michtam A michtam is a poem.
mina A mina is a Greek coin worth 100 Greek drachmas (or 100 Roman denarii), or about 100 day’s wages for an agricultural labourer.
myrrh Myrrh is the fragrant substance that oozes out of the stems and branches of the low, shrubby tree commiphora myrrha or commiphora kataf native to the Arabian deserts and parts of Africa. The fragrant gum drops to the ground and hardens into an oily yellowish-brown resin. Myrrh was highly valued as a perfume, and as an ingredient in medicinal and ceremonial ointments.
Nicolaitans Nicolaitans were most likely Gnostics who taught the detestable lie that the physical and spiritual realms were entirely separate and that immorality in the physical realm wouldn’t harm your spiritual health.
omega Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. It is sometimes used to mean the last or the end.
Peniel Peniel is Hebrew for “face of God.”
phylactery a leather container for holding a small scroll containing important Scripture passages that is worn on the arm or forehead in prayer. These phylacteries (tefillin in Hebrew) are still used by orthodox Jewish men. See Deuteronomy 6:8.
Praetorium Praetorium: the Roman governor’s residence and office building, and those who work there.
quadrans A quadrans is a Roman coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius is about one day’s wages for an agricultural labourer.
rabbi Rabbi is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “my teacher,” used as a title of respect for Jewish teachers.
Rahab Rahab is either (1) The prostitute who hid Joshua’s 2 spies in Jericho (Joshua 2,6) and later became an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) and an example of faith (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25); or (2) Literally, “pride” or “arrogance” —possibly a reference to a large aquatic creature (Job 9:13; 26:12; Isaiah 51:9) or symbolically referring to Egypt (Psalms 87:4; 89:10; Isaiah 30:7).
repent to change one’s mind; turn away from sin and turn towards God; to abhor one’s past sins and determine to follow God.
Rhabboni Rhabboni: a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “great teacher.”
Sabbath The seventh day of the week, set aside by God for man to rest.
saints The Greek word for “saints” literally means “holy ones.” Saints are people set apart for service to God as holy and separate, living in righteousness. Used in the Bible to refer to all Christians and to all of those who worship Yahweh in Old Testament times.
Samaritan A Samaritan is a resident of Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jews generally detested each other during the time that Jesus walked amongst us.
sanctify To declare or set apart something as holy. To purify and separate a person from sin.
sata A sata is a dry measure of capacity approximately equal to 13 litres or 1.5 pecks.
Satan Satan means “accuser.” This is one name for the devil, an enemy of God and God’s people.
scribe A scribe is one who copies God’s law. They were often respected as teachers and authorities on God’s law.
selah Selah is a musical term indicating a pause or instrumental interlude for reflection.
seraphim Seraphim are 6-winged angels. See Isaiah 6:2-6.
sexual immorality The term “sexual immorality” in the New Testament comes from the Greek “porneia,” which refers to any sexual activity besides that between a husband and his wife. In other words, prostitution (male or female), bestiality, homosexual activity, any sexual intercourse outside of marriage, and the production and consumption of pornography all are included in this term.
shekel A measure of weight, and when referring to that weight in gold, silver, or brass, of money. A shekel is approximately 16 grams, about a half an ounce, or 20 gerahs (Ezekiel 45:12).
Sheol Sheol is the place of the dead. See also “Hades”.
Shibah Shibah is Hebrew for “oath” or “seven.” See Beersheba.
shigionoth Victorious music.
soul “Soul” refers to the emotions and intellect of a living person, as well as that person’s very life. It is distinguished in the Bible from a person’s spirit and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12)
span A span is the length from the tip of a man’s thumb to the tip of his little finger when his hand is stretched out (about half a cubit, or 9 inches, or 22.8 cm.)
spirit Spirit, breath, and wind all derive from the same Hebrew and Greek words. A person’s spirit is the very essence of that person’s life, which comes from God, who is a Spirit being (John 4:24, Genesis 1:2; 2:7). The Bible distinguishes between a person’s spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12). Some beings may exist as spirits without necessarily having a visible body, such as angels and demons (Luke 9:39, 1 John 4:1-3).
stadia Stadia is plural for “stadion,” a linear measure of about 184.9 metres or 606.6 feet (the length of the race course at Olympia).
stater A stater is a Greek silver coin equivalent to four Attic or two Alexandrian drachmas, or a Jewish shekel: just exactly enough to cover the half-shekel Temple Tax for two people.
tabernacle a dwelling place or place of worship, usually a tent.
talent A measure of weight or mass of 3000 shekels.
Tartarus Tartarus is the Greek name for an underworld for the wicked dead; another name for Gehenna or Hell.
teraphim Teraphim are household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.
Yah “Yah” is a shortened form of “Yahweh,” which is God’s proper name. This form is used occasionally in the Old Testament, mostly in the Psalms. See “Yahweh.”
Yahweh “Yahweh” is God’s proper name. In Hebrew, the four consonants roughly equivalent to YHWH were considered too holy to pronounce, so the Hebrew word for “Lord” (Adonai) was substituted when reading it aloud. When vowel points were added to the Hebrew Old Testament, the vowel points for “Adonai” were mixed with the consonants for “Yahweh,” which if you pronounced it literally as written, would be pronounced “Yehovah” or “Jehovah.” When the Old Testament was translated to Greek, the tradition of substituting “Lord” for God’s proper name continued in the translation of God’s name to “Lord” (Kurios). Some English Bibles translate God’s proper name to “LORD” or “GOD” (usually with small capital letters), based on that same tradition. This can get really confusing, since two other words (“Adonai” and “Elohim”) translate to “Lord” and “God,” and they are sometimes used together. The ASV of 1901 (and some other translations) render YHWH as “Jehovah.” The most probable pronunciation of God’s proper name is “Yahweh.” In Hebrew, the name “Yahweh” is related to the active declaration “I AM.” See Exodus 3:13-14. Since Hebrew has no tenses, the declaration “I AM” can also be interpreted as “I WAS” and “I WILL BE.” Compare Revelation 1:8.
Zion Zion is a name which originally referred one of the mountains of Jerusalem. It became a term synonymous with Jerusalem itself. The term “Heavenly Zion” is also used to refer the future dwelling place of God’s people.
