A long time ago when I was in high school, my friends and I used to play a game we called word for the day. We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were “Geeks”, with a capital G! I attended high school way before the term “geek” became popular. Some of you will recall that “geek” was first a derogatory term, until people like Bill Gates made geek a badge of honor word, like it is today. I don’t remember if it was one of the guys or gals in my circle of friends that started the word game, but I am forever thankful because the game significantly increased my vocabulary.

Our word for the day game improved my vocabulary by introducing me to new friends, treasures and magic such as Merriam Webster, the thesaurus and the lexicon. But what’s in a word? The Bible teaches that the universe began with a spoken Word. The Apostle John tells us that the “Word became flesh...”. Solomon instructs that “death and life” are in a spoken word. History shows us that wars have been started over misunderstanding the meaning of a single word.

Words have meaning, and just as the word “geek” has morphed or changed 180 degrees in my lifetime, so has the definition of many words used in our Bibles. Does the change in a word’s meaning over time change the intent of God’s Word? Of course, it doesn’t change God’s truth, but it can change our perception of what God means. This is why context is important for understanding words, particularly where the Bible is concerned. A huge part of context is defining the meaning of a word in terms of its milieu, which is defined as the environment or social setting at the time it was written. Take for instance in Ezekiel 24:23 KJV the use of the word “tires”:

[23] And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

I wonder if those tires are raised white letter or blackwall, Michelin or Goodyear. Of course, what the KJV translated as tires in 1611, which then meant a fancy headdress, hat or turbine, conveyed the exact meaning of the original translations. However, if we apply our modern meaning for tires it paints an absurd picture.

Now I am not arguing against the KJV translation or any other translation for that matter. What I am proposing is that with an ever-changing language it is important we know how to study our Bibles. It is impossible to “rightly divide the Word of truth” if we fail to present the Gospel in its proper context. Both Peter and Paul warned the early church against ignorance concerning the Word. The original sin was committed because of willful ignorance on Adam and Eve’s part. Notwithstanding, Adam and Eve heard the Word of God and were without excuse. With the sum of humanity’s knowledge at our fingertips, likewise we even more so are without excuse. Jesus is the living Word!

What’s in a Word?

2 Timothy 4:2 KJV
[2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.