Exegesis
/ˌɛksɪˈdʒiːsɪs/
nounC2
Definition
Exegesis means carefully studying and explaining the meaning of a text. It is often used when talking about important writings like the Bible or classic literature. The goal is to understand what the author really meant and to explain it clearly.
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See It in Action
A detailed explanation or interpretation of a difficult text
- •The professor gave an exegesis of the ancient poem to help students understand it.
- •His exegesis of the Bible passage showed many hidden meanings.
- •Scholars write exegeses to explain important religious texts.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "exegesis" like "explanation," but much deeper and more detailed—like a teacher helping you understand every part of a difficult story.
- ✓Picture someone reading a book with a magnifying glass, looking closely at every word to find hidden meaning.
- ✓It's the feeling when you finally understand a difficult sentence after reading it many times.
- ✓Sounds like "ex-uh-JEE-sis" → imagine someone saying "Explain this!" very carefully and slowly.
- ✓Think of scholars or experts who write long essays explaining old, hard texts to help others learn.
- ✓NOT like "summary" (short and simple)—exegesis is long and detailed, explaining everything step by step.
- ✓NOT like "translation" (changing language)—exegesis explains meaning, not just words.
- ✓NOT like "opinion" (personal thought)—exegesis tries to explain the true meaning, not just what someone thinks.
Try Other Words
- •Interpretation: meaning given to a text or idea (Use when focusing on personal or general meaning, less formal)
- •Commentary: detailed notes or discussion about a text (Use when the explanation is given as notes or spoken discussion)
- •Analysis: careful study of parts to understand the whole (Use when focusing on breaking down text into parts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "exe-" (from Greek, meaning "out") + "gesis" from "hegeisthai" meaning "to lead" → together meaning "to lead out" or "to explain"
- •Etymology: From Greek "exēgēsis," meaning interpretation or explanation
- •Historical development: Used first in ancient times for explaining sacred texts, especially the Bible
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in academic, religious, and literary studies to mean detailed explanation of a text
Reflect & Connect
•How can exegesis help us understand texts from very different times or cultures?
•Can exegesis change the way people think about a text? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.The scholar wrote an exegesis ___ the difficult poem to help readers understand its meaning.
2.Exegesis is different from a summary because it gives a ___ and detailed explanation.
3.When reading ancient texts, exegesis helps to ___ the original ideas clearly.
4.Unlike a simple translation, exegesis focuses on ___ the meaning behind the words.
5.A good exegesis often includes ___ about the historical background of the text.
6.Exegesis usually requires ___ reading and thinking about every part of the text.
7.People use exegesis to ___ the deeper messages in religious writings.