1. Adversary – śāṭān
שָׂטָן (Hebrew)
Meaning: Opponent or accuser
Note: Later personified as Satan; originally a title or role.
50 Word Evolutions in the Bible
I created this list to help keep track of the changes that have occurred between the original meaning of words. Sources are available at the bottom for your review. My father owns a Strong’s concordance, and it is how I taught myself Greek in my 9th year of education. Now I use it for papertrails. Maybe you will find it of use?
2. Hell – Sheol / Hades / Gehenna
שְׁאוֹל (Hebrew) / ᾅδης, γέεννα (Greek)
Meaning: Grave, unseen realm, or a trash pit
Note: Not a place of eternal fiery torment.
3. Lucifer – heylel
הֵילֵל (Hebrew)
Meaning: Morning star (Venus)
Note: Misapplied to Satan; originally a metaphor for a fallen king.
4. Witch – kashaph
כָּשַׁף (Hebrew)
Meaning: Sorcerer or poisoner
Note: Used in ancient political/legal contexts, not modern Wicca.
5. Virgin – almah
עַלְמָה (Hebrew)
Meaning: Young woman
Note: Mistranslation from Isaiah 7:14 to support virgin birth doctrine.
6. Dragons – tannīn
תַּנִּין (Hebrew)
Meaning: Sea creature or serpent
Note: Later romanticized as fire-breathing monsters.
7. Unicorn – re'em
רְאֵם (Hebrew)
Meaning: Wild ox (possibly aurochs)
Note: KJV added fantasy flair.
8. God – elōhīm
אֱלֹהִים (Hebrew)
Meaning: Gods (plural form)
Note: Often treated as singular despite being grammatically plural.
9. Lord – YHWH
יהוה (Hebrew)
Meaning: Divine name (“I Am”)
Note: Replaced by “LORD” out of reverence or censorship.
10. Repent – nacham
נָחַם (Hebrew)
Meaning: To change one’s mind
Note: Even God “repents” in some texts (Genesis 6:6).
11. Sabbath – shabbat
שַׁבָּת (Hebrew)
Meaning: To cease, rest
Note: More about stopping labor than formal ritual.
12. Devil – diabolos
διάβολος (Greek)
Meaning: Slanderer, accuser
Note: Not always used for a singular evil being.
13. Demon – daimonion
δαιμόνιον (Greek)
Meaning: Spirit (neutral)
Note: Became demonized in translation.
14. Angel – mal’ak / angelos
מַלְאָךְ (Hebrew) / ἄγγελος (Greek)
Meaning: Messenger
Note: Could be human or divine.
15. Heaven – shamayim
שָׁמַיִם (Hebrew)
Meaning: Skies, heavens
Note: Sometimes just “air above.”
16. Sin – chata’
חָטָא (Hebrew)
Meaning: To miss the mark
Note: Not necessarily evil, more like error or deviation.
17. Abomination – to’evah
תּוֹעֵבָה (Hebrew)
Meaning: Ritual taboo
Note: Often cultural, not moral.
18. Eternal – olam
עוֹלָם (Hebrew)
Meaning: An age or long time
Note: Not necessarily “forever.”
19. Faith – pistis
πίστις (Greek)
Meaning: Trust, loyalty
Note: Not blind belief.
20. Church – ekklesia
ἐκκλησία (Greek)
Meaning: Assembly
Note: Misunderstood as buildings or denominations.
21. Preach – kēryssō
κηρύσσω (Greek)
Meaning: Announce, proclaim
Note: Originally public declarations, not sermons.
22. Righteousness – tsedeq / dikaiosynē
צֶדֶק (Hebrew) / δικαιοσύνη (Greek)
Meaning: Justice, fairness
Note: Ethical balance, not just piety.
23. Testament – berit / diathēkē
בְּרִית (Hebrew) / διαθήκη (Greek)
Meaning: Covenant, agreement
Note: Legal contract, not "will and testament."
24. Glory – kavod
כָּבוֹד (Hebrew)
Meaning: Weight, importance
Note: Not shiny light, but symbolic gravity.
25. Wife – ishshah
אִשָּׁה (Hebrew)
Meaning: Woman
Note: Translation relies entirely on context.
26. Servant – ebed
עֶבֶד (Hebrew)
Meaning: Slave, laborer
Note: Sanitized to hide slavery references.
27. Fear (of God) – yirah
יִרְאָה (Hebrew)
Meaning: Awe, reverence
Note: Mistranslated as literal terror.
28. Resurrection – anastasis
ἀνάστασις (Greek)
Meaning: Rising up, restoration
Note: Often spiritual or symbolic in context.
29. World – kosmos
κόσμος (Greek)
Meaning: Order, system
Note: Doesn't always mean “Earth.”
30. Love – agapē / philia / eros
ἀγάπη / φιλία / ἔρως (Greek)
Meaning: Different types of love
Note: Collapsed into one English word.
31. Shepherd – ra‘ah
רָעָה (Hebrew)
Meaning: Guide, protector
Note: Term for kings and rulers too.
32. Law – torah
תּוֹרָה (Hebrew)
Meaning: Instruction
Note: More guidance than rigid legalism.
33. Prophet – navi
נָבִיא (Hebrew)
Meaning: Spokesperson
Note: Not necessarily predictive.
34. Holy – qadosh
קָדוֹשׁ (Hebrew)
Meaning: Set apart
Note: Not “perfect.”
35. Blasphemy – blasphemia
βλασφημία (Greek)
Meaning: Slander
Note: Could refer to people, not just God.
36. Cross – stauros
σταυρός (Greek)
Meaning: Stake or pole
Note: Notnecessarily a "T"-shaped cross.
37. Repentance – metanoia
μετάνοια (Greek)
Meaning: Change of mind or heart
Note: Not self-flagellation.
38. Justify – dikaioō
δικαιόω (Greek)
Meaning: To declare righteous
Note: A courtroom verdict.
39. Commandments – mitzvot
מִצְווֹת (Hebrew)
Meaning: Directives or teachings
Note: Better read as guidance than rules.
40. Gospel – euangelion
εὐαγγέλιον (Greek)
Meaning: Good news
Note: Originally a royal or military announcement.
41. Possessed – daimonizomai
δαιμονίζομαι (Greek)
Meaning: Afflicted by a spirit
Note: Not necessarily full control.
42. Clean / Unclean – tahor / tamei
טָהוֹר / טָמֵא (Hebrew)
Meaning: Ceremonially acceptable or not
Note: Not moral condemnation.
43. Judgment – krisis
κρίσις (Greek)
Meaning: Decision or evaluation
Note: Not always punishment.
44. Covenant – berit
בְּרִית (Hebrew)
Meaning: Alliance, pact
Note: Relational agreement, not law-heavy.
45. Peace – shalom
שָׁלוֹם (Hebrew)
Meaning: Wholeness, harmony
Note: Beyond just absence of war.
46. Anointed One – mashiach
מָשִׁיחַ (Hebrew)
Meaning: Chosen, consecrated
Note: Term applied to kings, not just Jesus.
47. Christ – christos
χριστός (Greek)
Meaning: The Anointed
Note: Greek title, not a surname.
48. Baptism – baptizō
βαπτίζω (Greek)
Meaning: Immersion
Note: Daily Greek word for washing.
49. Abba – abba
אַבָּא (Aramaic)
Meaning: Papa or Father
Note: Shockingly intimate in religious context.
50. Be Perfect – teleios
τέλειος (Greek)
Meaning: Complete, mature
Note: Not sinless—about growing to fullness.