2 Timothy 2:15 Careful diligence on the words for careful diligence

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [kjv]

σπουδασον σεαυτον δοκιμον παραστησαι τω θεω εργατην ανεπαισχυντον ορθοτομουντα τον λογον της αληθειας [gnt]

sollicite … [v]

In another "study", the ancient Greek word "σπεύδω" ≈ "be keen, make haste" in the sense of an urgent focused priority, and is translated as "study" once and as many other words at other places.

2 Timothy 2:15

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KJV: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Greek: σπουδασον σεαυτον δοκιμον παραστησαι τω θεω εργατην ανεπαισχυντον ορθοτομουντα τον λογον της αληθειας

Latin: sollicite cura te ipsum probabilem exhibere Deo operarium inconfusibilem recte tractantem verbum veritatis

Wycliffe: Bisili kepe to yyue thi silf a preued preisable werkman to God, with oute schame, riytli tretinge the word of treuthe.

Gothic: usdaudei thuk silban gakusanana usgiban guda waurstwjan unaiwiskana, raihtaba raidjandan waurd sunjos.

Luther: Befleißige dich, Gott zu erzeigen einen rechtschaffenen, unsträflichen Arbeiter, der da recht teile das Wort der Wahrheit.

Slavonic: Потщися себе искусна поставити пред Богом, делателя непостыдна, право правяща слово истины.

Russian: Старайся представить себя Богу достойным, делателем неукоризненным, верно преподающим слово истины.

Spanish: Procura con diligencia presentarte a Dios aprobado, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse, que traza bien la palabra de verdad.

*G4704 *11 σπουδάζω (spoo-dad'-zo) : from G4710; to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:--do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.

Usage

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σπουδασον *4

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman ...
2 Timothy 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
2 Timothy 4:21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth ...
Titus 3:12 ... thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me ...

σπουδασατε *2

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling ...
2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in ...

εσπουδασα

Galatians 2:10 ... the same which I also was forward to do.

σπουδαζοντες

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

εσπουδασαμεν

1 Thessalonians 2:17 ... in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your ...

σπουδασωμεν

Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, ...

σπουδασω

2 Peter 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my ...

Note that the last part of the Strong's definition for G4704 is "do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavor, labor, study". This is not an ancient definition, but appears to have been added because of way that word was sometimes translated from the GNT (Greek New Testament).

This above Greek word is often translated from the GNT as "diligent" or "careful" or something similar. The interesting point here is that ancient (and modern) Greek have a word for "diligent" or "careful" and that word was not used in many verses translated as "diligent" or "careful".

This page looks at that Greek word (and variations) for "diligent" or "careful" and where it is used in the GNT and LXX (Septuagint).

The modern Greek word "επιμέλεια" (eh-pee-MEH-lee-a) ≈ "diligence, care".

The ancient Greek word "ἐπιμέλεια" ≈ "diligence, care".

*G1958 *1 ἐπιμέλεια (ep-ee-mel'-i-ah) : from G1959 ἐπιμελέομαι; carefulness, i.e. kind attention (hospitality):--+ refresh self.

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επιμελειας

Acts 27:3 ... to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

*G1959 *3 ἐπιμελέομαι (ep-ee-mel-eh'-om-ahee) : middle voice from G1909 and the same as G3199; to care for (physically or otherwise):--take care of.

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επεμεληθη

Luke 10:34 ... to an inn, and took care of him.

επιμεληθητι

Luke 10:35 ... and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever ...

επιμελησεται

1 Timothy 3:5 ... his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

*G1960 *1 ἐπιμελῶς (ep-ee-mel-oce') : adverb from a derivative of G1959 ἐπιμελέομαι; carefully:--diligently.

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επιμελως

Luke 15:8 ... the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

Note the use of three different Strongs references for the same concept - but with three somewhat different meanings. Can the same general meaning be used for each verse? Let use look at each verse in the GNT? Let us investigate.

Luke 10:35

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KJV: And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Greek: και επι την αυριον εξελθων εκβαλων δυο δηναρια εδωκεν τω πανδοχει και ειπεν αυτω επιμεληθητι αυτου και ο τι αν προσδαπανησης εγω εν τω επανερχεσθαι με αποδωσω σοι

Luke 15:8

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KJV: Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

Greek: η τις γυνη δραχμας εχουσα δεκα εαν απολεση δραχμην μιαν ουχι απτει λυχνον και σαροι την οικιαν και ζητει επιμελως εως οτου ου ευρη

Acts 27:3

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KJV: And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

Greek: τη τε ετερα κατηχθημεν εις σιδωνα φιλανθρωπως τε ο ιουλιος τω παυλω χρησαμενος επετρεψεν προς τους φιλους πορευθεντα πορευθεντι επιμελειας τυχειν

1 Timothy 3:5

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KJV: (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? )

Greek: ει δε τις του ιδιου οικου προστηναι ουκ οιδεν πως εκκλησιας θεου επιμελησεται

Now let us look at the same word in the LXX, written about 300 years earlier. All references are either in Genesis or Proverbs.

Can you infer a general meaning of the word by "carefully" and "diligently" "studying" how that word is used?

Genesis 6:5

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KJV: And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Hebrew: וירא יהוה כי רבה רעת האדם בארץ וכל יצר מחשבת לבו רק רע כל היום׃

Greek: ιδων δε κυριος ο θεος οτι επληθυνθησαν αι κακιαι των ανθρωπων επι της γης και πας τις διανοειται εν τη καρδια αυτου επιμελως επι τα πονηρα πασας τας ημερας

Genesis 8:21

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KJV: And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Hebrew: וירח יהוה את ריח הניחח ויאמר יהוה אל לבו לא אסף לקלל עוד את האדמה בעבור האדם כי יצר לב האדם רע מנעריו ולא אסף עוד להכות את כל חי כאשר עשיתי׃

Greek: και ωσφρανθη κυριος ο θεος οσμην ευωδιας και ειπεν κυριος ο θεος διανοηθεις ου προσθησω ετι του καταρασασθαι την γην δια τα εργα των ανθρωπων οτι εγκειται η διανοια του ανθρωπου επιμελως επι τα πονηρα εκ νεοτητος ου προσθησω ουν ετι παταξαι πασαν σαρκα ζωσαν καθως εποιησα

Proverbs 3:8

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KJV: It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Hebrew: רפאות תהי לשרך ושקוי לעצמותיך׃

Greek: τοτε ιασις εσται τω σωματι σου και επιμελεια τοις οστεοις σου

Proverbs 3:22

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KJV: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Hebrew: ויהיו חיים לנפשך וחן לגרגרתיך׃

Greek: ινα ζηση η ψυχη σου και χαρις η περι σω τραχηλω εσται δε ιασις ταις σαρξι σου και επιμελεια τοις σοις οστεοις

Proverbs 13:4

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KJV: The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Hebrew: מתאוה ואין נפשו עצל ונפש חרצים תדשן׃

Greek: εν επιθυμιαις εστιν πας αεργος χειρες δε ανδρειων εν επιμελεια

Proverbs 13:24

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KJV: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Hebrew: חושך שבטו שונא בנו ואהבו שחרו מוסר׃

Greek: ος φειδεται της βακτηριας μισει τον υιον αυτου ο δε αγαπων επιμελως παιδευει

Proverbs 27:25

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KJV: The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

Hebrew: גלה חציר ונראה דשא ונאספו עשבות הרים׃

Greek: επιμελου των εν τω πεδιω χλωρων και κερεις ποαν και συναγε χορτον ορεινον

Proverbs 28:25

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KJV: He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

Hebrew: רחב נפש יגרה מדון ובוטח על יהוה ידשן׃

Greek: απληστος ανηρ κρινει εικη ος δε πεποιθεν επι κυριον εν επιμελεια εσται