Terminology: [h=1]Holman Bible Dictionary[/h][h=2]Abba[/h](ab' buh) is the Aramaic word for “father” used by Jesus to speak of His own intimate relationship with God, a relationship that others can enter through faith.Old Testament Although abba does not occur in the Old Testament, its Hebrew associate ab occurs frequently. Ab usually refers to a human father. On occasion the Old Testament speaks of God in the role of Father to Israel ( Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 45:9-11;Malachi 2:10 ) or to Israel's king (2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm 2:7; Psalm 89:26-27 ).
New Testament The idea of God's intimate relationship to humanity is a distinct feature of Jesus' teaching. God relates to believers as a father relates to his child. Some would translate Abba as “Daddy” to convey the close, personal meaning of the world. Even when “Father” in the New Testament translates the more formal Greek word pater, the idea ofabba is certainly in the background. Jesus addressed God as Abba in prayer ( Mark 14:36 ) and taught His disciples to pray in the same terms (Luke 11:1-2 ). Jesus' claim of intimate relationship with God offended many of His opponents because they considered Abba to be overly familiar in addressing God. But Jesus' usage established the pattern for the church's view of God and each believer's relationship with Him. Paul used Abba to describe God's adoption of believers as His children ( Romans 8:15 ) and the change in the believer's status with God that results (Galatians 4:6-7 ).
[h=2]Amen[/h]is a transliteration of a Hebrew word signifying something as certain, sure and valid, truthful and faithful. It is sometimes translated, “so be it.” In the Old Testament it is used to show the acceptance of the validity of a curse or an oath (Numbers 5:22; Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Jeremiah 11:5 ), to indicate acceptance of a good message (Jeremiah 28:6 ), and to join in a doxology in a worship setting to affirm what has been said or prayed (1 Chronicles 16:36; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 106:48 ). “Amen” may confirm what already is, or it may indicate a hope for something desired. In Jewish prayer, “amen” comes at the end as an affirmative response to a statement or wish made by others, and is so used in the New Testament epistles (Romans 1:25; Romans 11:36; Romans 15:33; 1 Corinthians 16:24; Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:20 ). Paul ended some of his letters with “amen” (1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18 ).In the gospels, Jesus used “amen” to affirm the truth of His own statements. English translations often use “verily,” “truly,” “I tell you the truth” to translate Jesus' amen. He never said it at the end of a statement, but always at the beginning: “Amen, I say to you” (Matthew 5:18; Matthew 16:28; Mark 8:12; Mark 11:23; Luke 4:24; Luke 21:32;John 1:51; John 5:19 ). In John's Gospel, Jesus said “Amen, amen.” That Jesus prefaced His own words with “amen” is especially important, for He affirmed that the kingdom of God is bound up with His own person and emphasized the authority of what He said.
Jesus is called “The Amen” in Revelation 3:14 , meaning that He Himself is the reliable and true witness of God. Perhaps the writer had in mind Isaiah 65:16 where the Hebrew says “God of Amen.”
[h=2]El[/h](ehl) One of several words for God found in biblical Hebrew and the name of the high god among the Canaanites. The word is common to Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic, yet the origin and root from which the word was derived is obscure. “El” is a general term that expresses majesty or power.Biblical Usage “El” occurs 238 times in the Old Testament, most frequently in Psalms and Job. The normal biblical usage is as a simple noun for deity. “El” is a synonym for the more frequent noun for God: Elohim. “El” refers to the God of Israel and in other passages to one of the pagan gods. In some instances, qualifying words are associated with “El” in order to distinguish which god is being addressed. Exodus 34:14 is an example of the expression “other god”; Psalm 44:20 and Psalm 81:9 are translated “strange god.”
“El” was frequently combined with nouns or adjectives to express the name for God with reference to particular attributes or characteristics of His being. El Shaddai, “God Almighty,” appears in Genesis 17:1 . El-elohe-Israel, in Genesis 33:20 , was used to distinguish the God of Israel from all others. El Elyon, inGenesis 14:18 and Psalm 78:35 , was written to suggest the exalted nature of God. El Gibbor (Isaiah 9:6;Jeremiah 32:18 ) has been interpreted as a portrayal of God as a mighty warrior. El Roi, the God who sees, is found only in Genesis 16:13 . See Canaan.
