Word Studies¶

Question¶

Does the Bible teach one unified people of God or two separate programs for Israel and the Church?

G4690 -- sperma (σπέρμα) -- "seed"¶

Original: σπέρμα Transliteration: sperma Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Something sown, seed; including the male "sperm"; by implication offspring, posterity, descendants. BLB Count: 44 NT occurrences

Translations in KJV¶

Translation	Count	Percentage
seed	27	67.5%
the seed	7	17.5%
seeds	2	5.0%
issue	1	2.5%
any seed	1	2.5%
a seed	1	2.5%
to seeds	1	2.5%

Key Verses for This Study¶

Rom 9:7 -- "Neither, because they are the seed [sperma] of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed [sperma] be called."
Rom 9:8 -- "the children of the promise are counted for the seed [sperma]"
Rom 9:29 -- "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed [sperma]" (quoting Isa 1:9)
Rom 4:13 -- "the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed [sperma], through the law"
Rom 4:16 -- "the promise might be sure to all the seed [sperma]; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham"
Rom 4:18 -- "he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed [sperma] be"
Gal 3:16 -- "Now to Abraham and his seed [sperma] were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds [spermata, dative plural], as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed [sperma, dative singular], which is Christ."
Gal 3:19 -- "till the seed [sperma] should come to whom the promise was made"
Gal 3:29 -- "if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed [sperma], and heirs according to the promise"
Rev 12:17 -- "the remnant of her seed [sperma], which keep the commandments of God"
John 8:33 -- "We be Abraham's seed [sperma]" (Jewish claim)
John 8:37 -- "I know that ye are Abraham's seed [sperma]" (Jesus acknowledges physical descent)
Heb 2:16 -- "he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed [sperma] of Abraham"
Heb 11:18 -- "In Isaac shall thy seed [sperma] be called"

Significance for the Israel/Church Question¶

Paul's argument in Galatians 3:16 is grammatically precise: the Greek σπέρματι (dative singular) vs. σπέρμασιν (dative plural). He argues the singular "seed" points to Christ as the one heir of the Abrahamic promise. Then in Gal 3:29, all who belong to Christ become Abraham's sperma -- heirs by incorporation into Christ, not by ethnicity. This creates one people defined by union with one Seed.

Greek Parsing Notes (from greek_parser.py)¶

Gal 3:16: σπέρματι (N-DSN, Dat Sg N) -- "to his seed"; σπέρμασιν (N-DPN, Dat Pl N) -- "to seeds" (the form Paul contrasts); ὅς ἐστιν Χριστός (R-NSM + V-PAI-3S + N-NSM) -- "who is Christ" (relative pronoun masculine, referring to the seed identified as Christ)
Gal 3:29: σπέρμα (N-NSN, Nom Sg N) -- "you are Abraham's seed" (predicate nominative; the Galatian believers ARE the seed)
Rom 9:7: σπέρμα (N-NSN, Nom Sg N) first occurrence; then κληθήσεται (V-FPI-3S, Fut Pass Ind) -- "shall be called" (future passive -- God is the agent who determines who counts as seed)
Rom 9:8: λογίζεται εἰς σπέρμα (V-PNI-3S + PREP + N-ASN) -- "are counted for the seed" (logizomai = reckoned/counted; the same word used for Abraham's faith in Rom 4:3)

G1577 -- ekklesia (ἐκκλησία) -- "church/assembly"¶

Original: ἐκκλησία Transliteration: ekklesia Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A calling out; a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both). BLB Count: 118 NT occurrences

Key Occurrences¶

Acts 7:38 -- "This is he, that was in the church [ekklesia] in the wilderness" -- Stephen uses ekklesia for the OT congregation of Israel at Sinai
Mat 16:18 -- "upon this rock I will build my church [ekklesia]"
Heb 12:23 -- "the general assembly and church [ekklesia] of the firstborn"

LXX Connection (from --lxx-map H6951)¶

H6951 (qahal) is translated as: | Greek Word | Count | PMI Score | |-----------|-------|-----------| | G1577 ἐκκλησία | 66 | 7.47 (highest) | | G4864 συναγωγή | 36 | 5.30 | | G3793 ὄχλος | 6 | 5.80 |

The LXX overwhelmingly translates Hebrew qahal as ekklesia (66 of ~123 occurrences = 54%). This is the same word used throughout the NT for "church." When Stephen says "the ekklesia in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38), he uses the exact word the LXX uses for the assembly of Israel.

