Words of the Month (July 2022)

My words for this month are Greek and English.

1. Greek word, παράκλητος:

D.A. Carson (The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus) Commenting on John 14:

"This is the first of several passages in the Farewell Discourse that discuss the Holy Spirit; and all of them refer to him as the Paraclete (14:15–21, 25–27; 15:26–27; 16:7–15). The word Paraclete is a rough transliteration of the Greek word parakelētos, variously translated 'Comforter,' 'Counselor,' 'Advocate,' 'Helper.' ”

Later in the book, Carson explains that "a Paraclete may be a legal advisor or counselor, or perhaps on occasion a prosecuting attorney. This legal usage of the term predominates in extrabiblical literature."

For more information, see https://lsj.gr/wiki/paracletus

2. One website lists thirty occurrences of the English word "oblation" in the KJV. For instance, "All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city" (Ezekiel 48:20).

The Phrontistery gives this definition for oblation: "act of offering; a sacrifice; anything offered in worship."

See https://phrontistery.info/o.html

NWT 2013: “The whole contribution is 25,000 cubits square. You should set it aside as the holy contribution along with the possession of the city."

NET: "The whole allotment will be 8¼ miles^[a] square; you must set apart the holy allotment with the possession of the city."

Ftn: tn Heb “25,000 cubits” (i.e., 13.125 kilometers).