Bible glossary

Key words of the Bible, with their original term and what they meant in their time, according to the biblical text itself.

Booths (Feast of)סֻכּוֹת / σκηνοπηγίαsukkot / skēnopēgia: A seven-day feast from the fifteenth day of the seventh month, at the end of the harvest. During it people lived in booths to remember that Israel lived in booths when it came out of Egypt (Leviticus 23:34, 39-43).; Leviticus 23:34 Leviticus 23:42 John 7:2
Circumcisionמוּל / περιτομήmul / peritomē: The cutting of the foreskin of males. Genesis 17:10-12 gives it to Abraham as the sign of the covenant, on the eighth day after birth; Leviticus 12:3 commands it for Israel. Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6 also speak of circumcising the heart.; Genesis 17:10 Leviticus 12:3 Deuteronomy 10:16 John 7:22
Cover of expiationכַּפֹּרֶת / ἱλαστήριονkapporet / hilastērion: The gold lid of the ark, with two cherubim on top (Exodus 25:17-22). From there YHWH spoke with Moses, and on it the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Expiation (Leviticus 16:14-15).; Exodus 25:17 Leviticus 16:14 Hebrews 9:5 Romans 3:25
Day of Expiation (Yom Kippur)יוֹם הַכִּפֻּרִיםyom hakkippurim: The tenth day of the seventh month: a day of rest and of “afflicting the soul,” on which the high priest went in behind the veil with blood to make expiation for the sanctuary, the priests and the people (Leviticus 16; 23:27-32).; Leviticus 23:27 Leviticus 23:28 Leviticus 25:9
Messiahמָשִׁיחַ / Χριστόςmashiach / Christos: “Anointed”: the one on whom oil was poured for an office. The Old Testament says it of the king (1 Samuel 24:6), of the priest (Leviticus 4:3) and of Cyrus, king of Persia (Isaiah 45:1). In this translation ὁ Χριστός is “the Messiah”; John 1:41 gives both words.; 1 Samuel 24:6 Leviticus 4:3 Isaiah 45:1 John 1:41
Naziriteנָזִירnazir: One who made a vow to consecrate himself to YHWH for a time: he did not drink wine or intoxicating drink, did not cut his hair and did not touch the dead; at the end he shaved his head and presented offerings (Numbers 6:1-21). Samson was one from his mother’s womb (Judges 13:5). It has no relation to “Nazarene.”; Numbers 6:2 Numbers 6:18 Judges 13:5
Covenantבְּרִית / διαθήκηberit / diathēkē: A solemn commitment between two parties, with obligations and often with an oath, sacrifice or sign. God makes a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:18; 17:10) and with Israel at Sinai, sealed with blood (Exodus 24:8); Jeremiah announces a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31). In Hebrews 9:16-17 the Greek word is used in the sense of “testament.”; Genesis 15:18 Genesis 17:10 Exodus 24:8 Jeremiah 31:31 Hebrews 9:20
Passoverפֶּסַח / πάσχαpesach / pascha: Name of the feast of the fourteenth day of the first month and of the animal that was sacrificed at it (Exodus 12:6, 21). Exodus 12:27 explains it with the verb pasach, “pass over”: YHWH passed over the houses of the Israelites. On the following day the seven days of unleavened bread began (Leviticus 23:5-6).; Exodus 12:11 Exodus 12:21 Exodus 12:27 Leviticus 23:5 1 Corinthians 5:7
Firstbornבְּכוֹר / πρωτότοκοςbechor / prōtotokos: The first male child. According to the law he belonged to YHWH and was redeemed (Exodus 13:2, 13), and he received a double portion of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17). The New Testament calls Jesus “firstborn” (Luke 2:7; Colossians 1:15).; Exodus 13:2 Exodus 13:13 Deuteronomy 21:17 Luke 2:7 Colossians 1:15
Cherubכְּרוּב / Χερούβkerub / Cheroub: A winged being that the Bible places beside the presence of God. Cherubim guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24); two of gold covered the cover of expiation with their wings (Exodus 25:18-20); Ezekiel describes them with four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 10:14, 20-21).; Genesis 3:24 Exodus 25:18 Ezekiel 10:20 Hebrews 9:5
Redeemer (kinsman-redeemer)גֹּאֵלgo'el: The nearest relative, to whom it fell to redeem the land that a family member had sold because of poverty (Leviticus 25:25). In Ruth, the redeemer acquires the field and takes the widow to raise up the name of the dead man (Ruth 4:5-10). The Old Testament also calls YHWH the “Redeemer” of Israel (Isaiah 41:14).; Leviticus 25:25 Ruth 3:9 Ruth 4:6 Job 19:25 Isaiah 41:14
Sabbathשַׁבָּת / σάββατονshabat / sabbaton: The seventh day of the week, a day of rest: Exodus 20:8-11 grounds it in the rest of Elohim after the creation, and Deuteronomy 5:12-15 in the going out from Egypt. It began at nightfall (Leviticus 23:32). This translation says “Sabbath.”; Exodus 20:8 Exodus 20:10 Deuteronomy 5:12 Leviticus 23:32 Matthew 12:5

Threads through the Bible