Biblical Word Studies

A Disciple, Learner, Or Follower

μαθητής mathētḗs

G3101 is a noun for a disciple, learner, or follower associated with a teacher or movement. Its 262 governed forms occur only in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts. Most identify Jesus' disciples, sometimes the Twelve and sometimes a wider group,...

Teaching Opens This noun opens a Gospel-and-Acts study of following, learning, formation, allegiance, continuance, communal love, failure, and growth.

• Matt.10.24
• Luke.6.40
• John.6.66

A Fast; Fasting; The Practice of Abstaining from Food as a Religious Act

צוֹם ṣwōm

צוֹם (ṣôm) is a fast, a period of abstaining from food in a religious setting. The Hebrew texts associate fasting with grief, danger, petition, confession, repentance, public assembly, and communal memory. Esther 4 describes widespread fasting during...

Teaching Opens Tsom opens teaching on embodied dependence, lament, danger, confession, repentance, justice, communal memory, truth, peace, voluntary discipline, and health-conscious pastoral care.

• Ps.35.13
• Esth.4.3
• Ezra.8.21

A Fishing Net

δίκτυον díktyon

Diktyon names a fishing net, the working equipment of fishermen in the Gospels. Matthew and Mark show Simon, Andrew, James, and John leaving or mending their nets when Jesus calls them, so the word can mark vocation surrendered to discipleship. Luke...

Teaching Opens Diktyon opens a teaching path on ordinary work surrendered to Jesus' call and redirected by His word for obedient mission.

• Matt.4.20
• Matt.4.21
• Luke.5.4

A Gardener, Keeper of a Garden

κηπουρός kēpourós

G2780 names a gardener or keeper of a garden. Its only New Testament form occurs in John 20:15, where Mary Magdalene supposes that the risen Jesus is the gardener and asks whether he has carried Jesus's body away. John 19:41 has already located the...

Teaching Opens This word opens a teaching doorway on personal recognition of the risen Christ: Mary's honest mistake, taking Jesus for the gardener, dissolves the instant he speaks her name, showing that...

• John.20.15
• John.20.16
• John.19.41

A Human Being, Person, Or Man in Context

ἄνθρωπος ánthrōpos

Ἄνθρωπος is a common Greek noun for a human being or person. Depending on number, grammar, and referent, it may denote an individual, people generally, a male person, humanity, Adam, Christ in His true humanity, or the title "Son of Man" as part of a...

Teaching Opens This word opens a teaching path on the many ways Scripture names human persons, humanity before God, the Adam and Christ comparison, and the true humanity of the one mediator.

• Matt.4.4
• John.19.5
• Rom.5.12

A Judgment Seat or Tribunal Platform

βῆμα bēma

Bema names a raised seat, platform, or tribunal place where a ruler or judge sits to render decisions. In the Gospels, Pilate sits on the judgment seat while Jesus, the innocent one, is judged by human authority. In Acts, local and imperial tribunals...

Teaching Opens This word opens a study of judgment seats: human tribunals may misjudge or protect, but God and Christ will finally judge with righteousness.

• Matt.27.19
• John.19.13
• Acts.18.12

A Linen Towel

λέντιον léntion

G3012 is the noun for the towel in John 13:4-5. The governed witness has only two forms: Jesus wraps the towel around His waist after rising from supper and laying aside His outer garments, then uses that same towel to dry the disciples' feet as He...

Teaching Opens This noun opens a close reading of the two concrete towel actions in John 13:4-5 before the surrounding discourse supplies their meaning.

• John.13.4
• John.13.5

A Man; A Husband; An Adult Male

ἀνήρ anḗr

ἀνήρ names a man or husband, with context deciding whether the emphasis is adult male identity, marital relation, public address, or household credibility. In the Pastoral Epistles, the word appears in settings that require sober interpretation: men...

Teaching Opens This word opens teaching on men and husbands under holy worship, marital faithfulness, household credibility, and the public witness of the church.

• 1Tim.2.8
• 1Tim.2.12
• 1Tim.3.2

A Measure or Measured Amount

μέτρον métron

Metron is the Greek noun for a measure, a measured amount, or a measuring standard. The word can be literal, as when Revelation describes a measuring rod for the city, but the New Testament often uses it to expose how people judge, receive, grow, and...

Teaching Opens Metron opens a teaching path into God's standards for judgment, gifting, and maturity. It helps readers see that the church is not measured by pride, comparison, or self-invented scales, but...

• Matt.7.2
• John.3.34
• Rom.12.3

A Military Commander or Officer

χιλίαρχος chilíarchos

Chiliarchos names a military commander or officer, often a Roman commander in narrative settings. The word is not a theological title for spiritual leadership, and it should not be inflated beyond its narrative role. In John 18, a commander stands...

Teaching Opens This word opens a study of official military authority in the narratives of Jesus and Paul. It helps readers see civil order, coercive power, and providence without romanticizing empire....

