of the words deserves attention first, not as being the most important
LITERATURE: Bavinck, Dogmatiek I, p. 510 vv.; IV., pp. 456–460; Kuyper, Encyclopaedie III, p. 114 vv.; Cunningham, Theological Lectures, Lect. 47, 48; Muenscher, Manual of Biblical Interpretation, chap. 4.
V. Grammatical Interpretation
A. Meaning of the Separate Words
The Bible was written in human language, and consequently must be interpreted grammatically first of all. In the study of the text the interpreter can proceed in a twofold way. He can begin with the sentence, with the expression of the writer's thought as a unity, and then descend to particulars, to the interpretation of the separate words and concepts; or he can begin with the latter, and then gradually ascend to a consideration of the sentence, of the thought as a whole. From a purely logical and psychological point of view, the first method deserves preference. Cf. Woltjer, Het Woord, zijn Oorsprong en Uitlegging, p. 59. But for practical reasons it is generally advisable to begin the interpretation of foreign literature with a study of the separate words. Hence we shall follow this order in our discussion. Three things call for consideration here.
1. THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORDS. The etymological meaning of the words deserves attention first, not as being the most important for the exegete, but because it logically precedes all other meanings. As a rule it is not advisable that the interpreter should indulge very much in etymological investigations. This work is extremely difficult, and can, ordinarily, best be left to the specialists. Moreover, the etymological meaning of a word does not always shed light on its current signification. At the same time, it is advisable that the expositor of Scripture take notice of the established etymology of a word, since it may help to determine its real meaning and may