Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9

^A “souls” = psuche. From psucho (to breathe, blow). This is breath, the breath of life, the self, individual, soul. This is the word for that which makes a person unique – their identity, will, personality, affections. This isn’t the soul as the immortal part of us, but as our individuality. It is also not life as a general concept, but specific to people. This is where the words psyche and psychology come from.
^B “righteous” = dikaios. From dike (the principle of justice; that which is right in a way that is very clear; a decision or the execution of that decision; originally, this word was for custom or usage; evolved to include the process of law, judicial hearing, execution of sentence, penalty, and even vengeance; more commonly, it refers to what is right); may be from deiknumi (to show, point out, exhibit; figurative for teach, demonstrate, make known). This is correct, righteous, just, or a righteous person. It implies innocent or conforming to God’s standard of justice.
^C “hand” = cheir. Perhaps from cheimon (winter, storm – winter as the rainy season); related to the base of chasma (chasm, gap, gulf); from chasko (to yawn). This is the hand in a literal sense. Figuratively, the hand is the means a person uses to accomplish things so it can also mean power, means, or instrument.
^D “God” = Theos. From Proto-Indo-European origins, meaning do, put, place. This is God or a god in general.
^E “torment” = basanos. 3x in NT. From basis (step, hence foot; a pace); from baino (to walk, to go). This is to torture or torment or afflict. Properly, it refers to a touchstone – used to test how pure gold or silver are by what mark they leave behind.
^F “touch” = haptomai. From hapto (to touch, handle, kindle, lay hold of). This is a touch that has an impact on what is being touched – it has an influence on the recipient so that the recipient is changed.

^G “eyes” = ophthalmos. From optanomai (to appear, be seen by); from horao (become, seem, appear). This is eye or sight. It is used figuratively for the mind’s eye, a vision, or for envy.
^H “foolish” = aphron. 11x in NT. From a (not, without) + phren (diaphragm, heart, intellect, understanding; figurative for personal opinion or inner mindset; thought regulating action; sympathy, feelings, cognition); {perhaps from phrao (to rein in or curb)}. This is not having reason – foolish, unperceptive, unwise. It denotes short-sightedness and lack of perspective, which leads one to act without prudence. It is not grasping cause and effect, even willful ignorance. It implies being rash or egotistical.
^I “seemed” = dokeo. From dokos (opinion). This is to have an opinion, seem, appear, think, suppose. It deals with a personal judgment. This is the root of the word “doxology.”
^J “died” = thnesko. 9x in NT. This is to die or be dead in a spiritual or literal sense.

^K “departure” = exodos. 3x in NT. From ek (from out, from out of) + hodos (way, road, path, journey). This is a departure, death, or exodus. It is where the word “exodus” come from.
^L “thought” = logizomai. From logos (word, statement, speech, analogy; here, word as an account or accounting; can also be a word that carries an idea or expresses a thought, a saying; a person with a message or reasoning laid out in words; by implication, a topic, line of reasoning, or a motive; can be used for a divine utterance or as Word – Christ); from lego (to speak, tell, mention). This is this is to compute or reckon up, to count; figuratively, it is coming to a conclusion or decision using logic; taking an inventory in a literal or figurative sense.
^M “disaster” = kakosis. 1x in NT. From kakoo (to afflict, mistreat, hurt, embitter, harm, injure. Figuratively, it can mean to exasperate or entreat evil); from kakos (bad, evil, harm, ill; evil that is part of someone’s core character – intrinsic, rotted, worthless, depraved, causing harm; deep inner malice that comes from a rotten character; can be contrasted with the Greek poneros, which is that which bears pain – a focus on the miseries and pains that come with evil; also contrasting the Greek sapros, which deals with falling away from a previously embodied virtue). This is misery, oppression, or mistreatment.

^N “going” = poreia. 2x in NT. From poreuomai (to go, travel, journey, or die; transporting things from one place to another and focuses on the personal significance of the destination). This is a journey, undertaking, or progress.
^O “destruction” = suntrimma. 1x in NT. From suntribo (break in pieces, bruise, shatter, or crush completely); {from sun (with, together with) + the same as tribos (worn track or path like a rut that is formed from rubbing i.e. steady use; also road or highway); {from tribo (to rub or thresh)}}. This is a fracture, calamity, destruction.
^P “are” = eimi. This is to be, exist.
^Q “peace” = eirene. Perhaps from eiro (to join, tie together to form a whole). This is one, peace, quietness, rest, peace of mind, harmony. Peace was a common farewell among Jews (i.e. shalom) and this well-wishing included a blessing of health and wholeness for the individual. This word also indicates wholeness and well-being – when everything that is essential is joined together properly. This is peace literally or figuratively. By implication, it is prosperity (but not in the sense of excessive wealth. Prosperity would have meant having enough from day to day.)

