Edify: KJV Bible Word Study Series

We are carpenters, you and I.

(Did you not know?)

Yes, every time you encourage me to press on despite my pain, or I lift your burdens in prayer, a doorway is made, a window is cut, and a room is laid out.

We are swinging mighty hammers of love, and our plumb lines point straight to God’s truth.

Yes, a magnificent building is rising off the foundation of our stalwart Cornerstone—Jesus Christ.

 

 

Welcome to my KJV Bible Word Study Series!

I love the King James Version Bible. I believe it is the most accurate and beautiful translation we can read. Nevertheless, it is important for us to know that none of the translations we have today (including the KJV) is perfect. Only the original Hebrew and Greek texts from which they came are divinely inspired.

The KJV, its lyrical beauty aside, employs several antiquated words, and words that have changed their meanings over time, that might send us scrambling for the nearest dictionary or concordance.

In this series, I take words that we may be unfamiliar with outside their biblical setting or that may be confusing to our modern-day English sensibilities, and expound upon their original meaning within the context of the verse.

By using Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, it is my hope to bring clarity to, and broaden our understanding of, many beloved and obscure KJV Bible passages.

 

Edify

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Edify—G3618: to be a house-builder, construct, or (figuratively) confirm [to make firm, strengthen, establish, encourage], build (up), (be in) building up, embolden

G3619: architecture, (concretely) a structure, (figuratively) confirmation, building

Edification—G3619: see above definition

Edified—G3618: see above definition

Edifieth—G3618: see above definition

Edifying—G3619: see above definition

G3622: administration (over a household or estate), dispensation, stewardship, taken from G3624: manager, overseer, governor

 

[Words in bold or italics used for emphasis in Bible verses throughout this study.]

 

 

Edify

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Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as you do. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

 

In my common misery, I seek comfort. Likely, you do too.

But if someone simply commiserated with our plight, how would that help us, truly?

Godly comfort is acknowledging the pain of our dear sisters, but leading them away from despair and strengthening their wobbly steps in courage toward the hope of Christ.

This comfort builds.

This comfort edifies.

To edify (Oikodomēo G3618) is to be a house builder. How awesome to think we have been given this capability! Our brothers and sisters are part of the house of God, and we can aid in their spiritual growth and development by our Spirit-led words and actions.

 

Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. (Romans 15:2)

 

Yet as with any responsibility, our intention must always be for the good of the other. We may have a great gift (speaking, writing, teaching), but if it isn’t geared toward helping our fellow brethren, we only have the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of self-promotion.

Paul cautioned against the pride of our abilities, specifically the use of speaking in tongues (foreign languages) in 1 Corinthians 14, verses 4 and 17.

 

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. (1 Corinthians 14:4)

 

For thou givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. (1 Corinthians 14:17)

 

Just like the early church’s gift of tongues, our personal biblical knowledge can be a hindrance to someone else’s growth, if we are not employing godly love.

 

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (1 Corinthians 8:1)

 

Truth is truth. But everyone on this Christian path is given knowledge at a pace befitting that individual.

God knows our spiritual frame. He knows when we are ready for the next layer of brick and mortar.

Speaking the truth gently, in love, is key to the proper building up of the sound structure of our spiritual family.

 

Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Romans 14:19)

 

But speaking the truth in love, may [we, the church] grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:15–16)

 

With any building or remodeling project, there is the inevitable tearing down of crumbling walls, reinforcing beams and openings, and the removal of unsightly or unnecessary sections before the beauty of a sound structure is revealed.

The renovation of our hearts is no different.

It hurts.

We must dismantle the façade of fear, tear down the partitions of sin (those false panels we think are not there), and scrape off the peeling paint of self-righteousness.

 

This house of our own making stifles our spiritual growth, dear friends, and grieves the Spirit of God.

 

When these very things mar the building of our fellow brethren, we have a mutual responsibility to humbly speak the truth, however painful (or destructive) it may feel at the time, to correct the errant steps and remind them of their true calling as children of God.

This is also speaking the truth in love.

 

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. (2 Corinthians 13:10)

 

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:22–23)

 

Edifying can take many forms. From the resolute whisper of consolation to the clarion call to wake up.

But whichever is required, our motivation should always be the spiritual well-being of the other.

 

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

 

 

 

 

Edification (G3619) is confirming (making firm, establishing, strengthening, and encouraging) the soundness of a structure, whether a home, a household, a family, a temple.

 

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

 

Will it hold up under tremendous pressure? Is it strong enough to withstand the fiercest storm?

We ask these questions of our physical dwellings, but what about our spiritual selves? What about our family relationships and communities?

If the power of Christ lives in us, the answer is a resounding YES!

 

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God has given each of us certain house-building gifts. What is yours?

Teaching, leading, speaking words of encouragement, hospitality, discernment, ministering to the needs of others? Whatever it is, use it:

 

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12–13)

 

House building isn’t easy, my friends. But when all is swept and polished, our reward will be an eternal edifice of grandeur.

 

May our concrete foundation be the bedrock of Truth,

Framed with the steel studs of faith,

that won’t bend or break,

Wrapped in the lath and plaster of our royal robes of righteousness,

Windows reflecting the knowledge of the Lord,

Mercy and forgiveness wired throughout each room,

And richly painted with peace, joy,

and a generous coat of the lacquer of love.

 

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I love a good word study, don’t you? I hope you’ve gleaned, along with me, some additional insight into the rich words used in the KJV Bible.

If you would like to read more posts in this series, please check out my KJV Bible Studies page.

To stay up to date on all Desert Rain content, consider signing up for my Abide & Blossom newsletter for the weary Christian woman. Thank you!

 

Abiding in the Vine,

~ Gleniece

 

The post “Edify: KJV Bible Word Study Series” was first published on Desert Rain.

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