Words · Meanings · Passages
Bible Glossary — Meanings of Bible Words
Clear explanations of the words you meet in the Bible, each grounded in the passages where they are used. Where a meaning depends on interpretation, we say so.
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160 words
A
- AbbaAn Aramaic word for "father", used by Jesus in prayer in Gethsemane and by Paul for believers calling on God.
- AdoptionTaking someone into a family as a son or daughter. Paul uses adoption to describe believers becoming God's children, with the right…
- Agape (love)A Greek word for love, used often in the New Testament for God's love and the love believers are to show.
- AltarA raised place for offering sacrifices or incense to God. Noah, Abraham and others built altars; the tabernacle and temple had an…
- Amen"So be it" or "truly". A Hebrew word used to agree with a prayer or blessing, and by Jesus to begin solemn…
- AngelA messenger. In the Bible angels are spiritual beings sent by God with messages or help; the same word can also mean…
- AnointingPouring or rubbing oil on someone. In the Bible it set apart kings, priests and sometimes prophets; it was also used for…
- ApostleSomeone sent with a message. Jesus chose twelve apostles; Paul and a few others are also called apostles in the New Testament.
- Ark (Noah's)The large wooden vessel God told Noah to build to keep his family and the animals alive through the flood.
- Ark of the covenantA gold-covered wooden chest kept in the most holy place, holding the tablets of the covenant. It represented God's presence and throne…
- AscensionJesus' going up into heaven forty days after his resurrection, as his disciples watched.
- AtonementMaking things right between God and people by dealing with sin. In Israel atonement was made through sacrifices, especially on the Day…
B
- BaptismWashing or immersing in water as a sign. John baptized people who repented; Jesus was baptized by John; Jesus told his followers…
- BeatitudeA blessing saying that begins "Blessed are...". The best known are Jesus' Beatitudes at the start of the Sermon on the Mount.
- BethlehemA town in Judah near Jerusalem: home of Ruth and Boaz, birthplace of David, and the birthplace of Jesus.
- BirthrightThe special rights of the firstborn son in a family, including a larger share of the inheritance.
- BlessingGod's gift of good, or words that call down God's good on someone. People also "bless" God when they praise him.
- Burnt offeringA sacrifice wholly burned on the altar, given entirely to God. It was the most common sacrifice in Israel's worship.
C
- CenturionA Roman army officer in charge of about a hundred soldiers. Several centurions in the Gospels and Acts are remembered for their…
- ChurchIn the New Testament, the gathered community of Jesus' followers, not a building. The Greek word means an assembly.
- CircumcisionThe removal of the foreskin, given to Abraham as the sign of the covenant. The New Testament debates whether Gentile believers must…
- Council (Sanhedrin)The Jewish ruling council in Jerusalem in New Testament times, led by the high priest. Jesus, Peter and John, Stephen and Paul…
- CovenantA binding relationship with promises and obligations, made by solemn commitment. In the Bible God makes covenants with Noah, Abraham, Israel at…
- CrossThe wooden structure on which the Romans executed people by crucifixion. Jesus died on a cross, and "the cross" came to stand…
- CubitA unit of length based on the forearm, from elbow to fingertip, roughly 45 centimetres (about 18 inches). Noah's ark and the…
D
- Day of AtonementIsrael's most solemn yearly day, when the high priest entered the most holy place to make atonement for the whole nation, and…
- Deacon (servant)A servant or helper. The Greek word is used for serving in general, and for a recognised role of service in the…
- DenariusA Roman silver coin. In Jesus' parable a vineyard owner pays workers a denarius for a day's work; Caesar's image was on…
- DiscipleA learner or follower. In the Gospels Jesus' disciples follow him, learn from him and are sent out; the word includes more…
- DrachmaA Greek silver coin. In Jesus' parable a woman searches her house for one lost drachma and rejoices when she finds it.
E
- Ekklesia (assembly)Greek for an assembly of people called together. The New Testament uses it for the gathered followers of Jesus, translated "church" or…
- ElderAn older, respected leader. Israel's towns had elders; the early church appointed elders to lead and care for congregations.
- EphahA dry measure for grain, roughly 20 litres by common estimates. Ruth gleaned about an ephah of barley in one day.
- EphodA priestly garment like an apron or vest. The high priest's ephod held the breastpiece with the names of Israel's tribes; simpler…
- Epistle (letter)A letter. Twenty-one New Testament books are letters, mostly from Paul, written to churches and individuals.
