Word Studies

This section covers words with deep meaning in the Greek that are difficult to convey into a single English word, or, words commonly mistranslated into English.

Bishop / Overseer and Elder ἐπίσκοπος #1985 and πρεσβύτερος #4245	πρεσβύτερος is another term for the same person as bishop or overseer. The term πρεσβύτερος indicates the mature spiritual experience and understanding of those so described; the term ἐπίσκοπος indicates the character of the work undertaken.
Bondservant διάκονος #1249 and δοῦλος #1401	δοῦλος is typically translated as “servant” and views a servant in relation to his master, with the focus being on the relationship. διάκονος is typically translated as “minister” and focuses on the servant in his activity for the work and not his relationship to a person.
Brother ἀδελφός #80	ἀδελφός denotes a brother or near kinsman; in the plural, a community based on identity of origin or life, people of the same nationality, persons united by a common interest or calling; mankind; believers (apart from sex).
Evil κακός #2556 and πονηρός #4190	κακός stands for whatever is evil in character, base, in distinction from πονηρός which indicates what is evil in influence and effect, malignant. κακός is the wider term and often covers the meaning of πονηρός. κακός is antithetic to what is fair, advisable, good in character, beneficial, useful, good in act; hence it denotes what is useless, incapable, bad. πονηρός is antithetic to what is kind, gracious, serviceable; hence it denotes what is destructive, injurious, evil.
Fear φόβος #5401	First had the meaning of “flight,” that which is caused by being scared. When used with God, it is reverential fear, as a controlling motive of the life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere fear of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him.
Fornication πορνεία #4202	Translated in the ELV as “illicit sexual intercourse” or “sexual immorality”, sometimes including adultery, and sometimes distinguished from it. It can also be metaphorically applied to worship of idols.
Hell γέεννα #1067, ᾅδης #86, ταρταρόω #5020	γέεννα represents the Hebrew valley of Tophet (Ge-Hinnom) used as a name for the place or state of everlasting punishment. ᾅδης is the region of departed spirits of the lost, but includes the blessed dead in periods preceding the ascension of Christ, corresponding to Sheol in the Old Testament. ταρταρόω is the name of a subterranean region regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds; analogous to γέεννα of the Jews.
Justify and Righteous δικαιόω #1344	Both words are translations of the same verb, primarily, “to deem to be right”; in the passive voice, “to be justified”. In either case, it is the legal and formal acquittal from guilt by God as Judge, the pronouncement of the sinner as righteous, who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Knowledge γνῶσις #1108 and ἐπίγνωσις #1922	γνῶσις is the first knowledge of something while ἐπίγνωσις is the complete comprehension. Something that is known before is now more familiar; a more exact viewing of an object previously seen from a distance. The more small portion of γνῶσις is improved upon and is seen more strongly and clearly.
Lawlessness and Unrighteousness ἀνομία #458 and ἀδικία #93	ἀνομία, usually rendered “iniquity”, is always rendered as “lawlessness” in the ELV. ἀδικία, unrighteousness, is a condition of not being right, whether with God, according to the standard of His holiness and righteousness, or with man, according to the standard of what man knows to be right by his conscience.
Life ζωή #2222 and βίος #979	While ζωή is life intensive, βίος is life extensive. In βίος, used as a manner of life, there is an ethical sense often inhering which, classical Greek at least, ζωή does not possess. In Scripture, ζωή is the nobler word, expressing as it continually does, all of the highest and best which the saints possess in God.
Look or see ὄπτομαι #3700, ὁράω #3708, βλέπω #991, ἀτενίζω #816, εἴδω #1492, θεάομαι #2300, θεωρέω #2334, σκοπέω #4648	ὄπτομαι and ὁράω are both used to say “to gaze” i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; thus differing from βλέπω, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from εἴδω, which expresses merely mechanical, passive, or casual vision; while θεάομαι and still more emphatically its intensive, θεωρέω, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection. ἀτενίζω means to look fixedly, and σκοπέω a watching from a distance.
Love ἀγάπη #26 and φιλέω #5368	ἀγάπη expresses a more reasoning attachment, of choice and selection, from a seeing in the object upon whom it is bestowed that which is worthy of regard; or else from a sense that such is due toward the person so regarded, as being a benefactor or the like. φιλέω without being necessarily an unreasoning attachment does yet give less account of itself to itself; is more instinctive, is more of the feelings or natural affections, implies more passion. In the NT, ἀγάπη is purged of all coldness and is deeper than φιλέω... φιλέω implies an instructive, affectionate attachment; but ἀγάπη of a sentiment based on judgment and adulation, which selects its objects for a reason.
Man ἄνθρωπος #444	Used generally of a human being, male or female, without respect to sex or nationality; and in the plural, of men and women, people. Also used to distinguish man from God and animals.
Meek πραΰτης #4240	The meaning of πραΰτης is not readily expressed in English, for the terms meekness, mildness, commonly used suggest weakness, whereas πραΰτης does nothing of the kind. Nevertheless, it is difficult to find a rendering less open to objection than 'meek', so the ELV retains it. πραΰτης describes a condition of mind and heart, and it must be clearly understood that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power.
Miracle δύναμις #1411 and σημεῖον #4592	δύναμις is typically translated as “ability” but can sometimes refer to works of supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means. σημεῖον is a sign and is used of miracles and wonders as signs of divine authority.
Son or child υἱός #5207, παιδάριον #3808, παιδίον #3813, παιδίσκη #3814, παῖς #3816, τέκνον #5043	υἱός is a male offspring, but can mean “children” in the plural. παιδάριον refers to a child up to his first school years. παιδίον refers exclusively to little children. παιδίσκη refers to a female in late childhood and early youth. παῖς refers to a child of any age. τέκνον gives prominence to physical and outward aspects of parentage. υἱός gives prominence to the inward, ethical, legal aspects of parentage. παῖς and τέκνον denote a child as respects to descent and age, reference to the latter being more prominent in the former word, to descent in παιδίον; but the period παῖς covers is not sharply defined.
To know γινώσκω #1097 and εἴδω #1492	γινώσκω frequently suggests inception or progress in “knowledge”, while εἴδω suggests fullness of “knowledge”. γινώσκω frequently implies an active relation between the one who “knows” and the person or thing “known”. εἴδω expresses the fact that the object has simply come within the scope of the “knower's” perception.
Will and Desire βούλομαι #1014 and ἐθέλω #2309	ἐθέλω implies volition and purpose, frequently a determination, always rendered “desire” in the ELV. βούλομαι means to will deliberately more strongly than ἐθέλω, and therefore is always rendered as “will”.