exegesis
/,eksi'dʤi:sis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An explanation or critical interpretation of a text, especially a religious or literary one: "Exegesis" refers to the detailed, scholarly explanation and interpretation of a text, most classically applied to sacred scriptures like the Bible. It involves analyzing the meaning, context, and intent behind the words.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The professor's exegesis of the ancient poem revealed layers of meaning we had missed.
- Biblical exegesis requires knowledge of historical context and original languages.
- Her paper provided a thorough exegesis of the key philosophical passage.
Advanced Usage
"To perform an exegesis on": To conduct a detailed interpretation of a specific text.
- The scholar spent years performing an exegesis on the newly discovered manuscript.
"Hermeneutics and exegesis": Often used together, where "hermeneutics" refers to the theory and methodology of interpretation, and "exegesis" is the practical application of it.
- The course covered both the hermeneutics of religious texts and their practical exegesis.
Variants and Related Words
Exegete (n): A person skilled in exegesis; an interpreter, especially of religious texts.
- The exegete offered a compelling reading of the parable.
Exegetical (adj): Relating to or containing exegesis.
- The book includes several exegetical notes in the margins.
Eisegesis (n): The opposite process; interpreting a text by reading one's own ideas into it, rather than deriving meaning from the text itself.
- His interpretation was criticized as eisegesis rather than sound exegesis.
Synonyms
- Interpretation: The action of explaining the meaning of something.
- Explication: The process of analyzing and developing an idea or principle in detail.
- Explanation: A statement or account that makes something clear.
Related Phrases
- Textual exegesis: Interpretation focused strictly on the words and structure of the text itself.
- His approach favored rigorous textual exegesis over broader thematic analysis.
Related Idioms
- "A close exegesis": An interpretation that pays extremely careful attention to the details of the text.
- The article is a close exegesis of the founding document, examining every clause.
Noun
- an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)