^R “sight” = ophis. Related to “eyes” in v2. From ops (eye, face); from optanomai (see note G above). This is view, sight, or face. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BD%84%CF%88%CE%B9%CF%82
^S “others” = anthropos. Related to “eyes” in v2 & “sight” in v4. Probably from aner (man, male, husband) + ops (see note R above). This is human, humankind. Used for all genders.
^T “punished” = kolazo. 2x in NT. From kolos (docked). This is to chastise or punish. Literally, it means to curtail. It was used to describe incapacitating slaves. So, it means to punish or retrain someone.

^U “hope” = elpis. From elpo (to anticipate, welcome, expect; usually to anticipate positively). This is expectation, hope, trust, confidence faith. The expectation can be abstract or concrete.
^V “full” = pleres. 16x in NT. From pletho (to fill, accomplish, supply; to fill to maximum capacity). This is to be full, complete, abounding in, or occupied with.
^W “immortality” = athanasia. Related to “died” in v2. 3x in NT. From a (not, without) + thanatos (death, whether literal or spiritual; also something fatal); {from thnesko (see note J above)}. This is immortality or imperishability.

^X “disciplined” = paideuo. 13x in NT. From pais (child, youth, servant, slave); perhaps from paio (to strike or sting). Properly, this is training or teaching children so it is educate, correct, discipline, and punish. This is the root of “pedagogy.”
^Y “little” = oligos. This is few or small – it can be a short time or extent, low light, amount, or worth.
^Z “great” = megas. This is big in a literal or figurative sense – great, large, exceeding, abundant, high, mighty, perfect, strong, etc.
^AA “good” = euergeteo. 1x in NT. From eurgetes (someone who does good, benefactor, philanthropist); {from eu (good, well, well done) + the same as ergon (work, task, action, employment)}}. This is doing good, to benefit.

^BB “tested” = peirazo. From peira (trial, experiment, attempt, experience, assaying); from the base of peran (over, beyond, across); akin to pera (on the far side); from a derivative of peiro (to pierce). This is to test, try, tempt, or make proof of. It is to test, scrutinize, or assay something. It could also be examine, entice, prove, or discipline.
^CC “found” = heurisko. This is to find, learn, or obtain. It is to discover something, which generally implies a period of searching for it. This is to find in a literal or figurative sense. This is where the word “heuristic” comes from.
^DD “worthy” = axios. From ago (to lead, bring, carry, guide, drive, go). This is related to weight or worth – deserving, suitable, corresponding, due reward.

^EE “gold” = chrusos. 10x in NT. Perhaps from chraomai (to use, make use of, give what is needed, act in a specific way, request). This is gold or something made of gold. It is symbolic of purchasing power.
^FF “furnace” = choneuterion. This is a smelting furnace or melting pot. See https://xed.miraheze.org/wiki/Help:Greek:%CE%A7%CE%A9%CE%9D%CE%95%CE%A5%CE%A4%CE%97%CE%A1%CE%99%CE%9F%CE%9D & https://www.wordreference.com/gren/%CF%87%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%AE%CF%81%CE%B9
^GG “tried” = dokimazo. Related to “seemed” in v2. From dokimos (what passes the test, approved, acceptable, genuine, verified); from dechomai (to warmly receive, be ready for what is offered, take, accept, or welcome; to receive in a literal or figurative sense) or dokeo (see note I above). This is to test, examine, prove. It is to approve after subjecting to a test to determine if it is real or acceptable. It is to test in a literal or figurative sense.

^HH “burnt” = thusia. From thuo (to breathe violently, seethe, rage; properly, to rush as breathing heavy; so smoke as in offering an animal sacrifice by fire; by extension, killing or slaying in general). This is a sacrifice or offering. It can refer to the act of sacrifice or the thig being sacrificed. Also, this is sacrifice in a literal or figurative sense.
^II “sacrificial…offering” = holokartoma. From holos (whole, complete, or entire; a state where every member is present and functioning in concert) + kartoma (fruit, an offering that consists of fruit). This is a whole offering. See https://lsj.gr/wiki/%CE%BA%CE%AC%CF%81%CF%80%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%B1
^JJ “accepted” = prosdechomai. Related to “seemed” in v2 & “tried” in v6. 14x in NT. From pros (at, to, toward, with) + dechomai (see note GG above). This is to receive, welcome, expect, accept. It is reception with a warm, personal welcome or active waiting. It can also mean endurance or patience.

^KK “time” = kairos. This is season, opportunity, occasion. The word chronos is used for chronological time. Kairos is used for spiritually significant time – the right time or appointed time.
^LL “visitation” = episkope. 4x in NT. From episkeptomai (to look at, look out for, see, select, visit); {from epi (on, upon, at, what is fitting) + the base of skopos (a mark or goal like the marker at the end of a race; figuratively, other goals or destinations; also, a watch or sentry); {from skeptomai (to peer out, consider, gaze carefully); perhaps related to skapto (to dig or excavate)}}. This is oversight, supervision, visitation. It also came to refer to Christian bishops overseeing the church. It is the same root that “episcopal” comes from.
^MM “shine forth” = analampo. From ana (up, again, back, among, anew) + lampo (to give light literally or figuratively). This is to gleam, flash, or shine. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%BC%CF%80%CF%89

