Definition and Scope:
The term "interpret" in the biblical context refers to the act of explaining or elucidating the meaning of words, dreams, visions, or signs. Interpretation is a significant theme in the Bible, as it often involves divine revelation and understanding imparted by God to individuals. The ability to interpret is sometimes depicted as a spiritual gift, enabling individuals to comprehend and convey God's messages accurately.

Biblical Instances of Interpretation:

1. Joseph and Dreams:
One of the most notable examples of interpretation in the Bible is Joseph's ability to interpret dreams. In Genesis 40-41, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker while in prison, and later, Pharaoh's own dreams. Joseph attributes his ability to interpret to God, saying, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams" (Genesis 40:8). His interpretations lead to his rise to power in Egypt, demonstrating the importance and impact of divine interpretation.

2. Daniel and Visions:
Daniel is another key figure known for his interpretative skills. In the Book of Daniel, he interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and the mysterious writing on the wall. Daniel acknowledges that his ability to interpret comes from God, as seen in Daniel 2:28, "But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days" . Daniel's interpretations reveal God's sovereignty and future plans for nations.

3. New Testament and Spiritual Gifts:
In the New Testament, interpretation is linked to the spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul discusses the gift of interpretation, particularly in the context of speaking in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul lists "the interpretation of tongues" as one of the spiritual gifts. He emphasizes the importance of interpretation for the edification of the church, stating, "Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret" (1 Corinthians 14:13).

4. Jesus and Parables:
Jesus often used parables to teach spiritual truths, and He sometimes provided interpretations to His disciples. For example, in the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explains the meaning of the parable to His disciples, revealing the different responses to the Word of God (Matthew 13:18-23). This act of interpretation underscores the necessity of understanding spiritual truths and the role of Jesus as the ultimate interpreter of God's Word.

Theological Significance:
Interpretation in the Bible is closely tied to divine revelation and understanding. It is portrayed as a gift from God, enabling individuals to comprehend and communicate His will. The act of interpretation serves to reveal God's plans, provide guidance, and edify the community of believers. It underscores the importance of seeking divine wisdom and understanding in discerning spiritual truths.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in interpreting Scripture and understanding God's will. The Bible emphasizes the need for discernment and wisdom in interpretation, as seen in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth" . This highlights the responsibility of believers to approach interpretation with humility and reliance on God's guidance.1. (v. t.) To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied esp. to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.; as, to interpret the Hebrew language to an Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech.

2. (v. t.) To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation; as, an actor interprets the character of Hamlet; a musician interprets a sonata; an artist interprets a landscape.

3. (v. i.) To act as an interpreter.

2059. hermeneuo -- to interpret
... to interpret. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hermeneuo Phonetic Spelling:
(her-mayn-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I translate, interpret Definition: (a) I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2059.htm - 6k

3177. methermeneuo -- to translate, to interpret
... to translate, to interpret. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: methermeneuo Phonetic
Spelling: (meth-er-mane-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I translate, interpret ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3177.htm - 6k

1329. diermeneuo -- to explain thoroughly, by impl. to translate
... translate. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diermeneuo Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-er-main-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I translate, interpret, explain Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1329.htm - 7k

5419. phrazo -- to show forth, tell
... to show forth, tell. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phrazo Phonetic Spelling:
(frad'-zo) Short Definition: I declare, explain, interpret Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5419.htm - 6k

1956. epiluo -- to loose, to solve
... to loose, to solve. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epiluo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-loo'-o) Short Definition: I explain, interpret, decide Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1956.htm - 7k

1421. dusermeneutos -- hard of interpretation
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: dusermeneutos Phonetic Spelling:
(doos-er-mane'-yoo-tos) Short Definition: difficult to interpret Definition: difficult ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1421.htm - 6k

4793. sugkrino -- to combine, compare
... sugkrino Phonetic Spelling: (soong-kree'-no) Short Definition: I combine, compare
Definition: I join together, combine, compare, interpret, explain. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4793.htm - 7k

6622. pathar -- to interpret
... 6621, 6622. pathar. 6623 . to interpret. Transliteration: pathar Phonetic Spelling:
(paw-thar') Short Definition: interpreted. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/6622.htm - 6k

8638. tirgam -- to interpret, translate
... 8637, 8638. tirgam. 8639 . to interpret, translate. Transliteration: tirgam
Phonetic Spelling: (teer-gam') Short Definition: translated. ... interpret. ...
/hebrew/8638.htm - 6k

