Words

Throughout the years our boys have spent a lot of time on soccer fields. So it didn’t surprise me while visiting my sister and her family that they wanted to go to the field and play some soccer. I mentioned this to her and she got a really confused look on her face and told me that she didn’t think that was a good idea. After some probing, I realized that the word field meant something different to her than it did to me. Her home was surrounded by fields of corn, onions, sugar beets, wheat, etc. and she didn’t think her neighbor would appreciate my boys out  tromping through his fields. It was a good illustration of how words don’t have meaning; people do. Maybe that is why I spend so much time looking up words. I want to know the different meanings associated with the word so I can make sure I understand what is being said. For example, I can’t seem to make it through my scripture reading time without looking up words in my Strong’s Concordance that lists all of the Hebrew words in the Old Testament and the Greek words in the New Testament with all of their meanings. Doing this has cleared up a lot of things that are confusing to me. For example, this morning I was reading about virtue. This word is quite vague to me. I know it is a good thing with a virtuous woman having a worth above rubies as  listed in Proverbs 31:10 (see http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/prov/31.10?lang=eng#9), but it seemed like it was being used differently in Luke 8:46 when it says that Jesus’ virtue went out of him when he was touched by the woman who had the issue of blood (see http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/prov/31.10?lang=eng#9). Looking at any language, I know that the same word may have different meanings with the context being what is important. So by going to the Hebrew and Greek words I was able to see which word was used in each context and come to some understanding of its meaning. Back to my study this morning… Virtue as used in Proverbs 31:10 is a word that means “strength, valor, power, worthiness.” The Greek word used in Luke 8:46 is similar but adds “wonderful work, miraculous power.” So, studying these words brought new meaning to both of these passages. When I have virtue, I am sought after because of my strength and the powerful way I live my life, obtaining this virtue through my worthiness. I also changed my thinking with regards to Luke 8:46. I thought virtue had gone out of Jesus but now I feel it means that it was his miraculous power that automatically flowed through him, healing the woman who had faith in Him. He recognized that this happened and wanted to know who was healed. Understanding this word brought a lot of meaning to my scripture study this morning with an idea of how to be a virtuous woman and with a greater love and appreciation for my Savior. I have since discovered that Strong’s Concordance is also available on line so now I don’t have to carry my big book with me when I go places! ( http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html) I really enjoy “feasting upon the Words of Christ” (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/32.3?lang=eng#2) and getting filled!