• John.18.12
• Acts.21.31
• Acts.22.24

A Moneychanger

κερματιστής kermatistḗs

κερματιστής names a moneychanger. In John 2:14 the moneychangers are seated in the temple scene Jesus confronts. The word should be handled as a setting term, not as a standalone accusation against every exchange of money. John uses it to identify...

Teaching Opens This word opens the temple-cleansing scene as a public challenge to commercial occupation of worship space.

• John.2.14

A People; Nation; Congregation; Troops

עַם am

עַם (ʿam) is a high-frequency Hebrew noun for a people, kinspeople, community, nation, congregation, or body of troops. Genesis 11:6 describes Babel's builders as one people with one language, and Genesis 17:14 speaks of a person cut off from...

Teaching Opens ʿAm opens teaching on collective identity, oppression, deliverance, covenant belonging, communal holiness, shepherd leadership, all-peoples praise, judgment, and restoration.

• Exod.1.9
• Exod.3.7
• Exod.6.7

A Precept or Statute , Especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch

תּוֹרָה tôrāh

תּוֹרָה (torah) can name instruction, a particular ruling, priestly teaching, the law associated with Moses, or the Torah as a recognized body of Scripture. Context determines the scope. The noun should not be defined only from a proposed connection...

Teaching Opens Torah opens Scripture's presentation of God's instruction as covenant gift, wisdom for life, prophetic standard, and written witness that Christians receive through Christ's fulfillment.

• Deut.33.4
• Ps.119.97
• Isa.2.3

A Roman Pound or Measured Pound

λίτρα lítra

G3046 is a noun for a Roman pound or measured pound. Its two governed forms occur in John's Gospel. John 12:3 names the measured amount of pure nard Mary uses to anoint Jesus' feet, rendered by the BSB as about a pint. John 19:39 uses the plural...

Teaching Opens This noun opens close reading of two measured quantities in John's anointing and burial narratives.

• John.12.3
• John.19.39

A Serpent or Snake

ὄφις óphis

Ophis means a snake or serpent. The New Testament uses the word in literal, proverbial, accusatory, typological, and warning contexts. Jesus can mention a snake as the opposite of a father's good gift, use snake-like shrewdness in mission...

Teaching Opens Ophis opens a teaching path on danger, deception, wise mission, and the surprising way John uses the lifted serpent to point toward the lifted Son of Man.

• Matt.7.10
• Matt.10.16
• Matt.23.33

A Signal (Literally or Figuratively), As a Flag , Beacon , Monument , Omen , Prodigy , Evidence , Etc.

אוֹת ʾôt

אוֹת is the Hebrew word for a sign — but the English word 'sign' carries far less weight than the original. In the OT, an אוֹת is not merely an indicator or symbol; it is a divinely appointed token that establishes a covenant, confirms a prophetic...

Teaching Opens Oth shows how God attaches his promises to concrete signs his people can see, remember, and keep. The rainbow, circumcision, Sabbath, prophetic signs, and New Testament sign theology help...

• Gen.9.12
• Exod.31.13
• Isa.7.14

A Spear or Lance

λόγχη lónchē

G3057 is the noun for the spear in John 19:34, its only governed occurrence. After the soldiers find Jesus already dead and do not break His legs, one soldier pierces His side with a spear, and blood and water immediately flow out. The noun...

Teaching Opens This noun opens close reading of one physical detail within John's account of Jesus' death, testimony, and scriptural connection.

• John.19.34

A Title, Inscription, Official Notice

τίτλος títlos

τίτλος names an official notice or inscription, the kind of placard Roman practice attached to a crucified person stating the charge against them. John 19:19 records its content plainly: 'JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS,' posted by Pilate's...

Teaching Opens This word opens a teaching doorway on truth spoken by hostile or unwitting voices: Pilate's inscription, meant as an official charge or a pointed insult, ends up publicly declaring in three...

• John.19.19
• John.19.20
• John.19.22

A Vow; A Solemn Pledge to God; A Thing Promised

נֶדֶר neḏāray

נֶדֶר (neder) is a vow, a solemn promise made to God that commits the speaker to a stated act, offering, abstention, or dedication. Some vows are conditional, as in Jacob's Bethel promise; others concern offerings, Nazirite dedication, gratitude, or...

Teaching Opens Neder opens sober teaching on promise, integrity, restraint, rash speech, voluntary obligation, and the priority of God's commands over human pledges.

• Gen.28.20
• Num.30.2
• Deut.23.21

A Whip or Scourge

φραγέλλιον phragéllion

G5416 names a whip or scourge and occurs once, in John 2:15. Jesus makes a whip of cords in the temple scene, pours out coins, overturns tables, and drives out the sheep and oxen. The sentence's grammar and the wider scene must determine how the...

Teaching Opens This word opens the seriousness of Jesus' temple action without turning His unique authority into ordinary human license.

