Category: NLT Word Study

Greek:      Χριστός (Christos) English: Christ, Messiah by Jonathan W. Bryant, Senior Editor, Tyndale Bibles The Greek word Christos appears in the New Testament over five hundred times—not surprising given the association of the term with the New Testament’s central character, Jesus. Upon seeing the English transliteration of the word (Christos), it might seem obvious that […]

Hebrew:  שְאוֺל  (Sheol), אֲבַדּוֺן (Abaddon)English:     the grave, destruction by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee The New Living Translation is careful to translate the meaning of the original language (Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic) texts rather than simply providing a word-for-word, literal rendering of those texts. This allows the reader to read the text and […]

Greek:      καρδία (kardia), ψυχή (psychē), διάνοια (dianoia), ἰσχύς (ischys)English:     heart, soul, mind/understanding, strength by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee As recorded in Matthew 22:34-40 and Mark 12:28-31, one of the Pharisees questioned Jesus regarding which commandment in the law of Moses was most important. Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 in his reply. In […]

Greek:      γραμματεúς (grammateus); plural γραμματεῖς (grammateis)English:     scribe; teacher of the law; teacher of religious law by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee The Greek noun grammateus (plural grammateis) is used sixty-three times in the New Testament, almost always in reference to members of a group of Jewish religious leaders. The one exception to this […]

Greek:      σάρξ (sarx)English:     flesh, human body, earthly body, sinful human nature by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee The New Testament’s use of the Greek word sarx is both straightforward and complicated. The NLT uses a variety of words to translate sarx. In this article, these different English translations of sarx are marked with […]

by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee Greek:      κοιμάω (koimaō) English: fall asleep; die The verb koimaō is used eighteen times in the New Testament. The literal meaning of the word is “to fall asleep.” An example of this usage is found in Luke 22:45, where Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane: […]

by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee Greek:      κύριος (kyrios)English:     master, sir, Lord, Lord The word kyrios is used more than 700 times in the New Testament. In the ancient Greek world, kyrios was used to describe a master or a slave owner or a ruler. We see this meaning reflected in Matthew 10:24-25, […]

Greek:      εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion)English:    good news; gospel Greek:      εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō)English:    preach (or tell) the good news; preach (or tell) the gospel by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee The noun euangelion means, quite literally, “good news.” In the Greco-Roman world this term was used to describe or announce an event of significance, like the rise […]

Each month we will be led in a word study by a member of the Bible Translation Committee for the New Living Translation (NLT) or by a member of our Bible editorial team. We hope you will join us on this educational adventure. This month we are learning about: Greek: ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion) English: the cover […]