6590. peshar -- to interpret
... 6589, 6590. peshar. 6591 . to interpret. Transliteration: peshar Phonetic Spelling:
(pesh-ar') Short Definition: interpretations. Word Origin (Aramaic) a prim ...
/hebrew/6590.htm - 6k

3887. luts -- ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a ...
... A primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, ie To scoff; hence (from the effort
to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede ...
/hebrew/3887.htm - 6k

995. bin -- to discern
... 1), gives understanding (1), has understanding (6), have understanding (1),
have...understanding (1), intelligent (1), interpret (1), investigating (1 ...
/hebrew/995.htm - 7k

He Further Proceeds Notably to Interpret the Language of the ...
... Book XII. Section 3. He further proceeds notably to interpret the language
of the Gospel. Section 3. He further proceeds notably ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 3 he further proceeds.htm

Appion Proceeds to Interpret the Myths.
... Homily VI. Chapter III."Appion Proceeds to Interpret the Myths. "There was
once a time when nothing existed but chaos and a confused ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter iii appion proceeds to interpret.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 56, 58, "Ye Know How to ...
... 56, 58, "Ye know how to interpret the face of the Earth and the Heaven," etc.; and
of the words, "for as thou art going with thine adversary before the ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lix on the words.htm

The Jews violate the Eternal Law, and Interpret Ill that of Moses.
... Chapter XII."The Jews violate the eternal law, and interpret ill that
of Moses. I also adduced another passage in which Isaiah ...
/.../chapter xii the jews violate the.htm

Texts Explained; Sixthly, the Context of Proverbs viii. 22 Vz. 22 ...
... Chapter II. Chapter XXII."Texts Explained; Sixthly, the Context of Proverbs viii.
22 Vz. 22-30 It is right to interpret this passage by the Regula Fidei. ...
/.../chapter xxii texts explained sixthly the.htm

Whether Doubts Should be Interpreted for the Best?
... Now with regard to himself, a man should interpret doubtful matters for the worst,
according to Job 9:28, "I feared all my works." Therefore it seems that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether doubts should be interpreted.htm

Whether He who is under a Law May Act Beside the Letter of the Law ...
... Objection 2: Further, he alone is competent to interpret the law who can make the
law. But those who are subject to the law cannot make the law. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether he who is under.htm

Limits of God's Plan for Human Salvation
... Therefore, just as we should interpret "every herb" to mean "every kind of herb,"
so also we can interpret "all men" to mean "all kinds of men." We could ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xxvii limits of gods.htm

Hosea
... life: it was not at once that he discovered Gomer to be an unfaithful wife, i.2,
and it must have been later still that he learned to interpret the impulse ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/hosea.htm

Joseph and his Brethren.
... Both had dreams which troubled them much, but Joseph was enabled by God to interpret
their dreams for them. By-and-by Pharaoh, the king, dreamed a dream. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/joseph and his brethren.htm

Interpret (27 Occurrences)
... to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.; as, to interpret
the Hebrew language to an Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech. ...
/i/interpret.htm - 15k

Dreamed (20 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:8 They said to him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who
can interpret it." Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? ...
/d/dreamed.htm - 12k

Speaketh (367 Occurrences)
... ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that
prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the ...
/s/speaketh.htm - 33k

Azazel (3 Occurrences)
... Some interpret this word as referring to a demon of the wilderness (compare Psalm
106:37 Deuteronomy 32:17 Leviticus 17:7 2 Chronicles 11:15; Isaiah 13:21 ...
/a/azazel.htm - 20k

Understandest (10 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Genesis 41:15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have dreamt a
dream, and there is none to interpret it. And I have heard ...
/u/understandest.htm - 9k

Jonah (30 Occurrences)
... Some critics have sought to interpret the book as a parable or allegory,
and not as a history. They have done so for various reasons. ...
/j/jonah.htm - 35k

Dreamt (6 Occurrences)
... tell me your dreams, I pray you. (DBY). Genesis 41:15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph,
I have dreamt a dream, and there is none to interpret it. ...
/d/dreamt.htm - 8k

Canst (62 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is
none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst ...
/c/canst.htm - 24k

Appearance (126 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth
and the sky, but how is it that you don't interpret this time? ...
/a/appearance.htm - 41k

Unknown (15 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY WBS YLT). 1 Corinthians 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in
an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/u/unknown.htm - 13k

Can / Should we interpret the Bible as literal? | GotQuestions.org

Deconstructionism - is it a valid way to interpret the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How should the different genres of the Bible impact how we interpret the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Interpret: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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