Bible dictionary

Understand the words inside the story.

Search 100 terms that can make a Bible passage feel unfamiliar. Each entry gives the direct meaning first, then shows where the word belongs and how translations may name it differently.

100

terms

100

terms

  1. 01MannaThe food Israel gathered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.Read definition
  2. 02Unleavened breadflatbread without yeastBread prepared without a fermented starter or leaven.Read definition
  3. 03PassoverPesachThe festival remembering Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt.Read definition
  4. 04PentecostFeast of Weeks · ShavuotA pilgrimage and harvest festival held fifty days into the count from Passover.Read definition
  5. 05Feast of TabernaclesFeast of Booths · SukkotAn autumn harvest festival during which Israel lived temporarily in simple shelters.Read definition
  6. 06Day of AtonementYom KippurIsrael’s annual day of solemn cleansing and atonement for the sanctuary, priests, and people.Read definition
  7. 07JubileeJubilee yearThe fiftieth year in Leviticus, associated with release, returned land, and restored family holdings.Read definition
  8. 08SabbathShabbatThe seventh-day rhythm of stopping ordinary work and setting time apart.Read definition
  9. 09CircumcisionThe removal of the male foreskin, given in Genesis as the sign of the covenant with Abraham.Read definition
  10. 10Purificationritual cleansingThe processes by which a person or object moved from ritual impurity to a clean state.Read definition
  11. 11AmenA Hebrew affirmation meaning that something is reliable, true, or accepted.Read definition
  12. 12HallelujahAlleluiaA Hebrew call meaning “Praise Yah,” or “Praise the Lord.”Read definition
  13. 13HosannaA plea meaning “Save, please,” which also became a shout of praise and welcome.Read definition
  14. 14SelahA repeated Hebrew notation in Psalms and Habakkuk whose exact function is uncertain.Read definition
  15. 15MaranathaAn Aramaic Christian expression commonly understood as “Our Lord, come.”Read definition
  16. 16AbbaAn Aramaic form of address for a father.Read definition
  17. 17ImmanuelEmmanuelA Hebrew name or sign meaning “God is with us.”Read definition
  18. 18EphphathaAn Aramaic command meaning “Be opened.”Read definition
  19. 19CorbankorbanA Hebrew and Aramaic term for something presented or dedicated as an offering.Read definition
  20. 20Scapegoatgoat for AzazelThe live goat sent into the wilderness during the Day of Atonement rite.Read definition
  21. 21Firstfruitsfirst produceThe earliest portion of a harvest presented to God before the whole crop was enjoyed.Read definition
  22. 22TithetenthA tenth portion of produce, livestock, or income set apart under biblical law.Read definition
  23. 23Burnt offeringwhole offeringAn animal offering consumed almost entirely by fire on the altar.Read definition
  24. 24Fellowship offeringpeace offering · well-being offeringA sacrifice in which selected portions were burned and the rest became a shared sacred meal.Read definition
  25. 25Wave offeringelevation offeringA portion presented before the Lord by a ritual lifting or movement.Read definition
  26. 26Ark of the Covenantark of the testimonyA sacred chest associated with Israel’s covenant and God’s presence.Read definition
  27. 27Scrollbook scroll · written rollA rolled writing material used for biblical texts and other records.Read definition
  28. 28Wineskinskin bottle · leather wine bagA sewn animal-skin container used to carry and store liquids.Read definition
  29. 29Yokewooden yoke · burdenA beam for harnessing draft animals and a biblical image of service or burden.Read definition
  30. 30Slingshepherd’s slingA simple projectile weapon used to throw stones at high speed.Read definition
  31. 31Millstonegrinding stone · hand-mill stoneA heavy stone used to grind grain into flour.Read definition
  32. 32Frankincensepure incenseAn aromatic resin burned in worship and presented as a valuable gift.Read definition
  33. 33Myrrhmyrrh resinA fragrant resin used in sacred oil, gifts, perfume, and burial preparation.Read definition
