We hope that this glossary will help you to understand some of the more obscure terms and jargon we use on BBM. If you have a suggestion for a term, please feel free to contact us and let us know!
Jump to: Acronyms, Bible Terms, Health Terms, Names of God, Other Terms
Acronyms
BBM
BBM stands for Bright Beams Mission. That’s us! 🙂
KJV/RV/YLT
These are the King James Version, Revised Version and Young’s Literal Translation, respectively. These are among our favourite Bible translations. We also sometimes like to use the American Standard Version (ASV), other literal translations such as Smith’s (SLT), and a number of other versions, too. We rely mostly on older versions.
Bible Terms
Tamiyd
Tamiyd is a Hebrew word translators generally rendered as “daily” or “continually” in the King James. We like to use the Hebrew word when it is in reference to the morning and evening appointed times of worship. This is both in terms of the Sanctuary service (i.e. the morning and evening sacrifices) and in terms of our daily worship today (i.e. devotions).
Torah
Torah is the Hebrew word translated as “Law” in the KJV. However, it is more accurate to translate it as “instruction”. Although the word generally applies to the Mosaic books, it really encapsulates all God‘s instructions. Nevertheless, when we use “Torah” or “the Law”, we mean the first five books of the Bible.
Health Terms and Jargon
Grease
Grease is free/isolated fat, especially as used in food preparation to make a dish oily. This includes cooking in oil (e.g. frying) and covering food in oil after cooking (e.g. dressing on a salad). Unlike its modern usage, Sister White and the pioneers did not limit “grease” to animal fat. The term would also include butter and margarine. However, it does not include oil that does not make the food greasy, such as in bread. The use of grease is more detrimental to health than most people realize.
Names of God
Please note that we believe all Names and Titles of God must be spoken with reverence and care. We should understand what these wonderful Names mean before we speak them aloud. This is also why you will find them all written with small caps, like how “Lord” is written in the King James Bible. These Names are holy.
God/Elohim
The root word, el, is usually translated “God“, but really indicates an authority figure, particularly one with judicial authority. Thus, it’s also applied to judges/magistrates in the Bible. The suffix -im can either indicate plurality or simply that the individual in question is the highest-ranking el in their sphere (commonly called the “plural of majesty” or “intensive plural”). Hence, the most revered god in a pagan nation could be called that nation’s elohim, and Moses could be called elohim over Pharaoh. But the God above all gods, the Judge above all judges, is the living God, the Creator of heaven and earth!
Jehovah
The awesome Covenant Name of our God. This spelling comes from the Masoretic reading of the Tetragrammaton. We pronounce it with the emphasis on the last syllable, as is in the Strong’s Concordance. Although we believe this to be the true pronunciation, we hold no judgment against anyone who pronounces it differently. We look forward to the great day when Jehovah shall reveal the true pronunciation when He finally makes the New Covenant with His people just before the Second Coming. Regardless of pronunciation, we must speak it with awe and reverence.
Jehovah Tsebaoth
This name is translated as “Lord of Hosts“. “Hosts” refers both to the angels (the army of heaven) and the army of believers on this earth. He is our mighty Commander and we must follow His orders with promptness and diligence.
Jehoshua
This wonderful Name means “Jehovah saves” (or “Jehovah is salvation”). While Jesus is the transliteration of the Greek form of His Name, the most accurate rendering of the Hebrew is Jehoshua. We both want to be able to hear the Father‘s Name within the Son‘s Name, and distinguish the true Saviour from the false concept that has become so strongly connected to “Jesus“.
The Most High (God)
This is the most distinguishing title for the Father, the one title that He shares with no one, not even His Son. This title must be spoken with special reverence.
Other Terms
Glossary
A list of often difficult or specialized words with their definitions, often placed at the back of a book (or, in this case, a website). You’re looking at a glossary right now! 🙂
Mission
Among other things, a mission is:
- An organization for carrying on missionary work in a territory.
- Missionary duty or work.
- A series of special Christian services for purposes of proselytizing.