Beneath the Surface

Words have been called "the ultimate unit of meaning" because they cannot be divided further and remain whole. However, words, like people, have relatives who can contribute to their character and meaning. These relatives are called "roots".

The Greek language, which the New Testament was originally written in, makes extensive use of root derivatives. These "roots" can often help us to see deeper into the meaning of a word than a simple definition can. Take, for example, the Greek word for "carpenter." By simple definition this word gives us the meaning of "one who fashions things out of wood". A broader meaning is also contained in the word - that of an architect or builder in wood, stone or metal. But if we would dare to follow the cascade of meaning revealed by its relatives, the roots, we would make an exciting discovery.

The Greek word for "carpenter" is "tekton" - from which we get the English word "technology". Tekton means "a craftsman in wood" but its immediate root derivative is "timoria", which means "vindication" (justification against denial or censure) or "a penalty; a punishment".

Timoria, in turn, is derived from the root "timorio", which means "to protect one's honor; to inflict a penalty". The chain continues with the next root - "time", which means "a value; something paid; a precious price". The chain ends with the root "tino", which means "to pay a price, as a penalty".

One can hardly read the related meanings of the word “carpenter” without being reminded of Jesus as the suffering servant whose purpose it was to atone for the sins of mankind. He alone could reunite man to God through an act of vindication, as He suffered the penalty, and paid the price that was rightfully ours, by dying in our place.