Significance¶

The linguistic continuity is direct: the OT "congregation" (qahal) = the LXX "assembly" (ekklesia) = the NT "church" (ekklesia). The same word designates both the OT people of God and the NT people of God. This is not a metaphor or an analogy; it is the same institution with the same name.

H6951 -- qahal (קָהָל) -- "assembly/congregation"¶

Original: קָהָל Transliteration: qahal Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: Assemblage (usually concretely): assembly, company, congregation, multitude. BLB Count: 123 OT occurrences

Key Occurrences¶

Exo 12:6 -- "the whole assembly [qahal] of the congregation of Israel shall kill it"
Deu 5:19 -- "These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly [qahal]"
Deu 23:2-3 -- restrictions on who may enter "the congregation [qahal] of the LORD"
Psa 22:23 -- "in the midst of the congregation [qahal] will I praise thee" (quoted in Heb 2:12 as ekklesia)
Psa 22:26 -- "the meek shall eat and be satisfied" (context of the qahal)

LXX Translation¶

Qahal -> ekklesia (66 times) establishes the direct linguistic bridge between OT Israel's assembly and the NT church. See G1577 above.

G1484 -- ethnos (ἔθνος) -- "nation/people"¶

Original: ἔθνος Transliteration: ethnos Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A race (as of the same habit), a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan); by extension a Gentile. BLB Count: 164 NT occurrences

Key Occurrences¶

Translated as "nation" 19 times, including: - Mat 21:43 -- "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation [ethnos] bringing forth the fruits thereof" -- Jesus uses the same word (ethnos) that usually means "Gentiles" to describe the new recipients of the kingdom - 1 Pet 2:9 -- "a royal priesthood, an holy nation [ethnos]" -- Peter applies Exo 19:6's "holy nation" (Heb. goy qadosh) to the church, using ethnos

Greek Parsing Notes¶

1 Pet 2:9: ἔθνος ἅγιον (N-NSN + A-NSN, Nom Sg N) -- "a holy nation" (predicate nominative; the church IS a holy nation)
This is a direct transfer of Israel's covenant title from Exo 19:6 where the Hebrew is גוֹי קָדוֹשׁ (goy qadosh)

Significance¶

The use of ethnos in 1 Pet 2:9 and Mat 21:43 is particularly significant. In Mat 21:43, Jesus says the kingdom will be given to an ethnos that bears fruit -- this nation is not ethnic Israel but the church. In 1 Pet 2:9, Peter applies the OT covenant title "holy nation" to the church, completing the transfer.

H5971 -- am (עַם) -- "people"¶

Original: עַם Transliteration: am Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: A people (as a congregated unit); specifically a tribe (as those of Israel); hence collectively troops or attendants; figuratively a flock: folk, men, nation, people.

Key Occurrences¶

Exo 19:5 -- "ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people [ammim]" (the original covenant designation)
Hos 2:23 -- "I will say to them which were not my people [ammi], Thou art my people [ammi]" (the reversal)
Rom 9:25-26 (quoting Hosea) -- "I will call them my people [laos, G2992], which were not my people [laos]"
1 Pet 2:10 -- "Which in time past were not a people [laos], but are now the people [laos] of God"

Hebrew Parsing (Exo 19:5)¶

עַמִּים (ammim) -- Noun.mp.Abs (masculine plural absolute) -- "peoples/nations" The term am is Israel's primary identity designation. When Paul (Rom 9:25) and Peter (1 Pet 2:10) apply the "not-my-people becomes my-people" reversal from Hosea to Gentile believers, they are transferring Israel's foundational identity marker.

