wûrd: The commonest term in the Old Testament for “word” is דבר, dābhār (also “matter” “thing”); in the New Testament λόγος, lógos (“reason,” “discourse,” “speech”); but also frequently ῥῆμα, rhḗma. Rhēma is a “word” in itself considered; logos is a spoken word, with reference generally to that which is in the speaker’s mind. Some of the chief applications of the terms may thus be exhibited:
(1) We have the word of Yahweh (or God; see below) (a) as the revelation to the patriarch, prophet, or inspired person (Genesis 15:1; Exodus 20:1; Numbers 22:38, etc.); (b) as spoken forth by the prophet (Exodus 4:30; 34:1; 2 Kings 7:1; Isaiah 1:10, etc.). (2) The word is often a commandment, sometimes equivalent to “the Law” (Exodus 32:28; Numbers 20:24; Deuteronomy 6:6; Psalms 105:8; 119:11, 119:17; Isaiah 66:2, etc.). (3) As a promise and ground of hope (Psalms 119:25, 119:28, 119:38, etc.; 130:5, etc.). (4) As creative, upholding, and preserving (Psalms 33:6; compare Genesis 1:3 ff; Psalms 147:15, 147:18; Hebrews 1:3; 11:3; 2 Peter 3:5, 3:7). (5) As personified (in Apocrypha, The Wisdom of Solomon 18:15; Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 1:5, the Revised Version margin “omitted by the best authorities”). (6) Both reason or thought and its utterance, “the whole contents of the divine world of thought resting in the Noús of God, synonymous with the inner life of God Himself; on the other hand, it is the externalizing of this as revelation corresponding to the logos prophorikós in which man’s thought finds expression (Schultz). (7) Cannot be broken, endureth forever (2 Kings 10:10; Psalms 119:89; Isaiah 40:8, etc.). (8) A designation of the gospel of Christ: sometimes simply “the word”; with Jesus “the word of the Kingdom” (Matthew 13:19; Mark 2:2; Acts 4:4, 4:29, 4:31, etc.). In John’s Gospel, Jesus frequently speaks of His “word” and “works” as containing the divine revelation and requirements made through Him, which men are asked to believe in, cherish and obey (John 5:24; 6:63, 6:68, etc.); “the words of God” (John 3:34; 8:47; 14:10; 17:8, 17:14, etc.); His “word” (logos and rhēma) is to be distinguished from laliá, speech (compare Matthew 26:73; Mark 14:70), translated “saying,” John 4:42 (John 4:41, “Many more believed because of his own word” (logos); John 4:42, “not because of thy saying” (lalia), the Revised Version “speaking”); in the only other occurrence of lalia in this Gospel (John 8:43) Jesus uses it to distinguish the outward expression from the inner meaning, “Why do ye not understand my speech?” (lalia), “Even because ye cannot hear my word” (logos). (9) “Words” are distinguished from “power” (1 Corinthians 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5); are contrasted with “deed” (Malachi 2:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20; 1 John 3:18). (10) Paul refers to “unspeakable words” (árrhēta rhḗmata) which he heard in Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:4), and to “words (logoi)...which the Spirit teacheth” (1 Corinthians 2:13).
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Word, Logos, Reason, Eternal word
Bible reference(s): John 1:1, Wisdom of Solomon 18:15, Ecclesiasticus 1:5
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.