Difference between revisions of "List of biblical words with uncertain meanings"

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This is a list of words that appear in various books of the [[Tanakh]] or [[New Testament]] whose meaning has been lost. Today, modern scholars can only guess at what these words originally meant. In many cases the word is unknown because it is used only a single time in all of antiquity. Sometimes scholars are lucky and the words use a known root, prefix, or suffix giving us a clue as to what they might. Despite having no known meaning, nearly all translations give them one, many without so much as even a foot note saying the word meaning is unknown.
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This is a list of words that appear in various books of the [[Tanakh]] or [[New Testament]] whose true meaning has been lost. Today, modern scholars can only guess at what these words originally meant. They are sometimes helped because the words use a known root, prefix, or suffix giving us a clue as to what they might have meant, but many of the words in this list are unknown because they exist only a single time in all of antiquity.
  
I compiled this list for those believers who think that their scriptures are the inerrant word of their god. This list is evidence that, even if the bible were perfectly recorded, it wouldn't matter, because nobody can be certain of what it means.
+
Despite having no certain meaning, nearly every translator gives them one, often without even so much as a foot note saying the word meaning is uncertain. This is probably done because if readers saw just how many words are of uncertain origin, they would probably lose faith in their scriptures.
 +
 
 +
The reason I compiled this list is to give examples to those believers who think their scripture is the inerrant word of their god. This list is evidence that, even if the bible were perfectly recorded, it wouldn't matter, because nobody can be certain of what it means.
 +
 
 +
This list is far from complete, and, as I continue to research ancient writings, I will keep adding to the list.
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
| ''chabab'' || חבב || Deu 33:3 || H. 2245
 
| ''chabab'' || חבב || Deu 33:3 || H. 2245
| This is the only time this word is used in antiquity. It is almost always translated to "love," even though the actual Hebrew word for "love" is '''ahab'', which is used 15 times in [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] alone. The translation to "love" is a guess based on similarities with similar Semitic words, but the actual meaning is unknown.
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| This word is used only once in antiquity. It is almost always translated to "love," even though the actual Hebrew word for "love" is '''ahab'', which is used 15 times in [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] alone. The translation to "love" is a guess based on similarities with similar Semitic words, but the actual meaning is unknown.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''chabaqquq'' || חבקוק || Hab 1:1, Hab 3:1 || H. 2265
 
| ''chabaqquq'' || חבקוק || Hab 1:1, Hab 3:1 || H. 2265
| The [[Book of Habakkuk]] is so named because of headers which contain the word ''chabaqquq'' which is assumed to be a person's name. Scholars are uncertain of the word's etymology; if it has a Hebrew origin, it could be related to ''khavak'' which means "embrace," but if it has an Akkadian origin, it could be related to ''hambakuku'', a type of plant, but either is a guess.
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| The [[Book of Habakkuk]] is so named because two headers contain the word ''chabaqquq'' which is assumed to be a person's name. Scholars are uncertain of the word's etymology; if it has a Hebrew origin, it could be related to ''khavak'' which means "embrace," but if it has an Akkadian origin, it could be related to ''hambakuku'', a type of plant, but either is a guess.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''elqoshi'' || אלקשי || Nah 1:1 || H. 512
 
| ''elqoshi'' || אלקשי || Nah 1:1 || H. 512
| In [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]], the author ''Nahum'' is said to be of ''elqoshi'', which is usually translated as "Nahum the Elkoshite" (KJV, NIV), but sometimes "Nahum of Elkosh" (ESV, ISV). In both contexts, ''elqoshi'' is assumed to be the name of a city or possibly an ethnicity. The word itself is used only once in antiquity, so its definition cannot be definitively ascertained, but a hint is found with the Hebrew prefix ''el'' which means "god." The only translation I've ever found is "god the ensnarer," but it had no citation.
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| In [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]], the author ''Nahum'' is said to be of ''elqoshi'', which is usually translated as "Nahum the Elkoshite" (KJV, NIV), but sometimes "Nahum of Elkosh" (ESV, ISV). In both contexts, ''elqoshi'' is presumed to be a city or ethnicity. The word itself is used only once in antiquity, so its definition cannot be definitively ascertained, but a hint is found with the Hebrew prefix ''el'' which means "god." The only translation I've ever found is "god the ensnarer," but it had no citation.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''epioúsion'' || ἐπιούσιον || Mat 6:11, Luk 11:3 || G. 1967
 