G2640 -- kataleimma (κατάλειμμα) -- "remnant"¶

Original: κατάλειμμα Transliteration: kataleimma Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A remainder; by implication a few: remnant. BLB Count: 1 (only in Rom 9:27)

The Single Occurrence¶

Rom 9:27 -- "Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant [kataleimma] shall be saved"

Paul quotes Isaiah 10:22 using this compound word (kata + leimma = "what is left down/behind"). The word emphasizes how small the surviving portion is.

G3005 -- leimma (λεῖμμα) -- "remnant"¶

Original: λεῖμμα Transliteration: leimma Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A remainder: remnant. BLB Count: 1 NT occurrence (Rom 11:5), also found in LXX of 2 Kings 19:4

The Key Occurrence¶

Rom 11:5 -- "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant [leimma] according to the election of grace"

Paul uses leimma to connect the present Jewish remnant that believes in Christ to the 7,000 faithful in Elijah's day (1 Ki 19:18). The remnant principle operates identically across both testaments.

H7611 -- sheerith (שְׁאֵרִית) -- "remnant/residue"¶

Original: שְׁאֵרִית Transliteration: sheerith Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion: that had escaped, be left, posterity, remainder, remnant, residue, rest. BLB Count: 66 OT occurrences

Key Occurrences¶

Isa 10:20 -- "the remnant of Israel" (shear yisrael)
Jer 23:3 -- "I will gather the remnant of my flock"
Jer 31:7 -- "save thy people, the remnant of Israel"
Mic 2:12 -- "I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel"
Mic 5:7 -- "the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people"
Zep 3:13 -- "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity"

Hebrew Parsing (Isa 10:20-22)¶

שְׁאָר (shear) -- Noun.ms.Cst -- "rest/remnant" (construct state, bound to "Israel")
שְׁאָר יִשְׂרָאֵל -- "remnant of Israel" (the surviving, believing portion)
שְׁאָר יָשׁוּב -- "a remnant shall return" (the name of Isaiah's son, Shear-Jashub, Isa 7:3)

Significance¶

The OT remnant vocabulary is extensive (66 occurrences of sheerith alone). The concept that only a portion of ethnic Israel constitutes the true people of God is not a NT innovation -- it is deeply embedded in the prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and Zephaniah all distinguish the faithful remnant from the nation as a whole.

Additional Parsing Notes from Greek Parser¶

Galatians 6:16 -- The "kai" Construction¶

Greek: καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπ' αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ.

The second καί (kai) is the debated conjunction. Two readings: 1. Epexegetical (explanatory): "peace upon them and mercy, even upon the Israel of God" -- the "Israel of God" = "as many as walk according to this rule" (the church) 2. Additive: "peace upon them and mercy, and also upon the Israel of God" -- identifying a separate group (believing Jews?)

Key grammatical observation: στοιχήσουσιν (V-FAI-3P, Future Active Indicative) -- "will walk" -- the referent of "them" is "as many as will walk by this rule." The phrase "the Israel of God" (τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ) uses the accusative with the genitive qualifier "of God," a unique construction in the NT. The qualifier "of God" distinguishes this Israel from Israel κατὰ σάρκα (according to the flesh, 1 Cor 10:18).

Romans 9:6 -- The Two "Israels"¶

Greek: οὐ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραήλ (ex Israel = "from Israel," genitive of source), οὗτοι Ἰσραήλ (nominative = "these are Israel")

The preposition ἐξ (ek, "out of/from") with the genitive indicates origin/descent. The demonstrative οὗτοι (houtoi, "these") in the nominative identifies who truly IS Israel. Paul distinguishes between those who descend FROM Israel (ethnic origin) and those who ARE Israel (covenant identity).