^NN “run” = diatrecho. From dia (through, because of, across, thoroughly) + trecho (to run, make progress, rush; running like an athlete in a race; figuratively, to work quickly towards a goal in a focused way). This is to go across, run, or traverse. See https://www.wordreference.com/gren/%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%81%CE%AD%CF%87%CF%89
^OO “sparks” = spinther. Akin to aster (star literally or figuratively); {probably from stronnumi or stronnuo (to spread, make a bed)} OR from aither (heaven, ether); {from aitho (to burn, scorch)}. This is a spark. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%83%CF%80%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%AE%CF%81
^PP “stubble” = kalame. 1x in NT. Perhaps from kalamos (a reed, whether the plant itself or a stem that is like the reed; a staff, pen, measuring rod). This is stubble or straw.

^QQ “govern” = krino. To judge, decide, think good, condemn, determine, pass judgment, stand trial, sue. This is judging whether it is done in court or in a private setting. Properly, it refers to mentally separating or distinguishing an issue – to come to a choice or decision, to judge positively or negatively in seeking what is right or wrong, who is innocent or guilty. It can imply trying, condemning, punishing, or avenging.
^RR “nations” = ethnos. Probably from etho (a custom or culture). This is people who are united by having similar customs or culture. Generally, it is used to refer to Gentiles. This is a tribe, race, nation, or Gentiles in general. This is where the term “ethnicity” comes from.
^SS “rule over” = krateo. From kratos (strength, power, dominion; vigor in a literal or figurative sense; power that is exercised). This is being strong or mighty so, by extension, to prevail or rule. It can also mean to seize, grasp hold of and thereby control.
^TT “peoples” = laos. This is the people or crowd – often used for the chosen people. This is where the word “laity” comes from.

^UU “Lord” = Kurios. From kuros (authority, supremacy). This is a respectful address meaning master or sir. It refers to one who has control or power greater than one’s own. So, it was also applied to God and Jesus as Master or Lord.
^VV “reign over” = basileuo. Related to “torment” in v1. From basileus (king, emperor, sovereign); probably from basis (see note E above). This is to reign as king, to rule in a literal or figurative sense.
^WW “forever” = eis + ho + aion. Literally, “to the age.” Aion is from the same as aei (ever, always, unceasingly, perpetually; on every occasion). This is an age, cycle of time, course, continued duration. It is also used to describe the eternal or forever. This is the word used to discuss the present age or the messianic age.

^XX “trust” = peitho. This is to have confidence, to urge, be persuaded, agree, assure, believe, have confidence, trust. It is the root from which the Greek word for faith is drawn (pistis).
^YY “understand” = suniemi. From sun (with, together with) + hiemi (to send, put). This is to put together – used figuratively to mean understand, consider, gain insight. It is bringing together facts or notions and synthesizing them into a whole. It is making a summary to arrive at a final conclusion that includes how to apply the insight to life. It can also imply acting piously or being wise.
^ZZ “truth” = aletheia. From alethes (true, unconcealed; true because it is in concert with fact and reality – attested; literally, what cannot be hidden; truth stands up to test and scrutiny and is undeniable, authentic). {from a (not, without) + lanthano (unnoticed, concealed)}. Truth is literally that which is not or cannot be concealed. This word covers more than the sense of true versus false. It spoke of truth as that which corresponds to reality – reality as opposed to illusion. Thus, it includes, sincerity, straightforwardness, and reality itself.

^AAA “faithful” = pistos. Related to “trust” in v9. From peitho (see note XX above). This is faithful, trustworthy, reliable, sure, or true. It is a fullness of faith. This is the same root as the word “faith” in Greek.
^BBB “abide” = prosmeno. 7x in NT. From pros (at, to, toward, with) + meno (to stay, abide, wait, endure). This is to remain, adhere to continue, remain together in a place or with someone. Figuratively, to persevere in something.
^CCC “love” = agape. From agapao (to love, take pleasure in, esteem; to prefer). This is love, goodwill, benevolence. It is God’s divine love or human love that mirrors God’s love.

^DDD “grace” = charis. From chairo (to rejoice, be glad; used to say hello; properly, delighting in the grace of God or experiencing God’s favor); from char– (to extend favor, lean towards, be inclined to be favorable towards). This is grace, kindness, favor, gratitude, thanks. It is the sense of being inclined to or favorable towards – leaning towards someone to share some good or benefit. This can be literal, figurative, or spiritual. It is grace as abstract concept, manner, or action.
^EEE “mercy” = eleos. This is mercy, pity, tender mercy, or compassion, whether from humans or from God. This is mercy, generally understood in action by word or deed. When we sing or say “kyrie eleison” (Lord, have mercy), it is related to this word.
^FFF “elect” = eklektos. Related to “thought” in v2. From eklego (to choose, select, elect); {from ek (from, from out of) + lego (to speak, tell, mention)}. This is to select or choose. It is making a personal choice – a favorite.