That's a Little Semantic
Are you familiar with the phrase, semantic range? Unless you’ve spent time in the forgotten recesses of a library, probably not. You’d most likely discover the phrase in an etymology book, and most people have better options on a Friday night. Please don’t tell anyone, but I get really jazzed about etymology. It’s the formal study of word development. As a native English speaker, I find word development intriguing!
Recently, I had the privilege of connecting with a Bible translator. Translators are fascinating people who work from the Hebrew and Greek texts of Scripture to bring the Bible into a new language. I enjoy these conversations immensely because they lead to discussions on the semantic range of words and the prayerful decisions that go into conveying a theologically significant idea into a new language. The conversation revolved around the word baptism and the difficulty of translating the word baptism into a culture with no reference point. Baptism is a loan word in English from the Greek word baptizo. Baptizo wasn’t exclusively religious in the Greco-Roman world. It commonly referred to the act of immersing or dipping something, and only later developed into its more exclusive religious concept.
Enough with the etymology lesson. O.k., I get it! The point: there is something very beautiful in the Bible translation process when a translator thinks deeply about the concept or idea that a word is conveying. Language is not the end of communication but the conduit by which communication occurs. That is a big difference! How many times have we said something clearly on our end only to be misunderstood? It happens all the time because we take the semantic range of words for granted. We use a word to convey a concept, but someone interprets it differently. Consult any English dictionary, and we’ll discover that the English language has made a living on etymological development. What’s bad is good, and what’s sick is awesome. How does that happen?!? Don’t get me started on drip, glaze, and bussin. The English language flows like a river with new words and meanings entering from countless tributaries. The semantic range of words is ever-expanding. Do you like running? Well, it depends. Are we talking about exercise or the snot coming out of my nose?
Frequently, I find myself in a conversation, wondering if we are speaking the same language. Yes, the words are English, but the concepts behind the words seem elusive. This is a situation better served in the back recesses of a library rather than a bar on Friday night. The perks of being a nerd! This is etymology in action!
As Jesus followers, words are vitally important. We believe that God has communicated to us through His word, and that is one profound statement! His word is life because it conveys the very ideas or concepts of relating to God. The word of God doesn’t change, but language does. Bible translators aren’t the only ones who should be thinking about how to communicate the heart of God in a culture that may not understand words like saved, baptism, or even love. Are we communicating for understanding?
There is a lot happening in our world this Lent Season. God’s word is as vital in His world as it has ever been. As we communicate God’s truth, let’s try to communicate for understanding. Our culture is rapidly changing, but there is a growing hunger for truth— another word that may need explanation. May God grant us opportunities to speak life in a world that desperately needs to understand.