A Witness or One Who Gives Testimony

μάρτυς mártys

G3144 is a noun for a witness, a person who gives testimony or can attest a matter. Its thirty-five governed forms identify legal witnesses, resurrection witnesses, people who heard teaching, God invoked as witness, Jesus as the faithful and true...

Teaching Opens This noun opens a thirty-five-form study of legal witnesses, apostolic resurrection witness, accountable transmission, God as witness, Christ's faithful witness, and testimony maintained...

• Matt.18.16
• Luke.24.48
• Acts.1.8

A Woman; A Wife

γυνή gynḗ

γυνή names a woman or wife, with context deciding whether the stress falls on female personhood, marital relation, public worship, household order, or widowed need. In the Pastoral Epistles, the word is not a token for culture-war abstraction. Paul...

Teaching Opens This word opens careful teaching on women and wives in the church household: worship, learning, modesty, good works, marriage faithfulness, service character, and widow care.

• 1Tim.2.9
• 1Tim.2.10
• 1Tim.2.11

A Year; A Marked Yearly Period

ἐνιαυτός eniautós

Eniautos is the Greek noun for a year or a marked yearly period. Most uses are straightforward time references, but the passages show how a year can frame promise, office, formation, ritual danger, priestly repetition, and remembered sin. Jesus reads...

Teaching Opens Eniautos opens a teaching path into time under God's purpose. A year can announce favor, expose political timing, form a church, become religious bondage, or reveal the limits of repeated...

• Luke.4.19
• John.11.49
• Acts.11.26

Able to Teach; Skilled in Teaching

διδακτικός didaktikós

G1317 is an adjective for being able, skilled, or apt to teach. Its two New Testament occurrences are 1 Timothy 3:2 and 2 Timothy 2:24. In the overseer qualifications, ability to teach appears among a larger pattern of tested character, hospitality,...

Teaching Opens the way Scripture binds doctrinal ability to the servant's life and manner

• 1Tim.3.2
• 2Tim.2.24

Able; Powerful; Possible

δυνατός dynatós

Dynatos is an adjective meaning able, powerful, strong, or possible. Jesus says what is impossible with people is possible with God. Mary praises the Mighty One who has done great things for her. Acts uses the word adverbially for Paul's...

Teaching Opens Dynatos opens teaching on God's mighty saving action, plans held with humility, Spirit-dependent ministry, and mature capacity expressed through disciplined speech.

• Matt.19.26
• Luke.1.49
• Acts.20.16

Abomination; Detestable Thing; Abhorrent Practice

תּוֹעֵבָה toevah

תּוֹעֵבָה (toevah) is a Hebrew noun for something regarded as detestable, taboo, abhorrent, or an abomination. Its force is strong, but its evaluator and domain vary. Egyptians regard eating with Hebrews and the occupation of shepherding as taboo;...

Teaching Opens H8441 opens teaching on cultural taboo, ritual boundaries, idolatry, sexuality, gendered practice, child protection, commerce, worship, justice, selective outrage, and the refusal to...

• Gen.43.32
• Gen.46.34
• Lev.18.22

Abomination; Detestable Thing; Object of Disgust

βδέλυγμα bdélygma

Bdelygma names an abomination, detestable thing, or object regarded with moral and religious revulsion before God. In the Gospels, Jesus uses the phrase abomination of desolation from Daniel in an eschatological warning that calls for alertness and...

Teaching Opens This word opens a study of what God calls detestable: desecration, idolatrous corruption, prized human evil, and everything excluded from the holy city.

• Matt.24.15
• Mark.13.14
• Luke.16.15

About, Concerning, Around, Or on Behalf of

περί perí

Peri is a preposition that commonly marks the subject under discussion, concern for a person or matter, surrounding relation, or an action undertaken with reference to someone or something. English may render it “about,” “concerning,” “for,”...

Teaching Opens Peri opens a teaching path on the gospel concerning God’s Son, Scripture’s witness to Christ, intercession for believers, proclamation, and carefully governed atonement language.

• Rom.1.3
• Luke.24.27
• John.5.39

Above Reproach; Blameless; Not Open to Charge

ἀνέγκλητος anénklētos

Anegklētos means not open to accusation, blameless, or above reproach. Paul says Christ will sustain believers blameless at His appearing, and he requires tested servants and elders to be above reproach. The term does not claim that leaders are...

Teaching Opens Anegklētos opens teaching on Christ's preserving grace, tested leadership character, responsible handling of accusation, and stewardship that can withstand honest scrutiny.

• 1Cor.1.8
• 1Tim.3.10
• Titus.1.6

Above, From Above, Or Over

ἐπάνω epánō

Epanō means above, over, or upon. It can describe physical position, relative measure, or delegated authority over something. John 3:31 gives the word its strongest Christological use in this checkpoint: the One who comes from above is above all. The...

Teaching Opens Epanō opens a teaching doorway into above and over language that must be read by context. It helps teachers confess Christ's heavenly supremacy in John 3:31 while also reading ordinary...

• John.3.31
• Luke.10.19
• Luke.19.17