Featured Word Study G3724, “horizo”

Rippon continues to derail the thread, posting nothing about the topic, and simply repeating his disinformation.

Picking the best translation choice among several does not say the others were wrong, just not the best available.

Specified is a better translation choice because it includes the idea that God had told us in scripture how Jesus would die.

 

This Greek word appears, in slightly different forms, in eight verses. Its root meaning is to establish or designate conditions or boundaries. Modern translations translate it with a slew of different words, from ordain, to appoint, to designate, determine, decide, decree, declare, fix and set. If the circumstance refers to a past action of God as revealed in scripture, the idea seems to be “specified.” If a current action, then determined or declared captures the idea of the word. If the action is by people, then “decide or decided” seems like an accurate rendition of the intended word meaning.

So on the surface, there is no sound reason to translate “horizo” by more than four different English words, in their various tenses.

Lets take a look at the eight usages:

Luke 22:22, For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

This verse not only says the Son of Man is departing, but says God has previously specified such an event. Luke uses nearly the same word in Acts 2:23. Thus “has been specified” brings to mind the question, where did God teach of the death of the Messiah and that He would be betrayed.

Acts 2:23, this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Again, this verse refers to the plan of God as found in scripture, and so the “specified” plan and prior knowledge of God better conveys the whole message.

Acts 10:42, And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

Since this designation as “judge of the living and the dead” has been specified in scripture, “One who has been specified” brings the whole message into focus. See Isaiah 63 for one of the places where Jesus as judge is specified.

Acts 11:29, And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.

Here we have people making a decision, so rather than specified, which refers to a past designation, “decided” conveys the idea with the most clarity.

Acts 17:26, and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

In this usage, since the times and boundaries of every nation has not been specified in scripture, “having determined” seems spot on.

Acts 17:31, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Here, since scripture prophesied Jesus would arise from the dead, “has specified” conveys the full meaning. See Isaiah 53.

Now all the forgoing usages were by Luke, but our word appears two more times, in Romans and Hebrews.

Romans 1:4, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Some translations, nameless forever more, say “was appointed” which has brought confusion to the minds of many, thinking the idea was Jesus became the Son of Man at the resurrection. This completely misses the actual idea. “Declared” captures the idea of evidence put forth, i.e. the resurrection proves Jesus is the Messiah. But what did change? Jesus came as the suffering servant, but upon His resurrection, having been given all authority, He is now the Son of God with power to judge and reward the living and the dead.

Hebrews 4:7, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

Lastly, “fixes a” could read “He again is specifying a certain day,
These understandings of the underlying text, not only reduce the number of English words being used to translate the same Greek word meaning, but also reduce overlap where the same English word or phrase is used to translate more than one Greek word meaning. At least two other Greek words are translated as appointed or ordained.
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Rippon pointed out my mistake, saying Son of Man rather than Son of God and I addressed it. Now he brings it up again. You have got to love them, folks.

Romans 1:4, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Some translations, nameless forever more, say “was appointed” which has brought confusion to the minds of many, thinking the idea was Jesus became the Son of God at the resurrection. This completely misses the actual idea. “Declared” captures the idea of evidence put forth, i.e. the resurrection proves Jesus is the Messiah. But what did change? Jesus came as the suffering servant, but upon His resurrection, having been given all authority, He is now the Son of God with power to judge and reward the living and the dead.

 

This Greek word (G3724 - horizo) appears, in slightly different forms, in eight verses. Its root meaning is to establish or designate conditions or boundaries. Modern translations translate it with a slew of different words, from ordain, to appoint, to designate, determine, decide, decree, declare, fix and set. If the circumstance refers to a past action of God as revealed in scripture, the idea seems to be “specified.” If a current action, then determined or declared captures the idea of the word. If the action is by people, then “decide or decided” seems like an accurate rendition of the intended word meaning.

 

I am not the only person who advocates for fidelity and correspondence.

 

This Greek word (G3724 - horizo) appears, in slightly different forms, in eight verses. Its root meaning is to establish or designate conditions or boundaries. Modern translations translate it with a slew of different words, from ordain, to appoint, to designate, determine, decide, decree, declare, fix and set.

 

The above OP provides an opportunity to return to the actual topic.

 

Rather than repeat fallacious arguments, folks should consider improving translations by honoring the goals of fidelity, accuracy, and transparency to the original text. See post #115 for details.

 

Got to love them, that is the folks that do not seem to even know how to do word studies claiming to understand translation choices. Rather than repeat fallacious arguments, folks should consider improving translations by honoring the goals of fidelity, accuracy, and transparency to the original text. See post #115 for details.