  34. 34Alabaster Jaralabaster flask · perfume jarA small container associated in the Gospels with costly perfume.Read definition
  35. 35Phylacterytefillin · prayer boxesSmall scripture-containing boxes worn in Jewish prayer practice.Read definition
  36. 36Tasselsfringes · tzitzitFringes attached to garment corners as a reminder of God’s commands.Read definition
  37. 37Veilcurtain of the sanctuary · temple curtainThe curtain separating the inner sanctuary from the outer holy space.Read definition
  38. 38Holy of HoliesMost Holy Place · inner sanctuaryThe innermost and most restricted room of the tabernacle and temple.Read definition
  39. 39Bronze Laverbronze basin · washing basinA bronze basin used by priests for ritual washing.Read definition
  40. 40Censerfirepan · incense burnerA vessel used to carry hot coals and burn incense.Read definition
  41. 41Anointing Oilholy anointing oilOil used to consecrate people and objects for sacred service.Read definition
  42. 42Altarplace of sacrificeA raised or designated place where offerings were presented to God.Read definition
  43. 43Bronze Altaraltar of burnt offeringThe large altar in the sanctuary court used for animal and other offerings.Read definition
  44. 44Incense Altargolden altarA small gold-covered altar where fragrant incense was burned.Read definition
  45. 45Lampstandmenorah · golden lampstandA branched gold lampstand that gave light inside the sanctuary.Read definition
  46. 46Showbreadbread of the Presence · consecrated breadTwelve loaves regularly placed before God in the sanctuary.Read definition
  47. 47Tabernacletent of meeting · dwellingIsrael’s portable sanctuary during the wilderness period.Read definition
  48. 48Ephodpriestly ephodA priestly garment, especially associated with the high priest.Read definition
  49. 49Urim and Thummimthe Urim · the ThummimSacred items used by Israel’s priesthood when seeking a decision before God.Read definition
  50. 50Mercy Seatatonement cover · cover of the arkThe gold cover of the ark, central to the Day of Atonement ritual.Read definition
  51. 51NaziriteNazirite vowA person specially dedicated to God by a biblical vow.Read definition
  52. 52CenturionRoman centurionA Roman military officer normally responsible for roughly a century-sized unit.Read definition
  53. 53MagiWise men · Visitors from the EastLearned eastern visitors who came to honor the child Jesus in Matthew’s account.Read definition
  54. 54Slave and servantBondservant · Household servantTerms for people under another’s authority, ranging from household service to ownership.Read definition
  55. 55WidowWidowed womanA woman whose husband had died, often facing economic and legal vulnerability in biblical society.Read definition
  56. 56SojournerResident alien · Foreigner · StrangerA person residing among a people without full ancestral standing in the land.Read definition
  57. 57Kinsman-redeemerGuardian-redeemer · Family redeemerA close relative expected to protect family property, freedom, or continuity.Read definition
  58. 58ShepherdSheepherder · PastorA person who guides, feeds, guards, and tends sheep.Read definition
  59. 59CupbearerRoyal cupbearerA trusted court official who presented drink to a king or ruler.Read definition
  60. 60HeraldCrier · ProclaimerAn authorized public announcer who proclaimed a ruler’s message or decree.Read definition
  61. 61SamaritanSamaritansA member of the community centered in Samaria that worshiped Israel’s God.Read definition
  62. 62Tax collectorPublicanA person who collected tolls or taxes under the ruling administration.Read definition
  63. 63EunuchCourt eunuch · Court officialA castrated man or, in some contexts, a royal court official.Read definition
  64. 64ProselyteConvert to JudaismA person of non-Jewish origin who formally joined the Jewish faith community.Read definition
  65. 65GentileNations · Non-JewA person or people belonging to the nations outside Israel or the Jewish people.Read definition
