What is the use of ground language?

In the Study Bible app, you will read the original text with the text. What's in it for you? 3 reasons and an example:

1. The deeper meaning: you see nuances that are sometimes lost in translations. A Greek or Hebrew word can have multiple meanings. By seeing the root text, you can find out what other meanings are possible.
2. You can do word study: Click on a word in the original text in the app and you'll discover where else and in what context this word is used in the Bible.
3. Sometimes there are differences between translations, e.g. NBV, HSV or NBG. If you pick up the base language, you can see what was chosen. That way you can better understand where differences between translations come from.

Example of a word in the root language

In 1 Tim 1:4, the word oikonomain is used: stewardship. Comparing that text with other translations, oikonomian is translated in different ways. A bit of explanation:

The word oikonomian 'stewardship' (theou 'of God') is variously translated. Some translations have '(salvation) plan of God' (WV, GNB), 'household of God' (NaB), 'edification (worked up) by God' (HSV) or 'the task given by God' (NBV21). It is possible to translate this word as "plan of salvation" (cf. Eph. 1:10). 

In the NBV21 we see that one chooses: 'the task God has given'. We also see this emphasis on task in other places where this word is used, for example in the parable of the unrighteous steward (Luke 16) and with regard to the task given to Paul (cf. 1 Cor. 9:17 & Col. 1:25). We also regularly see this emphasis on responsibility, or task, in the Pastoral Epistles, regarding the household (also in these texts the oikos-word group used: cf. 1Tim.3:4-5,12,15; 5:4; 2Tim.1:16; Tit.1:11). Paul therefore also seems to place more emphasis in 1Tim.1:4 on the task (NBV21) than on the plan of salvation (WV, GNB).

By immersing yourself in a word in the root language, you learn more and more. Download a step-by-step plan to do your own word study here.

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