[h=2]El-Elohe-Israel[/h](ehl-ihl oh'-ihss' ray ehl) Divine name meaning, “God, the God of Israel.” The name Jacob gave altar he set up in land he bought near Shechem (Genesis 33:20 ). See Patriarchs.
[h=2]El-Berith[/h](el-behr' ihth) Name of god meaning, “god of the covenant.” A god worshiped in a temple at Shechem. It had a stronghold or citadel guarding it. There the citizens of Shechem sought protection when Abimelech attacked them, but Abimelech set the citadel on fire (Judges 9:46-49 ). KJV translates “god Berith.
[h=2]
[/h][h=2]El-Bethel[/h](ehl-behth' uhl) Place name meaning, “god of the house of El (god).” Either Bethel or place in or near Bethel, where Jacob built an altar to God as memorial to his previous visit to Bethel, when he had seen a vision of God (Genesis 35:7; compare Genesis 28:10-19 ). Apparently the name used for God was used as a place name. See God of the Fathers .
Strong's Concordance
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: nephesh
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-fesh)
Short Definition: soul[h=2]Rapha[/h](ray'fuh) Personal name meaning, “He has healed.” 1. Fifth son of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:2 ). The parallel in Genesis 46:21 gives the name Naaman. 2. KJV form of Raphah ( 1 Chronicles 8:37 ).
[h=2]Reverence[/h]Respect or honor paid to a worthy object. In Scripture, reverence is paid: to father and mother (Leviticus 19:3; Hebrews 12:9 ); to God (1Kings 18:3,1 Kings 18:12; Hebrews 12:28 ); to God's sanctuary (Leviticus 19:30; Leviticus 26:2 ); and to God's commandments (Psalm 119:48 ). The failure to revere God (Deuteronomy 32:51 ) and the act of revering other gods (Judges 6:10 ) have dire consequences. Reverence for Christ is expressed in mutual submission within the Christian community (Ephesians 5:21 ). Christian persecution takes on new meaning as suffering becomes an opportunity for revering Christ (1 Peter 3:14-15 ).
Strong's Concordance
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ruach
Phonetic Spelling: (roo'-akh)
Short Definition: spirit
New Testament The idea of God's intimate relationship to humanity is a distinct feature of Jesus' teaching. God relates to believers as a father relates to his child. Some would translate Abba as “Daddy” to convey the close, personal meaning of the world. Even when “Father” in the New Testament translates the more formal Greek word pater, the idea ofabba is certainly in the background. Jesus addressed God as Abba in prayer ( Mark 14:36 ) and taught His disciples to pray in the same terms (Luke 11:1-2 ). Jesus' claim of intimate relationship with God offended many of His opponents because they considered Abba to be overly familiar in addressing God. But Jesus' usage established the pattern for the church's view of God and each believer's relationship with Him. Paul used Abba to describe God's adoption of believers as His children ( Romans 8:15 ) and the change in the believer's status with God that results (Galatians 4:6-7 ).
[h=2]Amen[/h]is a transliteration of a Hebrew word signifying something as certain, sure and valid, truthful and faithful. It is sometimes translated, “so be it.” In the Old Testament it is used to show the acceptance of the validity of a curse or an oath (Numbers 5:22; Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Jeremiah 11:5 ), to indicate acceptance of a good message (Jeremiah 28:6 ), and to join in a doxology in a worship setting to affirm what has been said or prayed (1 Chronicles 16:36; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 106:48 ). “Amen” may confirm what already is, or it may indicate a hope for something desired. In Jewish prayer, “amen” comes at the end as an affirmative response to a statement or wish made by others, and is so used in the New Testament epistles (Romans 1:25; Romans 11:36; Romans 15:33; 1 Corinthians 16:24; Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:20 ). Paul ended some of his letters with “amen” (1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18 ).In the gospels, Jesus used “amen” to affirm the truth of His own statements. English translations often use “verily,” “truly,” “I tell you the truth” to translate Jesus' amen. He never said it at the end of a statement, but always at the beginning: “Amen, I say to you” (Matthew 5:18; Matthew 16:28; Mark 8:12; Mark 11:23; Luke 4:24; Luke 21:32;John 1:51; John 5:19 ). In John's Gospel, Jesus said “Amen, amen.” That Jesus prefaced His own words with “amen” is especially important, for He affirmed that the kingdom of God is bound up with His own person and emphasized the authority of what He said.
