Monday, November 12, 2012

Hebrews 11:21

"By trust Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the offspring of Joseph; and toward-teemed, leaning upon the top of his staff."

After all of his adventures as recorded in Genesis, Jacob ends his life with blessings for others.  One of the hallmarks of a life well lived is just this: leaving a sense of blessing for one's family and friends. And, as he leaned upon the top of his staff, he "toward-teemed." [See the Lexicon and Concordance of the Concordant Publishing Concern.]

One of the important aspects of the Etymological New Testament is that the reader always be aware of the difference between etymology and meaning.  In the Introduction to the ENT we read these words concerning "toward-teem":


<     Compound Greek words are rendered into their English component parts with hyphens joining the units. Thus the Greek word conventionally translated “worship” is always “toward-teem” in the ENT. That is, PROS-KUNEO = toward-teem, to teem (together) toward someone or something.
This brings us to a very key point about this method and the ENT in particular: etymology must not be confused with meaning. One cannot repeat this caution too often. The meaning of PROSKUNEO has changed through Greek linguistic history, from cringing like a dog to kissing an idol to worshiping Almighty God (see The Dictionary of New Testament Theology by Colin Brown).  But, its etymology has remained, linguistically speaking, the same: to teem toward.  And, that is how the word is translated in this Etymological New Testament.  Fun information.  Root words.  But, meaning is determined by usage, not by etymology.

So, meaning changes with usage while the linguistic origins of the word remain constant, even if unknown.  

In the verse above, Jacob finds that the best place to "teem toward" God is on the top of his staff: worship may break out anywhere and in any setting!

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