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Bible Dictionaries
World, the
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or The word commonly so rendered in the O.T. is tebel, signifying 'the habitable earth:' it is an expression of limited bearing, applied to that sphere which comes more directly under divine dealings. Psalm 90:2; and to the inhabitants, who will be judged. Psalm 9:8 . The word in the N.T. answering to the above, is οἰκουμένη:its various applications can be seen in Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28; Acts 17:6,31; Acts 19:27; Hebrews 2:5 . In the last passage it is the coming world, that is, that which is put under the Son of Man, that is spoken of.
In the N.T. κόσμος is the more general word, which in Greek writers signifies 'order, regularity, ornament'; it is translated 'adorning' in 1 Peter 3:3 . The heaven and the earth, because of their order and beauty, are called cosmos , 'the world.' This word is employed for 'world ' in its various meanings, as for instance the material earth, Romans 1:20; the inhabitants of the world that will be judged, Romans 3:6; and in a moral sense as the condition and spirit which is opposed to God. 1 Corinthians 2:12; James 4:4; 1 John 2:16 .
Another word, αἰών, 'age, duration,' is applied both to the present age, the course of this world, and to age-enduring, or eternity, Romans 12:2; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 6:12 . With a preposition it is translated 'for ever,' and when the word is repeated, 'for ever and ever,' or 'to the ages of ages.' 2 Corinthians 9:9; Galatians 1:5; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17 , etc. In two passages this word refers to the material worlds. Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 11:3 .
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'World, the'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/w/world-the.html. 1897.
