Lexical Summary eusémos: Well-marked, distinct, conspicuous Original Word: εὔσημος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance easy to be understood. From eu and the base of semaino; well indicated, i.e. (figuratively) significant -- easy to be understood. see GREEK eu see GREEK semaino NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom eu and the same as sémainó Definition clear NASB Translation clear (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2154: εὔσημοςεὔσημος, εὔσημον (εὖ and σῆμα a sign), well-marked, clear and definite, distinct: λόγος, 1 Corinthians 14:9 (A. V. easy to be understood). (Aeschylus (Sophocles), Theophrastus, Polybius, Plutarch.) Topical Lexicon Scriptural settingIn 1 Corinthians 14 Paul addresses spiritual gifts—especially tongues and prophecy—and their place in congregational life. The term appears in his warning: “So also you: unless you utter intelligible speech with your tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air” (1 Corinthians 14:9). His concern is that every utterance within the assembly be understandable so that hearers receive edification. Purpose within spiritual gifts Tongues are Spirit-given (1 Corinthians 12:10) yet must benefit the body. Paul measures benefit by comprehension: “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3), while uninterpreted tongues lack public value (1 Corinthians 14:5). εὔσημον thus provides the dividing line between personal experience and corporate edification. Implications for corporate worship 1. Clarity preserves order (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Speech that meets the εὔσημον standard becomes a vehicle of grace to the gathered church. Theological significance The term accents the perspicuity of God’s revelation. The Creator who spoke the cosmos into being (Psalm 33:9) discloses Himself in ways people can grasp. Jesus, the incarnate Word (John 1:14), embodies divine clarity; the Spirit illumines minds to understand truth (John 16:13). Acceptable ministry therefore mirrors God’s communicative character: what He makes known is meant to be understood. Applications for ministry and teaching • Preaching: exposit Scripture plainly so hearers may “understand the meaning” (Nehemiah 8:8). Historical interpretation Chrysostom saw 1 Corinthians 14:9 as a corrective to ostentatious displays lacking benefit. Medieval debates over liturgy’s language eventually fed the Reformation cry for Scripture and worship in the vernacular, founded partly on this verse. Modern Bible-translation movements continue the trajectory, convinced that every tribe and tongue deserves clear proclamation (Revelation 7:9). Pastoral reflections Paul’s lone use of εὔσημον reverberates through centuries: fervor without intelligibility turns worship inward, but clarity channels grace outward. In an era saturated with noise, the church’s task remains to speak words that are not only Spirit-empowered but also clear, building up believers and magnifying Christ. Forms and Transliterations ευσημον εύσημον εὔσημον ευσήμω εύσκιον eusemon eusēmon eúsemon eúsēmonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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