- Eternal lifeLife without end, the life of the age to come, which the New Testament says God gives through Jesus. John's Gospel also…
- EvangelistSomeone who tells the good news. Philip is called "the evangelist" in Acts, and Paul tells Timothy to "do the work of…
F
- FaithTrust in God, believing what he says and relying on him. In the Bible faith is shown in action: Abraham leaves home,…
- FamineA long time when there is not enough food, often because rain has failed or crops have been destroyed.
- FastingGoing without food for a time, usually to pray, mourn or seek God. The Bible records fasts by individuals and whole communities.
- Fear of the LORDReverent awe of God that leads to trust and obedience. Proverbs calls it the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
- Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)An autumn harvest festival when Israel lived in shelters for seven days to remember living in tents in the wilderness.
- FirstbornThe first child born, usually the first son, who had special rights and duties in the family. God claimed Israel's firstborn after…
- FirstfruitsThe first and best of a harvest, offered to God in thanks. Paul calls the risen Christ the firstfruits of those who…
- ForgivenessReleasing someone from what they owe because of a wrong: cancelling the debt. God forgives sin, and Jesus taught his followers to…
- FurnaceA very hot oven or kiln used for melting metal or firing bricks; in Daniel, a blazing furnace used as a punishment.
G
- GalileeThe northern region of Israel, around the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus grew up in Nazareth and did much of his teaching.
- GenealogyA record of descent: who was the father or mother of whom. The Bible's genealogies trace families, tribes and the line to…
- GentileA person who is not Jewish; "the nations". The Bible promises blessing to all nations through Abraham, and Acts tells how Gentiles…
- GlorySplendour, honour and weight. The glory of God is his visible presence and greatness; to glorify God is to honour him.
- Gospel (Good News)"Good news". In the New Testament the good news is the message about Jesus and the kingdom of God; the four accounts…
- GraceFavour that is given, not earned. In the Bible grace describes God's kindness and help to people who do not deserve it,…
H
- HadesThe Greek word for the realm of the dead, used in the New Testament and in the Greek Old Testament where Hebrew…
- HallelujahA Hebrew call to praise: "Praise Yah!" (Yah is a short form of God's name). Many psalms begin or end with it,…
- HeavenThe sky above, and the place of God's throne. The Bible uses "heaven" for both, and also speaks of a new heaven…
- Hesed (loving kindness)A Hebrew word for loyal, committed love and kindness, especially God's faithful love to his people. English versions translate it many ways.
- High priestThe chief priest of Israel, who alone entered the most holy place once a year on the Day of Atonement. Aaron was…
- HolinessBeing set apart and pure. God is holy, wholly other and morally perfect, and he calls his people, places and things to…
- Holy SpiritThe Spirit of God. The Bible shows the Spirit at creation, empowering prophets and leaders, and in the New Testament given to…
- HopeConfident expectation of good from God. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but trust that God will keep his promises.
- HosannaA Hebrew cry meaning "Save, please!", which became a shout of praise. The crowds shouted it when Jesus rode into Jerusalem.
I
- IdolAn image or object worshipped as a god. The Bible forbids making idols and shows the prophets mocking gods that cannot see…
- IncenseSpices burned to make a sweet-smelling smoke. Priests burned incense daily in the holy place; the Bible links it with prayer.
- InheritanceWhat is passed down to an heir. In Israel each tribe and family received land as an inheritance; the New Testament speaks…
J
- JerusalemThe city David made his capital, where the temple stood. Jesus was crucified and rose there, and the church began there at…
- Jordan RiverThe river running from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Israel crossed it into the land, Naaman washed in it,…
- JubileeEvery fiftieth year in Israel's law, when land returned to its original families and Israelites in servitude were freed.
- JudgeIn the book of Judges, a leader whom God raised up to deliver Israel and lead it. More generally, someone who decides…
- JudgmentA decision about what is right or wrong, and its consequences. The Bible speaks of judges deciding cases, of God judging the…
- JustificationBeing declared righteous, in the right before God. Paul teaches that people are justified by faith in Christ, not by works of…
K
- KingA ruler of a nation. Israel's first kings were Saul, David and Solomon; the Bible also calls God the true King and…
- Kingdom of GodGod's rule as king. Jesus began his preaching by announcing that the kingdom of God was near, and many of his parables…
- Koinonia (fellowship)Greek for sharing, partnership or fellowship: having something in common. The first believers devoted themselves to it.
L
- LamentA prayer or song of grief, complaint or distress brought honestly to God. About a third of the psalms are laments.
- LampstandThe seven-branched gold lampstand in the holy place of the tabernacle, whose lamps the priests kept burning.
- Law (Torah)God's instruction. "The law" can mean the commands given through Moses, the first five books of the Bible, or God's instruction more…
- Laying on of handsPlacing hands on a person to bless, heal, commission or pray. It appears in both Testaments.
