Meaning & use
exegetics
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Meaning
noununcountabletechnicalreligionformal
The branch of theology or literary study that deals with the careful explanation and interpretation of a text, especially the Bible.
Grammar: Uncountable; used with a singular verb: Exegetics is a difficult field.
Patterns
- exegetics of something
- study exegetics
She studied exegetics at a theological seminary in Germany.
Exegetics requires a deep knowledge of ancient languages and historical context.
His book on exegetics has become a standard reference for biblical scholars.
Common combinations
- biblical exegetics
- Biblical exegetics focuses on understanding the original meaning of scripture.
- study exegetics
- He decided to study exegetics after taking a course on the New Testament.
- exegetics of the Bible
- The exegetics of the Bible involves comparing different manuscripts.
Synonyms and how they differ
- exegesis
- Exegesis usually refers to the actual explanation or interpretation of a specific passage, while exegetics is the academic discipline or method of doing that.
- hermeneutics
- Hermeneutics is broader and deals with the theory of interpretation in general, whereas exegetics is more specifically about explaining texts, especially biblical ones.
- interpretation
- Interpretation is the general everyday word for explaining meaning; exegetics is a technical term used mainly in religious or academic contexts.
Word family
- exegete noun
- A person who practices exegesis; a skilled interpreter of texts, especially the Bible.
- exegetic adjective
- Relating to exegesis or exegetics; concerned with interpretation.
- exegetical adjective
- A more common variant of exegetic, meaning relating to the interpretation of texts.
Commonly confused: exegetics or exegesis? exegetics or eisegesis?
exegetics vs exegesis
Exegesis is the actual interpretation or explanation of a passage, while exegetics is the study or methodology of such interpretation.
exegetics vs eisegesis
Eisegesis means reading your own ideas into a text, the opposite of proper exegesis; exegetics is the disciplined study of interpretation.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'exegetics' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Exegetics is an uncountable noun naming the field of study, so it fits 'Exegetics is a required course.' Option 0 is wrong because a single interpretation is an 'exegesis,' not 'exegetics.' Option 2 uses it as a verb, which it is not. Option 3 treats it as a plural count noun, which is also incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “exegetics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.