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Ordinary Time

Study & Method

Exegesis

ex-uh-JEE-sisnoun

Drawing the meaning OUT of a text — careful interpretation that lets the passage say what its author meant.

Not To Be Confused With

Exegesis draws meaning OUT of the text (good); eisegesis reads one's own meaning INTO it (bad). The prefixes tell the story: ex- (out) vs. eis- (in).

From Greek exēgeomai, “to lead out, explain.” Exegesis attends to the words, grammar, context, genre, and historical setting to recover the intended meaning before applying it. It is the disciplined opposite of forcing a text to fit a prior conclusion.

Related Terms

Exegesis — Definition | Theologos Media