| ''epioúsion'' || ἐπιούσιον || Mat 6:11, Luk 11:3 || G. 1967
| From the passage traditionally translated as, "give us this day our ''daily'' bread." The actual Greek word for "daily" is ''kathimeriná'', nobody knows what ''epiousion'' means because it's not a Greek word and it exists nowhere else in literature. The only hint at what the word might mean is that it uses the Greek prefix "epi-" which means "above" or "upper." Many translators presume that ''epioúsion'' means "needed" or "necessary" (NLT, GNT, etc.), to which "daily" isn't much of a stretch, but this is merely a guess.
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| From [[The Lord's Prayer]], traditionally translated as, "give us this day our ''daily'' bread." The actual Greek word for "daily" is ''kathimeriná'', nobody knows what ''epiousion'' means because it's not a Greek word and it exists nowhere else in antiquity. The only hint at what the word might mean is that it uses the Greek prefix ''epi'' which means "above" or "upper." Many translators presume that ''epioúsion'' means "needed" or "necessary" (NLT, GNT), to which "daily" isn't much of a stretch, but it's based on a guess.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| '''eshdath'' || אשדת || Deu 33:2 || H. 799
 
| '''eshdath'' || אשדת || Deu 33:2 || H. 799
| The [[Book of Deuteronomy]] contains a combination of ''esh'' (meaning "fire") and ''dath'' (meaning "law"), which exists nowhere else in antiquity. Early translations left it literal, "fiery law," (KJV, DR, ASV), while modern translations ignore the ''dath'' portion "flaming fire" (NLT, ESV, GNT, ISV). The NIV seems to leave out the word, but has a footnote saying its meaning is unknown. It's forgivable to presume this refers to the [[Ten Commandments]], the [[Torah]], or some other form of Yahweh's laws, but the words used to describe them are common throughout the bible and are never written like this.
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| The [[Book of Deuteronomy]] contains a combination of ''esh'' (meaning "fire") and ''dath'' (meaning "law"), which exists nowhere else in antiquity. Early translations left it literal, "fiery law," (KJV, DR, ASV), while modern translations ignore the ''dath'' portion and say "flaming fire" (NLT, ESV, GNT, ISV). The NIV seems to leave out the word, but has a footnote saying its meaning is unknown. It's forgivable to presume this refers to the [[Ten Commandments]], the [[Torah]], or some other form of Yahweh's laws, but the words used to describe them are common throughout the bible and are never written like this.
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|-
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| ''gopher'' || גפר || Gen 6:14 || H. 1613
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| Elohim tells Noah to build an ark made of ''gopher'' wood. This word does not appear to be Hebrew and it exists only once in all of antiquity. Early translators left this word untranslated, but several other translations use "cypress" (NIV, NLT), "planks" (DR), "cedar" (ISV), and various other words.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''nachum'' || נחום || Nah 1:1 || H. 5151
 
| ''nachum'' || נחום || Nah 1:1 || H. 5151
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|-
 
|-
 
| ''neginotai'' || נגינותי || Hab 3:19 || H. 5058
 
| ''neginotai'' || נגינותי || Hab 3:19 || H. 5058
| [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] contains a unique variation of a more commonly used word ''neginah'' which itself has a variety of translations, mostly having to do with music. It is sometimes excluded entirely (GNT, ISV, ASV, DR), but, when it is included, it is usually translated to something along the lines of "[to be played] on stringed instruments," which is a guess.  
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| [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] contains a unique variation of a more commonly used word ''neginah'' which itself has a variety of translations, mostly having to do with music. It is sometimes excluded entirely (GNT, ISV, ASV, DR), but, when it is included, it is usually translated to something along the lines of "[to be played] on stringed instruments," which is a guess.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''selah'' || סלה || Psa 3:2, Hab 3:3 || H. 5542
 
| ''selah'' || סלה || Psa 3:2, Hab 3:3 || H. 5542
| Unknown Hebrew word, it exists dozens of times in [[Book of Pslams|Pslams]] and three times in [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]]. From how it is used, it appears to denote a musical rest in a song. Usually left untranslated or excluded entirely.
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| This word exists dozens of times in [[Book of Pslams|Pslams]] and three times in [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]]. From how it is used, it appears to denote a musical rest in a song. Since its meaning is uncertain, it is usually left untranslated or excluded entirely.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''shigionoth'' || שגיון || Psa 7:1, Hab 3:1 || H. 7692
 
| ''shigionoth'' || שגיון || Psa 7:1, Hab 3:1 || H. 7692
| Unknown Hebrew word, it exists only once in [[Book of Pslams|Pslams]] and once in [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]]. From how it is used, it might denote a style of music. Usually left untranslated or excluded entirely, but sometimes guessed at.
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| This exists only once in [[Book of Pslams|Pslams]] and once in [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]]. From how it is used, it might denote a style of music. It's usually left untranslated or excluded entirely, but sometimes guessed at.
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 12:10, 8 November 2018

This is a list of words that appear in various books of the Tanakh or New Testament whose true meaning has been lost. Today, modern scholars can only guess at what these words originally meant. They are sometimes helped because the words use a known root, prefix, or suffix giving us a clue as to what they might have meant, but many of the words in this list are unknown because they exist only a single time in all of antiquity.

