The ancient Greek word "πτερύγιον" ≈ "fin, wing, etc.". In the GNT (Greek New Testament) it can be the "pinnacle" of the "temple" rather than the "wing" of the "temple".

It appears that, to support the idea of a "pinnacle", Strongs separated the words into two different words. The Cambridge Greek Lexicon has one word and, as is often the case, adds NT (New Testament) for the last entry since it is unique to the GNT.

More: Matthew 23:37-39 Seeing the big house as it is

More: Matthew 23:37-39 Seeing the big house as it is

From the Cambridge Greek Lexicon (volume 1, p. 158), the ancient Greek word "ἀπάγω" ≈ "lead away". Only in the GNT is the meaning that of "lead".

Definitions 2 to 13 are narrowed meanings of primary meaning 1.

How does the English meaning of the verses change if the usual definition of that Greek word is used?

• What is the "life"?
• What is the "loss"?



More: Matthew 7:13-14 Strait talk about narrow and wide gates

From the Cambridge Greek Lexicon (volume 2. p. 999), the ancient Greek word "ὀλίγος" ≈ "little in size, value, duration, etc.". The GNT meaning of "few" is definition 8 or 9 of 10 definitions.

Let's not start a "feud" over the "few". The Latin word "paucus" ≈ "little, few".

More: Matthew 7:13-14 Strait talk about narrow and wide gates

From the Cambridge Greek Lexicon (volume 2), the ancient Greek word "μαλακία" ≈ "softness, effeminacy, unmanliness, feebleness, faint-hardheartedness". Only in the GNT is the meaning "infirmity" or "sickness".
What type of "softness" or "effeminacy" or "unmanliness" might Jesus, and here the disciples, have been healing?

More: A hard look at soft ideas

More: Matthew 10:1-4 The twelve apostolic disciples

The modern Greek word "φαίνομαι" (FEH-no-meh) ≈ "to seem, to appear" which is taken directly from the corresponding ancient Greek word.

In the Cambridge Greek Lexicon, the GNT definitions are definitions 9, 11 and 12 in the list. The first definition as that of "conceal" or "disappear" as in "not appearing"

More: Matthew 6:16-18 The appearance of fast food disappearing

The KJV (King James Version) meaning of "defile" appears to come from the Latin word "coinquino" ≈ "defile, pollute, contaminate" and not from the ancient Greek word "κοινόω" ≈ "make common, share". In the Cambridge Greek Lexicon (two large volumes), the meaning of "make unholy" or "defile" is definition 19 of 19 definitions. The other definitions fit closely the idea of "make common".

• "κοινός" ≈ "common".
• "κοινωνία" ≈ "community, fellowship".

The Greek word translated as "defile" is that of "making common" and is the word used as "Koine" as "Koine" "Greek" or "Common" "Greek" as spoken by the people and not by learned poets. "Vulgar" Latin is "Common" Latin as spoken by the people. To "make common" or "take for granted" something that is "sacred" can be taken as "defiled".

More: Matthew 15:1-21 Blind leading the blind

This word is used one time in the GNT.

The ancient Greek word "ἀκμή" ≈ "edge or point, peak condition" as in the first part of the word "acropolis". The last of twelve meanings in the Cambridge Greek Lexicon is that of "still" which is the meaning in the GNT.

A related word and a play on word is that of the ancient Greek word "ἀκμής" ≈ "not weary, fresh, tireless". One can see how this meaning could come from the previous word. Do you get the "point"?

When drawing triangles, there are three points to keep in mind.

More: Matthew 6:5 Prayer acting in a corner

More: Matthew 15:1-21 Blind leading the blind

More: Matthew 15:1-21 Blind leading the blind

The ancient Greek word "δόμα" ≈ "gift, present, payment" but is listed in Wikipedia as rare. The extensive large two volume Cambridge Greek Lexicon has the ancient Greek word "δόμος" ≈ "house". The same lexicon has the ancient Greek word "δόμα" ≈ "gift" but as only used in the GNT. It is unclear why this word had that meaning only in the GNT and LXX (Septuagint). The LXX appears to follow the Hebrew.

More: Matthew 7:11 Good gifts and bad gifts

The ancient Greek word "ῤαπίζω" ≈ "beat" (whip, lash, etc.) which can be on a person, an animal, an athlete who starts too soon in what today is called a false start. The slap as on the face is from the GNT, the last of four definitions in the Cambridge Greek Lexicon. A figurative meaning can mean playing the harp as might relate to a siege engine.