Jesus is called “The Amen” in Revelation 3:14 , meaning that He Himself is the reliable and true witness of God. Perhaps the writer had in mind Isaiah 65:16 where the Hebrew says “God of Amen.”
Roger L. Omanson
[h=2]El[/h](ehl) One of several words for God found in biblical Hebrew and the name of the high god among the Canaanites. The word is common to Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic, yet the origin and root from which the word was derived is obscure. “El” is a general term that expresses majesty or power.Biblical Usage “El” occurs 238 times in the Old Testament, most frequently in Psalms and Job. The normal biblical usage is as a simple noun for deity. “El” is a synonym for the more frequent noun for God: Elohim. “El” refers to the God of Israel and in other passages to one of the pagan gods. In some instances, qualifying words are associated with “El” in order to distinguish which god is being addressed. Exodus 34:14 is an example of the expression “other god”; Psalm 44:20 and Psalm 81:9 are translated “strange god.”
“El” was frequently combined with nouns or adjectives to express the name for God with reference to particular attributes or characteristics of His being. El Shaddai, “God Almighty,” appears in Genesis 17:1 . El-elohe-Israel, in Genesis 33:20 , was used to distinguish the God of Israel from all others. El Elyon, inGenesis 14:18 and Psalm 78:35 , was written to suggest the exalted nature of God. El Gibbor (Isaiah 9:6;Jeremiah 32:18 ) has been interpreted as a portrayal of God as a mighty warrior. El Roi, the God who sees, is found only in Genesis 16:13 . See Canaan.
[h=2]El-Elohe-Israel[/h](ehl-ihl oh'-ihss' ray ehl) Divine name meaning, “God, the God of Israel.” The name Jacob gave altar he set up in land he bought near Shechem (Genesis 33:20 ). See Patriarchs.
[h=2]El-Berith[/h](el-behr' ihth) Name of god meaning, “god of the covenant.” A god worshiped in a temple at Shechem. It had a stronghold or citadel guarding it. There the citizens of Shechem sought protection when Abimelech attacked them, but Abimelech set the citadel on fire (Judges 9:46-49 ). KJV translates “god Berith.
[h=2]
[/h][h=2]El-Bethel[/h](ehl-behth' uhl) Place name meaning, “god of the house of El (god).” Either Bethel or place in or near Bethel, where Jacob built an altar to God as memorial to his previous visit to Bethel, when he had seen a vision of God (Genesis 35:7; compare Genesis 28:10-19 ). Apparently the name used for God was used as a place name. See God of the Fathers .
Strong's Concordance
nephesh: a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion
Original Word: נָ֫פֶשׁPart of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: nephesh
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-fesh)
Short Definition: soul[h=2]Rapha[/h](ray'fuh) Personal name meaning, “He has healed.” 1. Fifth son of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:2 ). The parallel in Genesis 46:21 gives the name Naaman. 2. KJV form of Raphah ( 1 Chronicles 8:37 ).
[h=2]Reverence[/h]Respect or honor paid to a worthy object. In Scripture, reverence is paid: to father and mother (Leviticus 19:3; Hebrews 12:9 ); to God (1Kings 18:3,1 Kings 18:12; Hebrews 12:28 ); to God's sanctuary (Leviticus 19:30; Leviticus 26:2 ); and to God's commandments (Psalm 119:48 ). The failure to revere God (Deuteronomy 32:51 ) and the act of revering other gods (Judges 6:10 ) have dire consequences. Reverence for Christ is expressed in mutual submission within the Christian community (Ephesians 5:21 ). Christian persecution takes on new meaning as suffering becomes an opportunity for revering Christ (1 Peter 3:14-15 ).
Strong's Concordance
ruach: breath, wind, spirit
Original Word: ר֫וּחַPart of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ruach
Phonetic Spelling: (roo'-akh)
Short Definition: spirit
