So...What? Get to Know the English of the Bible

And so I was reading through my Bible one day when I came across this verse:

So let me remind you of the Eternal’s enduring love, and why we should praise Him.

Let me tell you again how the Eternal gives and gives and gives.

All God’s wonders and goodness are done for Israel’s benefit

according to His great mercy and compassion.

(Isaiah 63:7, Voice)

Then I remembered my email from Dictionary.com:

Subsequently, the word “so” just got so interesting.

Here's a summary (for my quick reference):

How is 'so' being used?

1. as a filled pause, much in the way that “well,” “um,” and “like” are used in conversation

2. To begin with ‘so,’…is to signal that one’s coming words are chosen for their relevance to the listener.”

Speaker 1: So, how do you know Myra?

Speaker 2: College.

Speaker 1: So, I met Myra rock climbing at Yosemite…

In this example, the sentence-initial so is being used in two different ways. So works as a conversational prompt in the first line, and in the third line, so is used to carry on the conversation. In this way, so is a tool that helps ensure the conversation keeps up its pace by allowing a quick transition from one topic to another. Additionally so is sometimes used to change the subject altogether; a person might start a non-sequitur with the word so. It’s a way for a savvy conversationalist to avoid awkward silences.

Speaker 1: I went to the grocery store this afternoon.

Speaker 2: Which one did you go to? I love the one on Lawrence and Rockwell. They have excellent produce.

Speaker 1: That’s where I always go. So I was buying avocados…

Speaker 2 took the conversation on a tangent, and Speaker 1 brought it back to the topic she wanted to discuss; in this way Speaker 1 is able to return to the original narrative.

Soon afterwards, I checked Wordweb, and I wanted to fill in the corresponding sentence examples with Bible verses. (It’s partially complete, so please help me out!)

www.WordwebOnline.com entries for so:

Adverb: so

1. To a very great extent or degree

May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath. (2 Samuel 3:9 NIV)

2. In a manner that facilitates

"he observed the snakes so he could describe their behaviour"; "he stooped down so he could pick up his hat"

3. In such a condition or manner, especially as expressed or implied

So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. (2 Corinthians 8:6 NIV)

4. To a certain unspecified extent or degree

"I can only go so far with this student"; "can do only so much in a day"

5. In the same way; also

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. (2 Corinthians 11:22 NIV)

6. In the way indicated

Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses. (Numbers 8:3 NIV)

7. (usually followed by 'that') to an extent or degree as expressed

"he was so tired he could hardly stand"; "so dirty that it smells"

8. Subsequently or soon afterwards (often used as a sentence connector)

"and so home and to bed"

9. (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact, reason or as a result

"the witness is biased and so cannot be trusted"

10. In truth (often tends to intensify)

"he did so do it!"

Conjunction: so

1. And for this reason

So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (1 Samuel 3:9 NIV)

2. In order that

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Revelation 3:18 NIV)

3. With the result that

"it is sunny, so it will be hot"

So there’s my little encounter with ‘so.’

Expanding my grammar helps me study the bible. Even then, this is not so much effort to steer clear from being a so-and-so - but it's a start. Knowing my Bible is one thing, but living it is another, so to speak.

Ending this article may be so soon, but I still need to work on “so that.”

So be it!

Comments

The Curse of the Thief

I n the middle of audit week, our company accountants decided not to show up. As it turned out, they embezzled some money. What struck me the most was that the people who did it were not strangers; they were like mothers and aunts. We saw them almost every day, smile at them, laugh with them, and made plans together. As part of the management team, we ate out and had a friendly good time. It was heartbreaking to realize that the people in the news for some criminal activity had the same profile as those that I had warm and cuddly relations with. But loyalty goes up. My love for God supersedes any other relationship. I feel sad, yes, but I have no inkling to cover for them. If anything, I am upset because I was this close to them, and yet, clueless. My colleagues and I were mixed emotions. On one hand, we felt betrayed. The suspects were like family. We confided in them and planned activities with them in all sincerity and warmth. But maybe, just maybe, they were truthful and sincere...

