Apollyon Apollyon is Greek for destroyer.
apostle “Apostle” means a delegate, messenger, or one sent forth with orders. This term is applied in the New Testament in both a general sense connected with a ministry of establishing and strengthening church fellowships, as well as in a specific sense to “The 12 Apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14). The former category applies to a specific ministry that continues in the Church (Ephesians 4:11-13) and which includes many more than 12 people, while the latter refers to the apostles named in Matthew 10:2-4, except with Judas Iscariot replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:26).
Armageddon See Har-magedon.
assarion An assarion is a small Roman copper coin worth one tenth of a drachma, or about an hour’s wages for an agricultural labourer.
aureus An aureus is a Roman gold coin, worth 25 silver denarii. An aureus weighed from 115 to 126.3 grains (7.45 to 8.18 grams).
baptise Baptise means to immerse in, or wash with something, usually water. Baptism in the Holy Spirit, fire, the Body of Christ, and suffering are also mentioned in the New Testament, along with baptism in water. Baptism is not just to cleanse the body, but as an outward sign of an inward spiritual cleansing and commitment. Baptism is a sign of repentance, as practised by John the Baptiser, and of faith in Jesus Christ, as practised by Jesus’ disciples.
bath A bath is a liquid measure of about 22 litres, 5.8 U. S. gallons, or 4.8 imperial gallons.
batos A batos is a liquid measure of about 39.5 litres, 10.4 U. S. gallons, or 8.7 imperial gallons.
Beelzebul literally, lord of the flies. A name used for the devil.
Beersheba Beersheba is Hebrew for “well of the oath” or “well of the seven.” A city in Israel.
behold Look! See! Wow! Notice this! Lo!
cherub A cherub is a kind of angel with wings and hands that is associated with the throne room of God and guardian duty. See Ezekiel 10.
cherubim Cherubim means more than one cherub or a mighty cherub.
choenix A choenix is a dry volume measure that is a little more than a litre (which is a little more than a quart). A choenix was the daily ration of grain for a soldier in some armies.
concubine a woman who is united to a man for the purpose of providing him with sexual pleasure and children, but not being honoured as a full partner in marriage; a second-class wife. In Old Testament times (and in some places now), it was the custom of middle-eastern kings, chiefs, and wealthy men to marry multiple wives and concubines, but God commanded the Kings of Israel not to do so (Deuteronomy 17:17) and Jesus encouraged people to either remain single or marry as God originally intended: one man married to one woman (Matthew 19:3-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-13).
cor A cor is a dry measure of about 391 litres, 103 U. S. gallons, or 86 imperial gallons.
corban Corban is a Hebrew word for an offering devoted to God.
crucify Crucify means to execute someone by nailing them to a cross with metal spikes. Their hands are stretched out on the crossbeam with spikes driven through their wrists or hands. Their feet or ankles are attached to a cross with a metal spike. The weight of the victim’s body tends to force the air out of his lungs. To rise up to breathe, the victim has to put weight on the wounds, and use a lot of strength. The victim is nailed to the cross while the cross is on the ground, then the cross is raised up and dropped into a hole, thus jarring the wounds. Before crucifixion, the victim was usually whipped with a Roman cat of nine tails, which had bits of glass and metal tied to its ends. This caused chunks of flesh to be removed and open wounds to be placed against the raw wood of the cross. The victim was made to carry the heavy crossbeam of his cross from the place of judgement to the place of crucifixion, but often was physically unable after the scourging, so another person would be pressed into involuntary service to carry the cross for him. Roman crucifixion was generally done totally naked to maximize both shame and discomfort. Eventually, the pain, weakness, dehydration, and exhaustion of the muscles needed to breathe make breathing impossible, and the victim suffocates.
cubit A cubit is a unit of linear measure, from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger of a man. This unit is commonly converted to 0.46 metres or 18 inches, although that varies with height of the man doing the measurement. There is also a “long” cubit that is longer than a regular cubit by a handbreadth. (Ezekiel 43:13)
cummin Cummin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavour and appearance. It is used as a spice.