Despite having no certain meaning, nearly every translator gives them one, often without even so much as a foot note saying the word meaning is uncertain. This is probably done because if readers saw just how many words are of uncertain origin, they would probably lose faith in their scriptures.

The reason I compiled this list is to give examples to those believers who think their scripture is the inerrant word of their god. This list is evidence that, even if the bible were perfectly recorded, it wouldn't matter, because nobody can be certain of what it means.

This list is far from complete, and, as I continue to research ancient writings, I will keep adding to the list.

Transliteration Native Examples Strong's Notes
chabab חבב Deu 33:3 H. 2245 This word is used only once in antiquity. It is almost always translated to "love," even though the actual Hebrew word for "love" is 'ahab, which is used 15 times in Deuteronomy alone. The translation to "love" is a guess based on similarities with similar Semitic words, but the actual meaning is unknown.
chabaqquq חבקוק Hab 1:1, Hab 3:1 H. 2265 The Book of Habakkuk is so named because two headers contain the word chabaqquq which is assumed to be a person's name. Scholars are uncertain of the word's etymology; if it has a Hebrew origin, it could be related to khavak which means "embrace," but if it has an Akkadian origin, it could be related to hambakuku, a type of plant, but either is a guess.
elqoshi אלקשי Nah 1:1 H. 512 In Nahum, the author Nahum is said to be of elqoshi, which is usually translated as "Nahum the Elkoshite" (KJV, NIV), but sometimes "Nahum of Elkosh" (ESV, ISV). In both contexts, elqoshi is presumed to be a city or ethnicity. The word itself is used only once in antiquity, so its definition cannot be definitively ascertained, but a hint is found with the Hebrew prefix el which means "god." The only translation I've ever found is "god the ensnarer," but it had no citation.
epioúsion ἐπιούσιον Mat 6:11, Luk 11:3 G. 1967 From The Lord's Prayer, traditionally translated as, "give us this day our daily bread." The actual Greek word for "daily" is kathimeriná, nobody knows what epiousion means because it's not a Greek word and it exists nowhere else in antiquity. The only hint at what the word might mean is that it uses the Greek prefix epi which means "above" or "upper." Many translators presume that epioúsion means "needed" or "necessary" (NLT, GNT), to which "daily" isn't much of a stretch, but it's based on a guess.
'eshdath אשדת Deu 33:2 H. 799 The Book of Deuteronomy contains a combination of esh (meaning "fire") and dath (meaning "law"), which exists nowhere else in antiquity. Early translations left it literal, "fiery law," (KJV, DR, ASV), while modern translations ignore the dath portion and say "flaming fire" (NLT, ESV, GNT, ISV). The NIV seems to leave out the word, but has a footnote saying its meaning is unknown. It's forgivable to presume this refers to the Ten Commandments, the Torah, or some other form of Yahweh's laws, but the words used to describe them are common throughout the bible and are never written like this.
gopher גפר Gen 6:14 H. 1613 Elohim tells Noah to build an ark made of gopher wood. This word does not appear to be Hebrew and it exists only once in all of antiquity. Early translators left this word untranslated, but several other translations use "cypress" (NIV, NLT), "planks" (DR), "cedar" (ISV), and various other words.
nachum נחום Nah 1:1 H. 5151 The name or title used at the beginning of the Book of Nahum. It is assumed to mean "comforter," probably because it uses a spelling similar to other words that are sometimes translated to mean the "comfort" like nichum. However, since the word exists only once in all of antiquity, the actual meaning is unknown. Because the word is assumed to be a name, it is always left untranslated.
neginotai נגינותי Hab 3:19 H. 5058 Habakkuk contains a unique variation of a more commonly used word neginah which itself has a variety of translations, mostly having to do with music. It is sometimes excluded entirely (GNT, ISV, ASV, DR), but, when it is included, it is usually translated to something along the lines of "[to be played] on stringed instruments," which is a guess.
selah סלה Psa 3:2, Hab 3:3 H. 5542 This word exists dozens of times in Pslams and three times in Habakkuk. From how it is used, it appears to denote a musical rest in a song. Since its meaning is uncertain, it is usually left untranslated or excluded entirely.
shigionoth שגיון Psa 7:1, Hab 3:1 H. 7692 This exists only once in Pslams and once in Habakkuk. From how it is used, it might denote a style of music. It's usually left untranslated or excluded entirely, but sometimes guessed at.

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