Word play, by definition, is using words that sound like other words to convey some point. Often the point is humor in the form of puns.
Some people consider word play using puns as punishment. This statement itself is a play on words.
Word play, or play on words, is an important way to communicate. Play on words in Greek was done in ancient times. Paul uses it. Jesus uses it often in the Greek. Yes, almost everyone in the Eastern Mediterranean area, for over 350 years, had grown up learning Greek as well as their native language.

An interesting book on word play in ancient Greece is Ο ΓΕΛΩΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΡΧΑΙΑΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ (Laugher in Ancient Greece) by Κωνσταντινος Πλευρης (Konstantinos Plevris). This author has some outspoken and/or controversial views on some subjects but has done a lot of interesting and useful research on Greek history, language, etc.

More: Some witty remarks on laughing and humor

The following Greek letters (and combinations) are the same today or were similar enough then to be recognized as play on words.


One way to search for similar-sounding words is to map related characters to the same character and then search using that mapping.

Details are left as a future topic.

Word play example: I couldn't figure out why the baseball kept getting larger, and larger, and larger. Then it hit me!

Word play example: When drawing triangles, there are three points to keep in mind. Someone who does not get the word play might ask, "Well, what are they?".
Many people are annoyed by word play. Word play does not need to follow grammar or spelling rules. It is often used to convey added meaning in addition to the otherwise obvious meaning of the words used.

Note that a play on words is not using the same root word to mean the same thing in different places. That is just normal word usage.

Are there any indications that we should be looking for word play in the verses in the letter to Philadelphia? In each verse possible play on words will be identified.

Many word plays in the GNT (Greek New Testament) have some interesting characteristics.

• The words as used are not the usual inflections and do not appear often, sometimes nowhere else.
• The words may be in a strange word order. This is allowed in Greek. The meaning is the same (according to Aristotle). The word order may be needed to make the play on words work.

For example, in the fourth kingdom parable in Matthew 13, the not usual "measures three" allows for a number of play on words while "three measures" does not. In addition, the "measures" needs to be a certain not usual measure.

More: Matthew 13:33 KP4 Parable of the leaven

The ancient Greek word "γέλως" ≈ "laugh". The modern Greek word "γέλως" (Y-los) ≈ "laughing".

The Greek word used here for "dance" is the source of the English word "orchestra".

• There is a time to weep.
• There is a time to laugh.



More: Some witty remarks on laughing and humor

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Here is a pun I created in the late 1980's using 3 words that each have 2 meanings.

All 2³ = 8 ways make some sense. In binary, we can see all 8 ways to have 3 choices with each choice being a 0 (zero) or a 1 (one).

One slides the pronunciation between each choice.

☐ Would you take offense to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would you take offense to a Roman shepherd?
☐ Would you take a fence to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would you take a fence to a Roman shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take offense to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take offense to a Roman shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take a fence to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take a fence to a Roman shepherd?

One might add more to this pun with "defense" and "the fence" or with "rushing" and "Russian", etc.

In the Olivet discourse, Jesus talks about the end times. That is, he talks about "All of it", a pun with Olivet (in "English").

The ancient Greek word "ἐπίσκοπος" ≈ "oversee, visit" and become the Christian "bishop".

The German word "Bischof" ≈ "Bishop".

• The German word "Schaf" ≈ "sheep".
• The German word "Biss" ≈ "bite, sting".

Church members (even Bishops) are often characterized as sheep. So a German pun was to call the "Bischof" (not to his face) a "Biss Schaf" (sheep that bites or someone that bites the sheep). A "biting" sheep as a leader can be compared to a "bleating" or "bleeding" sheep as a follower.

In Philippians, Paul takes the "bishops" to task for not doing what they are supposed to do and doing things they are not supposed to do. Using many play on words, illusions, etc., many, due to mistranslations, do not realize the purpose of the message. Some transform the book into a topic such as "surprised by joy". Some would have you "serve joyfully".

More: Philippians

More: Matthew 7:15 Sheep dogs and wolf dogs

His original name was "Mithridates". Daniel refers to him in prophecy about 400 years before, Jesus refers to him about 200 years later as a sign for the end times, and his actions led to the revolt and re-dedication of the temple during the Maccabean revolt and called "Hanukkah".

The ancient Greek word "ἐπιφάνεια" ≈ "appearance, manifestation". The modern Greek word "επιφανής" (eh-pee-fa-NEES) ≈ "illustrious, prominent" as in appearance.
Since Antiochus Epiphanies was a mad tyrant who considered himself "illustrious", a common pun (not to his face) was to call him "Antiochus Epimanes", "mad one" as in the ancient Greek word "μανία" ≈ "madness, frenzy" and is the English word "mania" . The modern Greek word "μανία" (ma-NEE-a) ≈ "mania".

Thus, the play on words way goes between the phi «φ» ("f" sound) and the mu «μ» ("m" sound).

More: A mania for confusing commotions

Some puns are that of meaning rather than a play on words. These are sometimes described by the saying "do as I say and not as I do". In Acts 17 at Mars Hill, Paul is ridiculed as doing what the people saying it about him are doing.

Wycliffe has a direct translation close to the original Greek as in "sower of words". The later translations as "babbler" appear to be influenced by the Latin word "seminiverbius" ≈ "babbler".

• The Latin prefix "semi" ≈ "half".
• The Latin word "verbum" ≈ "word" and is the source of the English word "verb" (which is a noun).

The idea of a "babbler" is someone who uses half words or not complete words, or something like that.

More: Stoics and Epicureans

The English word "soft" is related to the German word "sanft" ≈ "soft, yielding". The Old English word "winsum" ≈ "beautiful, pleasing".

The ancient Greek word "χρηστός" ≈ "useful, good" and is sometimes used in the GNT as a play on words with"χριστός" ≈ "anointed one, Christ" as in the English word "christen".

The Latin word "suavis" ≈ "sweet, pleasant, delicious" and is the source of the English word "suave" and related "sweet".

More: Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words

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Considering the context, here is a possible pun, considering both Philippians 1:6 and Galatians 3:3.

• "having begun in" as «εναρξαμενος» as "en-ar-ska-me-nos"
• "in flesh remain" as «ενσαρκιμενος» as "en-sar-ki-me-nosn"

The pun words "in flesh remain" in verse 6 are used directly in verse 24.

More: Philippians 1a: A gracious favor of joy to Philippi