Lexical Semantics and New Testament Word Studies
“Semantics” is one of those $10 words many of us are tempted to ignore. But do you know what it means?
In the field of linguistics—another expensive-sounding word that, in simple terms, refers to the study of language—semantics is the study of meaning: the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences. The branch of semantics that deals specifically with the meaning of individual words is called lexical semantics.
So, when you perform a New Testament word study, you are operating in the field of New Testament lexical semantics.
Make sense?
Even Angels Can Help Us With Word Studies
One of the most important steps in studying a Koine’ Greek New Testament word is working to understand its semantic center.
I use the term to describe a word’s core meaning or central idea—the concept that lies at the heart of the word before any particular context gives it a more specific meaning.
Finding that central idea, however, can take some work. Many Bible students who want to understand a Greek word will simply consult a Bible dictionary or Greek lexicon, find a definition, and move on.