During the month of April, I’ve chosen to blog through the alphabet. Each day I will use a letter to share a Name of the Lord that begins with that letter based on Proverbs 18:10 and the fact that there is strength in the Lord’s Name. I pray you’ll be blessed and that you’ll stop by often.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10 – NIV

Word

There are many people in this world who have chosen to make studying words and their definitions an occupation. Etymology is the study of the history or origin of a word. Lexicography is the practice of compiling dictionaries.

Words are important to us. We want to know what they mean. We want to know their origin. We want to know how to use them and pronounce them properly.

There’s no better place to find difficult words to pronounce than the Bible. Historic names or places have caused more than a few people to stumble and be embarrassed by how they pronounced these names.

Here’s a quiz. How would you pronounce these names?

Berodachbaladan (2 Kings 20:12)

Tilgathpilneser (1 Chronicles 5:6)

Zaphnathpaaneah (Genesis 41:45)

Chushanrishathaim (Judges 3:8)

Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1)

I’ve heard my Dad pronounce this last name quite easily in the past, but it doesn’t come easily for me. Perhaps you feel the same.

I found this interesting set of questions that linguists ask about each word they study.

1 What does the word mean?
2 What words does it associate with?
3 What meanings does it associate with?
4 What grammatical functions does it associate with?
5 What positions in the text does the word favor?[i]

These might be difficult questions to answer for some words. I am thankful there are those who take the time find definitions of words and compile dictionaries. I’m thankful for those who look into the history of words. It makes everything I do easier.

While there are some difficult words in our world to understand, I must tell you there is one word that we can all pronounce. The word is Word.

John used Word as a name of Jesus in three passages of Scripture. Take a look at them.

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 – NLT)

“There are three Who speak of this in heaven: the Father and the Word and the Holy Spirit. These three are one.” (1 John 5:7 – NLT)

“He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13 – NLT)

Isn’t it interesting that John chose this word as a name for Jesus? As the Word, John was saying that Jesus revealed the will and nature to God to mankind. Jesus was God’s Word so that we might know God in a deeper and fuller way.  As we come to the Word, Jesus, we are able to recognize the Father. (John 14:9-10)

While mankind searches through historical documents trying to find historical meaning of words and how they relate to our lives, some have missed the Word. The real meaning of life can only be found in Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with the study of words. I’m a writer after all and that’s one reason I love this Name of Jesus. But when we overlook Jesus, we’ve overlooked the most significant single distinct meaningful element of speech.[ii]

I pray that you won’t overlook the Word today. I pray that you’ll take the time to speak to the Word. I pray that of all the words you speak today, that the Word will be the most precious. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna