Syntax and semantics

Syntax has to do with the alphabet, punctuation, grammar, etc.
Semantics has to do with meaning.

In messages that have been transmitted without corruption, one has the syntax which was implied (written, spoken, etc.). However, one must infer the meaning from the syntax. And this assumes that the syntax of the message has not been corrupted.

A text, such as the Bible has the following.

syntax (letters, words, grammar, etc.)
semantics (meaning)

One way to infer the meaning of a self-consistent work, such as the Bible, is to view it as a constraint logic system.

In practice, one adds other works in the same language to provide additional ways to infer the meaning of words.

The translation of text from one language into another language involves very subtle semantics. The true semantics may not even be known.

If messages are hidden in the text using, say, double meanings, etc., those additional messages may not be detected for a long time.

Given a text with "information".

What does it "say"? (syntax)
What does it "mean"? (semantics)

What does it "say"? (syntax).

Syntax has to do with letters, words, and grammar forming phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc.

The ancient Greek word "ἑρμηνεύς" ≈ "interpreter" was introduced to science and philosophy by Aristotle in his work entitled "Περὶ Ἑρμηνεία" ≈ "About meaning". The Latin title is "De Interpretatione" ≈ "On Interpretation" .

The word "hermeneutics" comes from the ancient Greek word "ἑρμηνεύς" ≈ "interpreter" as to the meaning of something. This word appears often in the GNT (Greek New Testament). The field of "hermeneutics" is the study of the meaning of texts, especially Biblical texts. This includes syntax, semantics and both textual and non-textual (i.e., implied, nonverbal, etc.) meaning.

More: Aristotle

What does it "mean"? (semantics)

The modern Greek word "ερμηνεία" (ehr-mee-NEE-a) ≈ "interpretation" from which we get "hermeneutics", the study of the meaning of texts.

The modern Greek word "εξήγηση" (eh-KSEE-gee-see) ≈ "explanation" , from which we get "exegesis", the explaining of texts.

More: Aristotle

Socrates noted that language and words can reveal or conceal since messages can be delivered in an ambiguous way.

Aristotle deals with this in many of his works such as "On sophistical refutations".

Details are left as a future topic.

On goal of programming language design is to create a syntax that is convenient for the programmer to use in specifying a desired computation, but also "context free" in that the underlying semantics of the programming language is both unambiguous to the programmer and to the compiler in generating code to effect the specified (and, hopefully, desired) computation.

Meaning has many levels and nuances. The exact meaning of a text is often somewhat unclear. In general, one should

explain what the text says, and
explain what the text appears to mean.

One should always include the larger context in which a text appears.

In answering questions, try to quote Bible text, in the appropriate context.

The Roman god Mercury is the Greek god Hermes from the ancient Greek word "Ἑρμῆς" ≈ "Hermes, Mercury" the messenger of the gods who is related to commerce, deception, etc. The modern Greek word "Ερμής" (EHr-MEES) ≈ "Hermes, Mercury".

Hermes is considered the inventor of language and speech - as both an interpreter and a deceiver. Such language could lead to truths or to non-truths.

A folk etymology is that it is related to the ancient Greek word "ἑρμηνεύς" ≈ "interpreter" as to the meaning of something and was used by Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834 )to coin the word "hermeneutics" as the study of the meaning of words and texts.

Aristotle wrote a work the ancient Greek work "Περὶ Ἑρμηνείας" ≈ "On Interpretation" which has the Latin name "De Interpretatione" ≈ "On Interpretation". This work defined the technical Greek word "ἑρμηνεία" ≈ "interpretation, meaning".

This and related words appears often in the GNT.

This word appears to be pre-Greek so there may be some unknown connection between this word and the word for "Hermes".

More: Folk etymology