Most of the time when I read words in the Bible that are no longer in common use, I reason out the meaning from its usage in the verse, along with the setting of the text. And though I am almost always "off" in the fullness and depth of the definitions, I still haven't made it a practice to look the word(s) up in the dictionary.
Yesterday we read I Sam. 25. This chapter is about Nabal and Abigail. The Bible says that Nabal was "churlish" and "folly is with him". [I Sam. 25: 1,25-31]
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Maybe others are wiser and have taken time to look this word up before, but here are some definitions according to Websters 1828 online:
CHURLISH:
1. Rude; surly; austere; sullen; rough in temper; unfeeling; uncivil.
2. Selfish; narrow-minded; avaricious.
3. [Of things.] Unpliant; unyielding; cross-grained; harsh; unmanageable; as churlish metal.
4. Hard; firm; as a churlish knot.
5. Obstinate; as a churlish war.
The intriquing thing with the 1828 is that many of the defining words must be looked up as well. For instance: austere and avaricious you don't hear everyday.
AUSTERE: a. [L. Austerus.
1. Severe; harsh; rigid; stern; applied to persons; as an austere master; an austere look.
2. Sour; harsh; rough to the taste; applied to things; as austere fruit, or wine.
AVARICIOUS:
a. Covetous; greedy of gain; immoderately desirous of accumulating property.
FOLLY: n. [See Fool.]
1. Weakness of intellect; imbecility of mind. want of understanding.
A fool layeth open his folly. Prov. 13.
2. A weak or absurd act not highly criminal; an act which is inconsistent with the dictates of reason, or with the ordinary rules of prudence. In this sense it may be used in the singular, but is generally in the plural. Hence we speak of the follies of youth.
3. An absurd act which is highly sinful; any conduct contrary to the laws of God or man; sin; scandalous crimes; that which violates moral precepts and dishonors the offender. Shechem wrought folly in Israel. Achan wrought folly in Israel. Gen. 34. Josh. 7.
4. Criminal weakness; depravity of mind.
These deep and expansive meanings in mind definately shed more light on the scenario. They also remind me that just because I think I "get it" (get the meaning from the text/context), my reasoning is flawed. But I just keep on trying, and learning, and one day, maybe, I will stop trying to make up my own definitions and learn the real ones from Scripture and the dictionary.