Try Again in 2022

#Judg20v22 The men of Israel encouraged each other. So they again went out to fight, as they had done the first day. So here we are now, by God’s grace, into 2022.

I Will Pray Until I Become Prayer Itself

I was reading a self-help book when I got to this part: " To write a book, become the book itself." [1] But then I remembered the verse: " Though I love them, they stand accusing me like Satan for what I’ve never done. I will pray until I become prayer itself . " [Psalm 109:4 TPT] By then, I realize, my reading is not self-helping me very much. I found myself spitting more bones than chewing meat. What I needed was grace-help all along. Grace upon grace [John 1:16] The grace to say 'No' to sin. [Titus 2:12] I will again attempt to read that book. But warn you, someone famous once said, "If you're too open-minded; your brains will fall out." [2] I accept correction. I admit the need for self-discipline. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balan...

Bishopric and Episkopé: The Ministry of Visitation

The KJV word is bishoprick , which is now archaic in spelling. Most Bible translators didn’t use the modern spelling ‘ bishopric,’ and that, for a good reason. #Acts1v20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: “Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell in it.”, and, “His bishopric, let another take.” A quick google search shows that bishopric means: the office or rank of a bishop. · a district under a bishop's control; a diocese. But looking closely at the Greek word, episkopé, reveals a deeper meaning: a visiting, an overseeing [Strong's]. Here's the kicker: bishopric k is not a desk job; it's fieldwork. An excellent, Spirit-filled bishop or pastor performs the act of visitation. How does one effectively "oversee" a flock? By being with them, by being among them. When God calls one to be a pastor of a people, the expectation is not like that of a manager who stays in the offic...

Our FATHER Can Easily Bless Us With A Baby

Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.” [ Genesis 18:10, 12-14 BSB] Nothing Is Too Hard For The Lord This is the first time that God declared the statement “Nothing is too hard for the Lord,” and it involved having a baby. The Lord repeated Himself in this same way to Mary concerning Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and it was also about having a baby. (see Luke 1:36-38) It’s amazing to know that God measured His ability in this way – in the manner of granting babies. The Lord does not treat it lightly when we laugh at what He is able to do. For God ...

The Lord Jesus is my first and foremost Pastor. HE is the Great Shepherd of my soul. HE then leads me to HIS assigned undershepherd for me - my church pastor

#TrainYourConscience Heb13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. NLT I remain under his pastoral care. I submit to him as to the Lord. I am comforted by the thought of his rod and staff. How I treat him reflects my attitude towards God's leadership. Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay . .

John 14

Read the Whole Bible in 0ne Year. See Other Bible Versions for Fresh Insight. [The King Version for this chapter is coming soon…]

Lead, Laugh, Learn

Hey Dads! How about making your kids laugh, while you show them by example how to walk in the ways of the Lord? #Eph6v4 Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord. (AMPC)

Our FATHER Confirms His Baby Promise

But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” [ Genesis 15:2-4 BSB] Right here and now, we remind ourselves again that having a baby is all dependent on God's grace and mercy. We cannot make any of this happen on our own. In this stage of Abram's life, he has no child, and no parental obligation. His nephew, Lot, had just parted ways from him. It could have been Lot as an heir apparent. But with Lot gone, Abram was then left with a non-relative, who was next in line to be an heir prospect. Abram was willing to adopt Eliezer (or his son) and treat him as his own. Adoption, in itself, is good and godly. The whole Bible is ...

Blood or Wine

The Lord God who turned water into blood is the same Savior who turned water into wine. God's first act of public judgment against Egypt was turning water into blood. But our Lord Jesus' first miracle on record was turning water into wine, and it's about blessing a social event. How do I want my Miracle Worker to come to me, with a sword or with some sweets? I'd rather run to the Father of grace and mercy, live a holy life, and receive His bountiful blessings for me.

writonautics

Search This Blog