The athlete connection is interesting as the Greek translated as "cheek" could be a play on words to an "athletic competition".

Another play on words may be with the Latin word "rapidus" ≈ "rapid, quick, swift" which, through French, is the source of the English word "rapid". A play on words of "ὅστις" ≈ "whoever" with the Latin "hostis" ≈ "enemy" is back two words in this verse.

More: Matthew 5:39 Turning the other cheek

Strongs makes some assumptions above about the word coming from something "horn-like". Some Greek lexicons (in English and in Greek by Greek authors) provide some additional interesting connections.
The ancient Greek word "κεραίζω" ≈ "sack, pillage, destroy, sink" is defined in English by English authors (p. 796, The Cambridge Greek Lexicon Volume 2, 2021).

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Here are some definitions from The Cambridge Greek Lexicon.

• "κρυπτός" ≈ "hidden, secret" is related but is not the word used here.
• "ἐγκρύπτω" ≈ "hide, cover" as, for example, "in ashes, to keep it smoldering" or be "hidden" (of a god). In the GNT this word is translated as baking with yeast into bread.
• "ἐγκρυφιάζω" ≈ "act secretly towards, hoodwink someone".

Might the "woman" be "hiding" something of or from God to "keep it smoldering" in order to "act secretly towards" someone to "hoodwink" them? Do "ashes" fit into the story in any way?

Might the parable be more than about baking some bread that is fluffy and not flat?

More: Matthew 13:33 KP4 Parable of the leaven

From the Cambridge Greek Lexicon (volume 2), the ancient Greek word "μαλακία" ≈ "softness, effeminacy, unmanliness, feebleness, faint-hardheartedness". Only in the GNT is the meaning "infirmity" or "sickness".
What type of "softness" or "effeminacy" or "unmanliness" might Jesus, and here the disciples, have been healing?

More: A hard look at soft ideas

The modern usage of "allegory" is from English in 1382. The modern Greek word "αλληγορία" (al-lee-go-REE-a) ≈ "allegory". It is not clear how often this word was used in ancient Greek.

The Cambridge Greek Lexicon (2021) has the ancient Greek word "αλληγορέω" ≈ "be expressed allegorically" but list it as NT meaning that it is specific to the GNT. A literal and more realistic definition is that it refers to something "other than what is explicitly said". Paul does this a lot. The question then becomes the following. Given what Paul says, what does he not say that is important?

Thus, this word appears to be a made-up word or a play on words with the idea of "other" in Greek which appears a number of times in Galatians.

Details are left as a future topic.

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Here are some ancient Greek words used by James and were not in common use. Some are technical words. These are according to the Cambridge Greek Lexicon.

• "ἀνέμητος" ≈ "not divided, unpropertied" (p. 121, second definition as Plutarch)
• "ἀποσκιάζομαι" ≈ "be cast" (p. 197, Plutarch)
• "ἀποσκιασμός" ≈ "casting a shadow" (p. 197, Plutarch)
• "κλύδων" ≈ "strong waves, choppy waters, surging seas" (p. 812, many, Plutarch for affecting the ship of state)
• "παραλλαγή" ≈ "exchange, transmission, interchange" (p. 1071, many)
• "παράλλαγμα" ≈ "variation, difference of solar and lunar year" (p. 1071, Plutarch)
• "ῥιπή" ≈ "throw, flight, surge" (p. 1253, many)
• "ῥιπίζω" ≈ "fan a fire" (p. 1253, Plutarch)

... more to be added ...

The interesting part is that many of the technical terms are attributed to Plutarch.

More: James 1: Interpretation and misinterpretation

The ancient Greek word "διάκρινω" ≈ "separate, distinguish, discern".

The large two volume Cambridge Greek Lexicon (2021, Volume 1, p. 349) provides 9 long definitions of the word. At the very end, almost as an afterthought, the "doubt" meaning is included and attributed to the GNT - where it is translated that way in only a few verses.

One can take time to "discern" or "distinguish" what is going on even when there is no "doubt" that something can be done. This "discerning" can take some time which might be considered necessary "hesitation" or "delay" while determining what is actually going on. This may have been part of the word slide though Latin.

More: Discerning doubts about doubts

From the Cambridge Greek Lexicon (volume 2, p. 1210), the ancient Greek word "προσέχω" ≈ "apply, offer, bring in, direct attention". Only in the GNT is the meaning that of "be on guard against".

How does the English meaning of the verses change if the more common definitions of that Greek word is used?

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