Brief Note About the Difference Between Word and Concept

Another example of the difference between word and concept (Wort und Begriff) is "friend" as used in the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures. Only Abraham is called Jehovah's "friend" (lover), but other men and women clearly had a friendship with God (including Job), even if the Bible never utilizes the designation "friend" for them. See 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23.

Of course, the Bible speaks of Jehovah loving Solomon and other humans in a broad sense (2 Samuel 12:24; Nehemiah 13:26), but just one person is identified as God's friend.