Bible Questions, Answered from the Text
Straight answers to common Bible questions — every one grounded in the original Hebrew and Greek, with the KJV verses quoted in full.
- What was Jesus' real name in Hebrew?
Jesus' name in Hebrew was Yehoshua (later shortened to Yeshua), meaning 'YHWH is salvation.' 'Jesus' comes from the Greek spelling Iesous — the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament.
Read more → - What does agape love mean in the Bible?
Agape (Greek G26) is deliberate, self-giving love that acts for another's good regardless of feeling or merit. It is the word used in 'God is love' and throughout 1 Corinthians 13, where the KJV translates it 'charity.'
Read more → - What does YHWH mean? (God's name in the Bible)
YHWH is the personal name of God, four Hebrew consonants often rendered Yahweh or Jehovah, connected to the Hebrew verb 'to be' — 'I AM THAT I AM.' It appears 5,521 times in the Old Testament, printed as LORD in the KJV.
Read more → - What does Selah mean in the Psalms?
Selah (Hebrew H5542) appears 74 times, mostly in Psalms. Its exact meaning is uncertain, but it is most likely a musical direction — a pause or interlude inviting the singer and hearer to stop and weigh what was just said.
Read more → - What does hallelujah mean?
Hallelujah is Hebrew for 'Praise Yah' — a command to praise, from halal (to praise) plus Yah, the short form of God's name YHWH. The KJV translates it 'Praise ye the LORD' in Psalms and 'Alleluia' in Revelation.
Read more → - What does hosanna mean?
Hosanna comes from the Hebrew 'hoshia na' — 'Save now, we pray' (Psalm 118:25). By Palm Sunday it had become both a cry for salvation and a shout of praise to the One who saves.
Read more → - What birds did Noah send out from the ark?
Noah sent out two kinds of birds: first a raven, which 'went forth to and fro,' then a dove three times. The dove returned with an olive leaf on its second flight — the origin of the dove-and-olive-branch symbol of peace.
Read more → - What is the shortest verse in the Bible?
In the KJV the shortest verse is John 11:35, 'Jesus wept' — two words. The shortest in the original Greek is 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 'Rejoice evermore.'
Read more → - What is the longest verse in the Bible?
The longest verse in the Bible is Esther 8:9 — about 90 words in the KJV — describing the imperial decree written to reverse Haman's plot against the Jews.
Read more → - How many times does the Bible say 'fear not'?
The exact phrase 'fear not' appears in 62 verses of the KJV — and about 88 verses counting 'be not afraid.' The popular claim of '365 times, one for each day' is a myth, but the command is still among Scripture's most repeated.
Read more → - What does Jehovah-Jireh mean?
Jehovah-Jireh means 'the LORD will provide' (literally 'the LORD will see'). It is the name Abraham gave the place on Mount Moriah where God provided a ram in place of Isaac (Genesis 22:14).
Read more → - What does maranatha mean?
Maranatha is Aramaic for 'Our Lord, come!' (or 'Our Lord has come'). Paul leaves it untranslated in 1 Corinthians 16:22 — an early church prayer for the return of Jesus.
Read more → - What does Abba mean in the Bible?
Abba is the Aramaic word for 'father' — intimate but reverent, the word Jesus used in Gethsemane. It appears three times in the New Testament, always as 'Abba, Father.'
Read more → - What does shalom mean?
Shalom (Hebrew H7965) means far more than 'peace' — it is wholeness, completeness, welfare, and right relationship. It appears over 200 times in the Old Testament, from greetings to the priestly blessing.
Read more → - What is the difference between agape and phileo love?
Agape is deliberate, self-giving love of the will; phileo is warm affection between friends. The distinction is real but flexible — and John 21, where Jesus asks Peter 'lovest thou me?' three times, plays the two words against each other.
Read more → - Who wrote the book of Psalms?
The Psalms had many authors over roughly a thousand years: David wrote at least 73, with others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, and Moses (Psalm 90). Some psalms remain anonymous.
Read more → - What does Emmanuel mean?
Emmanuel (Hebrew Immanuel) means 'God with us' — from im (with), anu (us), and El (God). Isaiah gave the name in prophecy, and Matthew declares it fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.
Read more → - What does Messiah mean?
Messiah comes from the Hebrew mashiach, 'anointed one' — one set apart by anointing with oil, as kings and priests were. Its Greek translation is Christos: 'Christ' and 'Messiah' are the same title in two languages.
Read more → - What does amen mean?
Amen is a Hebrew word meaning 'truly, so be it' — from aman, 'to be firm, to believe.' It passed untranslated into Greek and English. Jesus uniquely opened sayings with it ('Verily'), and Revelation calls Him 'the Amen.'
Read more → - What does repent mean in the Bible?
To repent (Greek metanoeo) means to change your mind so completely that your direction changes — a turning from sin toward God. It was the opening word of the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles.
Read more →
Have a different question?
Ekdia's search understands plain-language questions and finds the verses that answer them.
Ask the Scriptures free →