  66. 66DiasporaDispersion · Scattered communitiesPeople living dispersed from their ancestral homeland, especially Jewish communities outside Judea.Read definition
  67. 67SanhedrinCouncil · Jewish councilThe leading Jerusalem council appearing in New Testament judicial and religious proceedings.Read definition
  68. 68RabbiTeacher · MasterA respectful Semitic title meaning “my teacher” or “my master.”Read definition
  69. 69LeviteMember of the tribe of LeviA member of Levi’s tribe assigned particular duties in Israel’s worship.Read definition
  70. 70PriestIsraelite priestAn appointed minister who served at Israel’s sanctuary and altar.Read definition
  71. 71High priestChief priestThe leading priest who bore unique responsibility for Israel’s sanctuary.Read definition
  72. 72ScribeTeacher of the law · Expert in the lawA literate specialist who copied, interpreted, or taught texts and law.Read definition
  73. 73PhariseePhariseesA member of an influential Jewish movement devoted to interpreting and practicing the law.Read definition
  74. 74SadduceeSadduceesA member of a Jewish group closely associated with priestly and temple leadership.Read definition
  75. 75ZealotSimon the ZealotA title linked in the New Testament to Simon, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles.Read definition
  76. 76DenariusdenariiA common Roman silver coin, often used as a daily-wage reference.Read definition
  77. 77TalenttalantonA very large unit of weight and, by extension, a large monetary amount.Read definition
  78. 78ShekelsheqelAn ancient unit of weight used especially for silver and later associated with coins.Read definition
  79. 79Leptonwidow’s miteA very small copper coin of low value in the New Testament world.Read definition
  80. 80DrachmadrachmA Greek silver coin named in the New Testament.Read definition
  81. 81MinamanehA unit of weight and money smaller than a talent and larger than a shekel.Read definition
  82. 82EphahephaA biblical dry-volume measure used mainly for grain and flour.Read definition
  83. 83Bathbath measureA biblical liquid-volume measure, commonly used for oil or wine.Read definition
  84. 84HomerkorA large biblical capacity measure equal in Ezekiel’s system to ten ephahs or ten baths.Read definition
  85. 85CubitammahAn ancient length based roughly on the forearm from elbow to fingertip.Read definition
  86. 86Stadionstadia · furlongA Greek distance measure based on the length of a stadium course.Read definition
  87. 87Sabbath day’s journeySabbath journeyA conventional limit for travel on the Sabbath in later Jewish practice.Read definition
  88. 88GehennaValley of HinnomA valley near Jerusalem whose name became an image of divine judgment.Read definition
  89. 89Sheolthe grave · realm of the deadThe Hebrew Bible’s term for the realm of the dead.Read definition
  90. 90Hadesrealm of the deadThe Greek New Testament term for the realm of the dead.Read definition
  91. 91Paradisegarden of GodA garden image used for blessed life in God’s presence.Read definition
  92. 92Wildernessdesert · desolate placeSparsely inhabited land that becomes a setting of testing, dependence, and encounter with God.Read definition
  93. 93SynagogueassemblyA Jewish gathering and its meeting place for Scripture, prayer, and communal life.Read definition
  94. 94TemplesanctuaryThe central Jerusalem complex dedicated to Israel’s worship of God.Read definition
  95. 95City gategateA fortified entrance that also served as a public center for law, trade, and leadership.Read definition
  96. 96Upper roomupstairs roomA room on an upper floor used for lodging, meals, prayer, or gatherings.Read definition
  97. 97Threshing floorthreshing placeA hard, open surface where harvested grain was separated from stalk and chaff.Read definition
  98. 98Watchtowertower · lookoutAn elevated structure for watching fields, vineyards, cities, or approaching danger.Read definition
  99. 99Cisternpit · water reservoirA dug or rock-cut reservoir that stored rainwater for dry seasons.Read definition
  100. 100Winepresswine vatA facility where grapes were crushed and their juice collected for fermentation.Read definition