Ephesians 2:14-16 -- Key Vocabulary¶

μεσότοιχον (mesotoichon, G3320) -- "middle wall" -- NT hapax legomenon (used only here). Accusative singular neuter. The "wall of partition" that separated Jew and Gentile.
ἀμφότερα (amphotera, G297) -- "both" -- Accusative plural neuter. Used for "both" groups (Jew and Gentile) made into "one" (ἕν, hen, Acc Sg N).
κτίσῃ (ktise, from κτίζω, G2936) -- "create" -- Aorist active subjunctive. The making of "one new man" is an act of creation, not reformation.
ἀποκαταλλάξῃ (apokatallaxe, from ἀποκαταλλάσσω, G604) -- "reconcile fully" -- The compound prefix (apo + kata) intensifies the reconciliation. Both groups reconciled to God in one body.

John 10:16 -- One Fold, One Shepherd¶

ποίμνη (poimne, G4167) -- "flock" -- Nom Sg F. Jesus uses the singular: there will be "one flock" (μία ποίμνη).
ποιμήν (poimen, G4166) -- "shepherd" -- Nom Sg M. "One shepherd" (εἷς ποιμήν).
αὐλή (aule, G833) -- "fold/courtyard" -- Gen Sg F. The "fold" from which the other sheep are not = the Jewish fold.
Note: KJV translates both ποίμνη and αὐλή as "fold," but they are different words. The "other sheep" are not of this αὐλή (courtyard/enclosure) but will become part of the one ποίμνη (flock).

Romans 2:28-29 -- Inward vs. Outward¶

φανερῷ (phanero, G5318) -- "outward/manifest" -- Dat Sg N. Used for external, visible Jewishness.
κρυπτῷ (krupto, G2927) -- "hidden/inward" -- Dat Sg N. Used for internal, spiritual Jewishness.
περιτομή καρδίας ἐν πνεύματι (peritome kardias en pneumati) -- "circumcision of heart in spirit" -- echoes Deu 30:6 and Jer 4:4.
ἔπαινος (epainos, G1868) -- "praise" -- a wordplay on "Judah" (from Hebrew yadah, "praise"); the true "Jew" (Judah) is the one whose praise (epainos) comes from God.

1 Peter 2:9-10 -- Israel's Titles¶

γένος ἐκλεκτόν (genos eklekton) -- "chosen race/generation" (cf. Isa 43:20 LXX)
βασίλειον ἱεράτευμα (basileion hierateuma) -- "royal priesthood" (cf. Exo 19:6 LXX)
ἔθνος ἅγιον (ethnos hagion) -- "holy nation" (cf. Exo 19:6)
λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν (laos eis peripoiesin) -- "a people for [God's] possession" (cf. Exo 19:5)
λαός (laos, G2992) -- "people" -- the LXX equivalent of Hebrew am. In 2:10: οἵ ποτε οὐ λαός, νῦν δὲ λαὸς Θεοῦ -- "who once were not a people, but now are the people of God" (direct quotation of Hos 2:23 via LXX, applied to Gentile-majority churches).

Hosea 2:23 -- Hebrew Parsing¶

עַמִּי (ammi) -- "my people" (am + 1st person singular suffix)
לֹא עַמִּי (lo ammi) -- "not my people" (the name given to Hosea's son, Hos 1:9)
The reversal: from "not my people" to "my people" -- originally about Israel's restoration, applied by Paul (Rom 9:25-26) and Peter (1 Pet 2:10) to Gentile inclusion

Exodus 19:5-6 -- Hebrew Parsing¶

סְגֻלָּה (segullah) -- "peculiar treasure/special possession" -- Noun.fs.Abs
מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים (mamlekhet kohanim) -- "kingdom of priests" -- construct chain
גוֹי קָדוֹשׁ (goy qadosh) -- "holy nation" -- goy (normally "Gentile nation") + qadosh ("holy")

Note: The Hebrew goy (normally used for non-Israelite nations) is used here for Israel itself. This already complicates any rigid ethnic reading -- Israel is called a goy, the very word for "Gentile nation." Peter's application of ethnos hagion to the church in 1 Pet 2:9 mirrors this exactly.