Discovery Teacher: Using the dictionary
Fun Family Traditions: Developing your own Dinner Themes
Defining Moments
A prominent feature at our family dinner table was a huge dictionary. It sat on a rather tall stand, which had wheels. Whenever we asked Mom and Dad what a word meant, they told us to look it up in the dictionary. We often would have fascinating dinner talk about the origin of some words and their meaning.
In today’s world of semantics (look that up), many words of a generation ago have greatly changed in how they are defined. It is very interesting to look up words used in scripture, not in a modern dictionary, but in a dictionary of the previous generation, about 30 to 50 years ago. Other good resources include the Bible Dictionary and the American 1828 Dictionary (Webster).
In this little quest for meaning, you may discover hidden treasures of knowledge that will be “defining moments” in your life— new understandings that will add height to your spiritual stature and depth to your character.
For example, when Apostle Peter called the Church of Jesus Christ a “peculiar” people, what did he mean? Here is what one teacher discovered, and shared.
Russell M Nelson
CR Apr 1995
Peter used uplifting terms in a prophecy regarding our day. He identified
members of the Church [the house of Israel] as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people."
about peculiar? A modern dictionary defines peculiar as "unusual,"
"eccentric," or "strange." What kind of compliment is that?
But the term peculiar as used in the scriptures is quite different. In the
Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is
segullah, which means "valued property," or "treasure."
SEGULLAH
In the New Testament, the Greek term from which peculiar was translated is
peripoiesis, which means "possession," or "an obtaining."
Thus, we see that the scriptural term peculiar signifies "valued treasure,"
"made" or "selected by God." For us to be identified by servants of the
Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order.
When we know who we are and what God expects of us-when his "law [is]
written in [our] hearts" -we are spiritually protected. We become better
people.
Thanks to Todd McKenna.
Another Dinner Talk Question:
“Redeem” means to “buy back”or “set free”. How does this apply to you and what your Redeemer has done for you? If you are a peculiar treasure, for which He would pay so much, He must consider you of great worth.
See also:
Example
Daily Manna
Glossary
