The biblical documents have their own quota of tricky words. Here are three to mull over:
Kabod
Clue: Why? Remember they had escaped from oppression in Egypt and had an ordeal ahead of them when their new country was invaded. They were heading for trouble. It would mean that the glory that was theirs had departed. All was dust.
If we start with the word ‘kabod’ we shall be deeply indebted to Michael Ramsey, former Archbishop of Canterbury. In his ‘The Glory of God and the Transfiguration of Christ, he says of this word: ‘No word in the Bible has a more fascinating history.’ From its first appearance in the opening verse of Genesis 31 the Old Testament is full of glory. The word suggests God’s radiance, honour, weight, power and righteous character. The New Testament equivalent is ‘doxa’, from which we get the word ‘doxology’.
But why ‘ichabod’? Ignore the dropping of the ‘ch’ in favour of the ‘k’. We have the opposite meaning now. It has passed into general English vocabulary.
Corban
Early on in the story of the Church believers found the word ‘corban’ convenient when they considered their obligation to help their aged parents. What did it mean? Their parents were not pleased. Why was that? A highly regulated society like ours is replete with financial activity that avoids heavy taxation. The people of Jesus’ day were just as shy of taxation. Part of their strategy involved the use of the word ‘corban’.
Maranatha
Encouraging the Corinthian Christians, Paul added to his letter to them the word ‘Maranatha’. Why? Did he fear they had begun to think they were deceived? It is certainly a better word than the key word in its predecessor.
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