel's form of government from judges to that of the kings. The nation, in an act of rejecting God, desired a king to be like their pagan...

This book contains the record of the forty-year administration of the Hebrews' most illustrious ruler, David, who was an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. The book details David's victories, his w...

The Greek term graphe ("writing") comes into the English Bible (via Latin, scriptura) as "scripture." The word almost always has the definite article "the scriptures." The expression may refer to a...

The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. It dates from the third century before Christ. The "Letter of Aristeas" (cir. 100 B.C.) suggests that this version was translated ...

Near the end of that historical period known as the Babylonian captivity, the prophet Daniel received a marvelous revelation that involved the unveiling of future events relative to the coming of C...

More than a dozen words are used in the Greek N.T. to represent various aspects of "sin" (e.g., bad, evil, transgression, iniquity, trespass, godless, unrighteous, etc.). The most frequently employ...

The term "slave" (Grk. doulos) is used in the Bible in both a literal and a figurative sense. (a) Literal slaves were common in the ancient world. A person could be purchased as a slave, become a s...

The expression "Son of Man" is found mostly in the Gospel accounts (some 80 times) -- especially the Synoptics (see) -- and it is the term Christ used more than any other to designate himself. In f...

This small book contains one of the 1,005 songs penned by king Solomon (1 Kgs. 4:32). It extols the passion and bliss of wedded love, and praises the king's "beloved." Many scholars have suggested ...

The term "sovereign" denotes the right that God has to rule the Universe. Note that the word "reign" is contained within "sovereign." Jehovah has this "right" because he is the Creator, and theref...

"Suffering" is a term that embraces the various physical and emotional ills to which the human family is heir. Skeptics charge that human suffering is irreconcilable with the idea of an all-powerfu...

The term "synoptic" derives from the Greek word sunoptikos, which means "seeing the whole together." The word is used to describe the first three Gospel narratives -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- bec...

The Talmud is an encyclopedia of Jewish cultural tradition that was designed to supplement the Hebrew Old Testament. It evolved over a era from about 450 B.C. to A.D. 500. The Talmud (from a Hebrew...

The role of the Christian teacher is sobering indeed, for those who presume to "teach" will receive a "heavier judgment" (Jas. 3:1). This warning is not designed to discourage teaching (a divine ob...

The original words that are rendered by the English "tempt" are employed in two broad senses in the Scriptures, depending upon the context in which they are found. First, the concept may be that of...

The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew (with certain minor portions in Aramaic), while the New Testament was penned in Koine Greek. None of the original documents (called autographs) of...