Illustrations
of English words derived from the Greek in the New Testament.
By
Gaylon West.
CAROLING
OR “HYMNING”?
The other night the door bell
rang. It was a pleasant surprise to see our neighbor's family
dressed up and caroling for us. Although it is considered to be a
tradition for small groups to sing
holiday songs outside of homes of a community at Christmas time, I
have rarely witnessed it during my eighty plus years.
According
to one account, the tradition to “carol”, i.e., “go
around from place to place in a group singing Christmas carols”
can be “traced” back to 1879.iHowever, Garry
Gamber in his article on Dickens' story A
Christmas Carol
surmises that this 1840's story was named a “carol” because of Dickens'
hope for it “to bring people together just as the singing of
Christmas carols spread joy and brought families together each season
throughout London.”ii
Consequently,
it is thought to have been an old English custom.iii
The word “carol” in English is traced back to the
1300's; but its original meaning is supposed to have been just “to
dance in a ring” and had been adopted from the Old French word
“carole.” The meaning “Christmas hymn of joy”
is attested from about 1500.
One
source says, “Carol
singing
came into its own in Victorian times, with the advent of the
Victorian Christmas. This was when Christmas became a holiday
families could enjoy, and celebrate, and music in the home was a big
of the celebrations [sic]. It would become tradition to sing carols after
the Christmas meal.”iv
Although
caroling is traditionally connected to religious celebration, one
will never find the expression carol
in the New Testament. Of course the observance of a holy day called Christmas is not a Biblical expression either.
Although we can rejoice continually at the good news of the Son of God being born, there is no specific date of the year to sing about this.
In fact, the apostle Paul gave a warning of any intention of doing anything like this (Galatians 4:10,11).
"You observe days and months and seasons and years.
I am afraid for you, lest somehow I have worked hard for you in vain" (Galatians 4:10,11, EMTV)
Instead of “carol”, the New
Testament uses a word similar in meaning, “hymn” (the Greek
nounhumnosand the Greek action verb
humneō).
The “n” is silent when Anglicized. Christians are to sing hymns in every "season" of the year (Ephesians 2:19; Colossians 3:16). If the government allows hymns in the
manner of carols, surely Christians should not shun from taking advantage of it while one is allowed. It is always a goal of evil forces even in America to
stop the good news message. Without "Christmas" and "Easter" holidays, I wonder how many children would ever hear the name of Jesus in a positive way.
Biblical Examples of "Hymning." Jesus
and the apostles sang an hymn before going out and up into the Mount
of Olives while Jesus was anticipating His arrest and horrific beating.
The apostle Paul and evangelist Silas sang an hymn of joy along with
their prayers while incarcerated in a Philippian prison.
Additionally, Christians are commanded to submit to the will of God
which includes singing hymns together in worship to God.
In
sum, the duty and privilege of a Christian is to imitate our Lord
Jesus in having joy expressed in prayer and singing; i.e., in hymns in
every season; Christmas being okay where allowed but it should be one's practice
throughout the year.
If
one is afflicted, the Scriptures teach us to pray; if merry, let's
sing psalms
(ψάλλω,
James
5:13). Instead of worrying about impending troubles or hurting from
them, Jesus's action teaches that we can not only pray but also sing hymns. In
the midst of resulting pain and troubles, the apostle Paul
demonstrates the value of both praying and singing of hymns. Singing
hymns not only prepares our spirit for what is impending but should lift one's spirits while boosting
that of our fellows.
CAROL
carol
verbcaroledor
carolled;
carolingor
carolling Definition
of carol
(verb version)
intransitive
verb 1:
to
sing especially in a joyful manner
2:
to
sing carolsspecifically:
to
go about outdoors in a group singing Christmas carols
transitive
verb:
1. to
praise in or as if in song
2:
to
sing especially in a cheerful manner :
WARBLE
carol
noun Definition
of carol
(Entry
1 of 2)
1:
an
old round dance with singing
2:
a
song of joy or mirththe
carol
of a bird—
Lord
Byron
3:
a
popular song or ballad of religious joy
FROM
ETYMONLINE.COM
hymn
(n.)"religious
song," c. 1000, from Old French ymne and Old English ymen, both
from Late Latin hymnus "song of praise," from Greek hymnos
"festive song or ode in praise of gods or heroes" (also
sometimes of mournful songs), used in Septuagint to translate several
Hebrew words meaning "song praising God." Possibly a
variant of hymenaios "wedding song," from Hymen, Greek god
of marriage, or, as per Watkins, from a PIE root *sam- "to sing"
(source also of Hittite išhamai "he sings," Sanskrit
saman- "hymn, song"). Evidence for the silent -n- dates
from at least 1530.
hymnal
(n.)c. 1500, imnale, himnale, "hymn-book," from Medieval
Latin hymnale (n.), from ymnus, from Latin hymnus "song of
praise" (see hymn). As an adjective, "of or pertaining to
hymns," attested from 1640s.
HYMN
action verb
STRONG'S
G5214
THAYER's
G5214
G5214
ὑμνέω
humneō
Thayer
Definition:
1)
to sing the praise of, sing hymns to
2)
to sing a hymn, to sing
2a)
singing of paschal hymns these were Psalms 113 - 118 and 136, which
the Jews called the “great Hallel”
KING
JAMES NEW TESTAMENT USE OF SINGING
PRAISES verb
Total
KJV occurrences: 2
humneo
-to
hymn, religious ode, to celebrate God in song, sing
a hymn,
praise (unto)
Matthew
26:30
“And
when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives”
Acts
16:25
“But
at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and
the prisoners were listening to them.”
HYMN
noun (a thing)
speaking
in PSALMS in
PRAISES
STRONG'S
G5215
hymn-ὕμνος
humnos
hoom'-nos
to
celebrate, one of the psalms, A hymn.
Thayer's
G5215
1)
a song in the praise of gods, heroes, conquerors
2)
a sacred song, hymn
Part
of Speech:
noun masculine
A
Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: apparently
from a simpler (obsolete) form of hudeo (to celebrate, probably akin
to G103)
May
be from a simpler (obsolete) form of ὕδέωhudeō
(to celebrate;
probably akin to G103;
compare G5567);
a “hymn” or religious ode (one of the Psalms): - hymn.
KING
JAMES NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE
SONGS noun
Total
KJV occurrences: 2
Ephesians
5:19
. . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Colossians
3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching
and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
HYMN
G5214 (sing),
Greek OT LXX. -----
1
Chronicles 16:9
Sing to him,
even
sing praiseG5214
to him!
2
Chronicles 23:13
and ones singingG5214
praise.
2
Chronicles 29:30
to the Levites for
them
to praiseG5214
the lord by the
words of David, and of Asaph the prophet.
Psalm
22:22
I shall describe your name to
my
brethren;
in the
midst of the
assembly
I will praiseG5214
you.
Psalm
65:13
They shall cry out,
for even they will sing praise.G5214
Psalm
71:6My
singing praiseG5214.1is
always].
Psalm
71:8
that I may praise in songG5214
of your glory;
Psalm
118:14
[ is
my strengthandmy
singing of praiseG5214.1