darnel Darnel is a weed grass (probably bearded darnel or Lolium temulentum) that looks very much like wheat until it is mature, when the seeds reveal a great difference. Darnel seeds aren’t good for much except as chicken feed or to burn to prevent the spread of this weed.
denarii denarii: plural form of denarius, a silver Roman coin worth about a day’s wages for a labourer.
denarius A denarius is a silver Roman coin worth about a day’s wages for an agricultural labourer. A denarius was worth 1/25th of a Roman aureus.
devil The word “devil” comes from the Greek “diabolos,” which means “one prone to slander; a liar.” “Devil” is used to refer to a fallen angel, also called “Satan,” who works to steal, kill, destroy, and do evil. The devil’s doom is certain, and it is only a matter of time before he is thrown into the Lake of Fire, never to escape.
didrachma A didrachma is a Greek silver coin worth 2 drachmas, about as much as 2 Roman denarii, or about 2 days wages. It was commonly used to pay the half-shekel temple tax.
disciple a student who follows a teacher to learn both by precept and example.
distaff part of a spinning wheel used for twisting threads.
drachma A drachma is a Greek silver coin worth about one Roman denarius, or about a day’s wages for an agricultural labourer.
El-Elohe-Israel El-Elohe-Israel means “God, the God of Israel” or “The God of Israel is mighty.”
ephah An ephah is a measure of volume of about 22 litres, 5.8 U. S. gallons, 4.8 imperial gallons, or a bit more than half a bushel.
Gehenna Gehenna is one word used for Hell. It comes from the Hebrew Gey-Hinnom, literally “valley of Hinnom.” This word originated as the name for a place south of the old city of Jerusalem where the city’s rubbish was burnt. At one time, live babies were thrown crying into the fire under the arms of the idol, Moloch, to die there. This place was so despised by the people after the righteous King Josiah abolished this hideous practise that it was made into a garbage heap. Bodies of diseased animals and executed criminals were thrown there and burnt.
gittith Gittith is a musical term possibly meaning “an instrument of Gath.”
goad a sharp, pointed prodding device used to motivate reluctant animals (such as oxen and mules) to move in the right direction.
gospel Gospel means “good news” or “glad tidings,” specifically the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for our salvation, healing, and provision; and the hope of eternal life that Jesus made available to us by God’s grace.
Hades Hades: The nether realm of the disembodied spirits. Also known as “hell.” See also “Sheol”.
Har-magedon Har-magedon, also called Armegeddon, is most likely a reference to hill (“har”) of Megiddo, near the Carmel Range in Israel. This area has a large valley plain with plenty of room for armies to maneuver.
hin A hin is a measure of volume of about about 6.5 litres or 1.7 gallons.
homer One homer is about 220 litres, 6.2 U. S. bushels, 6.1 imperial bushels, 58 U. S. gallons, or 48.4 imperial gallons.
hypocrite a stage actor; someone who pretends to be someone other than who they really are; a pretender; a dissembler
Ishmael Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar. Ishmael literally means, “God hears.”
Jehovah See “Yahweh.”
Jesus “Jesus” is Greek for the Hebrew name “Yeshua,” which is a short version of “Yehoshua,” which comes from “Yoshia,” which means “He will save.”
kodrantes A kodrantes is a small coin worth one half of an Attic chalcus or two lepta. It is worth less than 2% of a day’s wages for an agricultural labourer.
lepta Lepta are very small, brass, Jewish coins worth half a Roman quadrans each, which is worth a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker’s daily wages.
leviathan Leviathan is a poetic name for a large aquatic creature, possibly a crocodile or a dinosaur.
mahalath Mahalath is the name of a tune or a musical term.
manna Name for the food that God miraculously provided to the Israelites while they were wandering in the wilderness between Egypt and the promised land. From Hebrew man-hu (What is that?) or manan (to allot). See Exodus 16:14-35.
marriage the union of a husband and a wife for the purpose of cohabitation, procreation, and to enjoy each other’s company. God’s plan for marriage is between one man and one woman (Mark 10:6-9; 1 Corinthians 7). Although there are many cases of a man marrying more than one woman in the Old Testament, being married to one wife is a requirement to serve in certain church leadership positions (1 Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:5-6).
maschil Maschil is a musical and literary term