- Leprosy (skin disease)In the Bible, a range of serious skin diseases, and even mould in fabric or walls, that made a person ritually unclean.…
- Lepton (small coin)The smallest coin in circulation in Jesus' time. The poor widow put two of them in the temple treasury.
- LeviteA member of the tribe of Levi. Levites served at the tabernacle and temple; only Aaron's descendants among them were priests.
- Logos (Word)Greek for "word", "message" or "account". John's Gospel calls Jesus "the Word" who was with God and was God, and became flesh.
- Lord's Supper (Communion)The meal of bread and cup that Jesus shared with his disciples the night before he died, telling them to do it…
- LoveFaithful care and commitment to another's good. The Bible says God is love; Jesus summed up the law as loving God and…
M
- MangerA feeding trough for animals. Mary laid the newborn Jesus in one because there was no room for them in the inn.
- MannaThe bread-like food God gave Israel each morning in the wilderness for forty years. Its name comes from the people asking "What…
- MercyCompassion and kindness shown to someone in need or who deserves punishment. God is described as merciful, and his people are called…
- Messiah"Anointed one". In the Old Testament kings and priests were anointed; the prophets looked forward to a coming king from David's line.…
- MinaA unit of weight or money between the shekel and the talent; in Jesus' parable of the ten servants each receives a…
- Miracle (sign)An extraordinary act of God beyond normal events, often called a "sign" or "wonder" in the Bible because it points to God's…
- Most holy placeThe innermost room of the tabernacle and temple, where the ark of the covenant was kept. Only the high priest entered, once…
- Mount SinaiThe mountain in the wilderness where God gave Moses the law and made his covenant with Israel. Also called Horeb.
N
- NazarethA village in Galilee where Mary and Joseph lived and where Jesus grew up; he was called Jesus of Nazareth.
- NaziriteSomeone under a special vow of dedication to God: no wine or grapes, no haircut and no contact with the dead. Samson…
- Nephesh (soul, life)A Hebrew word for life, living being, self or soul. It describes the whole living person, not only an inner part.
O
P
- ParableA short story or comparison from everyday life that teaches about God and his kingdom. Jesus taught often in parables.
- Parakletos (Helper)Greek for one called alongside to help, advocate or comfort. Jesus uses it for the Holy Spirit; 1 John uses it of…
- PassoverThe festival remembering the night God brought Israel out of Egypt, when the plague passed over houses marked with a lamb's blood.
- PeaceWholeness and well-being, not only the absence of conflict. In the Bible peace includes peace with God, between people, and inner calm.
- Pentecost (Feast of Weeks)The harvest festival seven weeks after Passover. On this feast the Holy Spirit came on the disciples in Jerusalem.
- PharaohThe title of the kings of ancient Egypt. Several different pharaohs appear in the Bible.
- PhariseeA member of a Jewish group in Jesus' time devoted to careful keeping of the law and its traditions. Jesus often debated…
- PlagueA disaster or disease that strikes many people. In Exodus, the ten plagues were judgments God sent on Egypt.
- PrayerTalking with God: praising, thanking, confessing, asking and listening. The Bible is full of prayers and teaching about prayer.
- PriestSomeone who serves God on behalf of others, especially by offering sacrifices. In Israel priests came from Aaron's family in the tribe…
- PromiseA commitment to do something in the future. The Bible is built around God's promises: to Noah, to Abraham, to David, and…
- ProphecyA message from God spoken through a prophet. Prophecy in the Bible includes warnings, calls to return to God and promises about…
- ProphetSomeone who speaks God's message to others. Prophets in the Bible warned, encouraged and called people back to God; some also spoke…
- ProverbA short, memorable saying that teaches wisdom. The book of Proverbs collects many, mostly connected with Solomon.
- PsalmA song or poem of prayer and praise. The book of Psalms gathers 150 of them, used in Israel's worship and still…
Q
R
- ReconciliationBringing enemies or estranged people back into peace. Paul uses it for God reconciling people to himself through Christ, and believers are…
- RedemptionBuying back or setting free by paying a price. In Israel a relative could redeem family land or a family member; the…
- RepentanceTurning back to God: a change of mind and heart that turns away from sin and leads to a changed life.
- ResurrectionRising from the dead to life. The Gospels record that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day; the New Testament…
- RevelationMaking known what was hidden. In the Bible God reveals himself and his purposes; "Revelation" is also the name of the last…
- RighteousnessBeing right: doing what is right and being in a right relationship with God and others. It describes God's own character, the…
- Ruach (spirit, wind, breath)A Hebrew word that can mean wind, breath or spirit, depending on the context, including the Spirit of God.
S
- SabbathThe seventh day, a day of rest set apart for God. It recalls God resting after creation and Israel's freedom from slavery.
