exegete
Scriptural passage analyst
An exegete is a person who practices exegesis—the careful interpretation of texts, especially religious scriptures.
The term appears most often in biblical scholarship: The exegete examined the original Greek to clarify the passage's meaning.
To exegete a text is to interpret it through close analysis of language, context, and historical setting.
One who clarifies meaning
- commentatorBroadcast analyst or narrator
- annotatorOne who adds notes
- expositorOne who explains thoroughly
- deciphererOne who interprets codes
clarifier · translator · paraphraser · scholar · theologian · rabbi · mullah · imam
Detailed textual analysis
- parsingGrammatical structure extraction
- contextualizationPlacing something within circumstances
- cross-referencingVerifying by consulting elsewhere
- concordanceAlphabetical word index
lexicon · apparatus · manuscript · codex · palimpsest · redaction · intertextuality · historical-critical
Assigned meaning
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
- elucidationAct of explaining clearly
- explanationStatement making something clear
- analysisMethodical study of parts
commentary · annotation · gloss · midrash · typology · allegory · literalism · contextualization
Christian sacred writings
- TorahJudaism's core scripture
- TalmudRabbinic law compilation
- QuranIslam's central scripture
- VedasHindu canonical texts
Upanishads · Tanakh · Gospel · Pentateuch · Psalms · Hadith · Midrash · Mishnah
Established body of teachings
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- heterodoxyUnorthodox belief or opinion
- eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
ecclesiology · scholasticism · reformation · homiletics · apologetics
explicator
One who clarifies meaning
- commentatorBroadcast analyst or narrator
- annotatorOne who adds notes
- expositorOne who explains thoroughly
decipherer · clarifier · translator · paraphraser · scholar · theologian · rabbi · mullah · imam · pandit
close reading
Detailed textual analysis
- parsingGrammatical structure extraction
- contextualizationPlacing something within circumstances
- cross-referencingVerifying by consulting elsewhere
concordance · lexicon · apparatus · manuscript · codex · palimpsest · redaction · intertextuality · historical-critical
interpretation
Assigned meaning
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
- elucidationAct of explaining clearly
- explanationStatement making something clear
analysis · commentary · annotation · gloss · midrash · typology · allegory · literalism · contextualization · deconstruction
Bible
Christian sacred writings
Vedas · Upanishads · Tanakh · Gospel · Pentateuch · Psalms · Hadith · Midrash · Mishnah · Septuagint
doctrine
Established body of teachings
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- heterodoxyUnorthodox belief or opinion
eschatology · ecclesiology · scholasticism · reformation · homiletics · apologetics
exegetelayperson
Non-specialist or unordained person
dabbler · dilettante · skimmer · non-specialist · amateur