Word of the Day: Giants

In the Bible, giants occur in many section, most notably in the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). 

Genesis 6:4 tells us where giants come from: 

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

In the Hebrew text, the word Nephilim is used, and is generally accepted to mean that Angels took human women as wives, producing a hybrid race that existed before the Great Flood. After the flood, giants existed in several different tribes/races: Anakim (Deuteronomy 2), Emim, Zamzummim, Amorites, and Rephaim.

Some people have suggested that the demon is actually the spirits of the Nephilim killed by the Great Flood.

Word of the Day: Dragon

As used in the bible, "dragon" refers to the fallen angel we call Satan. He is also called a serpent in Genesis 3:1;

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

In Job 41 there is further description of the leviathan, which includes the following:

(41:15-17 ) His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. One so near to another, that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

(41:19-21) Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

Isaiah 27:1 identifies the leviathan as the serpent:

“In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

In Revelation 12:9 we further learn that the serpent is none other than the devil;

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2 again reinforces that devil, serpent and dragon are the same:

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

In non-believer circles, it is sometimes suggested that what we think of today as dinosaurs were formerly called dragons. The word dinosaur wasn't created until 1841, by Sir Richard Owen, combining the Greek word deinos (terrible) with sauros (lizard).

Word of the Day: The Bride of Christ

 A particularly confusing expression, for non-, new-, and even established-believers, "the Bride of Christ" refers to the followers of Christ, who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

Christians will not literally be marrying Jesus, nor will Jesus have any wife in the future. Rather. Christ likened his return to Earth to the events of a Jewish wedding--something the Jews he spoke to. For example, in Matthew 25, Jesus specifically states:

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Today, preachers might use terms, phrases, or practices from sports, popculture, or even military service to explain Biblical lessons.

Word of the Day: "Armor of God"

This is most often used to day as a reference to Ephesians 6:10-18; 

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In olden times, people would prepare for battle by putting on armor for personal protection. In this verse, "putting on the armor of God" doesn't literally mean putting on armor made by, or given to you from God, but rather, instead of physically putting on armor, you rely on God for protection. 

Ephesians 10 goes on to talk about the "breastplate of righteousness", the "shield of faith", and the "helmet of salvation". Again, these are not literal pieces of protection, but rather a likening of righteousness, faith, and salvation to physical armor... at least in the battle against the (unseen) spirtual enemies of Christians throughout the world. 

Word of the Day: Divers

An archaic predecessor of "different" or "diverse", used throughout the King James Bible, such as in Matthew 24:7:

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”

In this context, "different places" would be the modern equivalent. 

The word is beleieved to derive from the Latin diversus, meaning "turned different ways". 

Word of the Day: Nay

 As used in the King James Bible, "Nay" simple means No, as in Matthew 5:37;

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

In the above verse, the general understanding is that one should say yes, or no, and not swear, affirm, etc; a simple yes or no. 

The word "nay" comes from the Old Norse nei, and ne, meaning "not ever".

Word of the Day: Yea

An older form of yes deriving from the Germanic word ja. The modern word "yeah" is credited as coming from yea.

Yea appears in the King James Bible, with different meanings or uses:

In Psalms 23:4, Yea is used in the same manner as "even though"; 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

In Matthew 5:37, yea is used as an affirmative, or "yes";

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Yea appears in the KJV  of 2 Timothy 3:12;

 

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

In the NIV and NLT translations, yea is replaced by "In fact,". In the ESV, "Indeed" is used. In the NKJV, "yes" is used. 

Yea is pronounced like the modern "yay", rhyming with "day" and "pay". 

Word of the Day: Ye

An older expression for a plural form of you, similar to "you all". Ye appears throughout the King James Bible, such as in Matthew 6:33;

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Ye rhymes with "bee", "see", and "three".

Outside of the bible, Ye was also used in place of The, as in "Ye Olde Tavern", believed to derive from a character (the letter thorn) no longer in use, that meant the same thing as "th". 

Word of the Day: Thy and Thine

Older forms of yours, thy and thine are found throughout the King James Bible. In simplest terms, thy is a plural form of thine, as in Proverbs 3:5-6; 

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Thy rhymes with "my", "bye", and "cry". 

Thine rhymes with "mine", "spine", and "fine"

Word of the Day: Thee and Thou

An older form of you, Thee and Thou appear throughout the King James Bible. 

In simplest terms, Thee is the subject of a sentence, whereas Thou is used in conjunction with an action, as in Isaiah 41:10;

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Thee rhymes with "sea", "bee", and "tree".

Thou rhymes with "now", "cow", and "chow"