- Sabbath day's journeyThe distance a person could walk on the Sabbath under Jewish tradition. Acts says the Mount of Olives was a Sabbath day's…
- SackclothRough, dark cloth, often of goat hair, worn as a sign of mourning or repentance, sometimes with ashes.
- SacrificeSomething offered to God, often an animal or food, given at an altar. The law describes several kinds of sacrifices; the New…
- SadduceeA member of a Jewish group connected with the priestly leadership in Jesus' time. The Gospels and Acts say the Sadducees did…
- SalvationBeing rescued or delivered. The Bible uses it for rescue from enemies and danger, and above all for God's rescue of people…
- SamariaThe capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, founded by King Omri, and later the name of the central region between Galilee…
- SamaritanSomeone from Samaria. In Jesus' time Jews and Samaritans were divided; Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan and spoke with…
- SanctificationBeing made holy, set apart for God. The Bible speaks of it both as something God has done for his people and…
- Satan"The adversary" or accuser. Satan opposes God and tempts people; in the Gospels he tempts Jesus in the wilderness and is defeated.
- ScribeA writer and teacher of the law. Ezra was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses; in the Gospels scribes are…
- SelahA Hebrew word found 71 times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. Its meaning is uncertain; it is often thought…
- ShalomHebrew for peace, wholeness and well-being. It describes things being as they should be: health, safety, right relationships and harmony.
- ShekelA unit of weight, used especially for silver, roughly 11 grams. Before coins, payments were weighed out in shekels.
- SheolA Hebrew word for the place or realm of the dead, often translated "the grave", "the pit" or left as "Sheol".
- ShepherdSomeone who cares for sheep. The Bible uses it literally and as a picture of God's care and of leaders' responsibility.
- SinWrongdoing against God and others: breaking God's commands, missing the mark, rebelling. The Bible traces sin from Genesis 3 and presents God's…
- SlingA simple weapon made of a pouch and two cords, used to whirl and throw a stone with great force. Shepherds used…
- Son of ManA phrase meaning "a human being", used of the prophet Ezekiel; in Daniel's vision a "son of man" receives an everlasting kingdom.…
- SpanThe width of a spread hand, from thumb tip to little finger tip, about half a cubit (roughly 22 centimetres).
- Stadion (furlong)A Greek measure of distance, about 185 metres. John says the disciples had rowed twenty-five or thirty stadia when they saw Jesus…
- SynagogueA Jewish meeting place for reading Scripture, prayer and teaching. Jesus and Paul taught in synagogues.
T
- TabernacleThe portable tent sanctuary Israel built in the wilderness, where God's presence dwelt among them. Also called the tent of meeting.
- TalentThe largest biblical unit of weight, used for gold and silver: a very large sum. In Jesus' parables talents stand for great…
- Tax collectorSomeone who collected taxes for the Roman authorities or their rulers. Tax collectors were widely despised; Jesus ate with them and called…
- TempleThe house of God in Jerusalem. Solomon built the first temple; it was destroyed and rebuilt after the exile, and that second…
- The LORD (God's name)God's personal name revealed to Moses, written with four Hebrew letters (YHWH). Many English Bibles print it as "the LORD" in small…
- TitheA tenth. Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth; the law set aside a tenth of produce for the Levites, the poor and festivals.
- TorahHebrew for instruction or teaching; the usual word translated "law". It also names the first five books of the Bible.
- TransfigurationThe event when Jesus' appearance was changed and shone with glory on a mountain before Peter, James and John, and Moses and…
- TribeA large family group descended from one ancestor. Israel's twelve tribes take their names from the sons of Jacob (with Joseph counted…
U
- Unleavened breadBread made without yeast. Israel left Egypt in haste with unleavened dough, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread followed Passover each year.
- Urim and ThummimObjects kept in the high priest's breastpiece and used to learn God's decision. Scripture does not describe what they looked like or…
V
W
- Watch of the nightA division of the night for guards. The Gospels mention the fourth watch, the last part of the night before dawn.
- WildernessDry, lightly inhabited land. In the Bible the wilderness is a place of testing and of God's provision: Israel wandered there forty…
- WisdomSkill in living well before God: knowing what is right and doing it. Proverbs says the fear of the LORD is its…
- Wise men (Magi)Learned visitors "from the east" who followed a star to find the child Jesus and worship him.
- WoeA cry of grief or warning: "Alas!" Prophets and Jesus used "woe" to announce coming trouble on injustice and hypocrisy.
- WorshipHonouring God as God: bowing down, praising, serving and offering him our lives. The Bible describes worship in songs, sacrifices, prayer and…
Z
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