different between exegesis vs hermeneutics

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ???????? (ex?g?sis, “interpretation”), from ????????? (ex?géomai, “I explain, interpret”), from ?? (ex, “out”) + ??????? (h?géomai, “I lead, guide”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ks??d?i?s?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?ks??d?is?s/

Noun

exegesis (countable and uncountable, plural exegeses)

1. A critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text.
   • 1885, Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson (original translators and editors), Arthur Cleveland Coxe (editor of American edition), Philip Schaff (also credited as editor), Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II

     Accordingly Athanasius complains loudly of their exegesis (Ep. Æg. 3–4, cf. Orat. i. 8, 52), and insists (id. i. 54, cf. already de Decr. 14) on the primary necessity of always conscientiously studying the circumstances of time and place, the person addressed, the subject matter, and purpose of the writer, in order not to miss the true sense.

   • 1913, Francis Aveling, Rationalism, article in Catholic Encyclopedia (1913),

     As with Deism and Materialism, the German Rationalism invaded the department of Biblical exegesis.

   • 1940, Mortimer J. Adler, Two Essays on Docility,

     Historical scholarship bears exclusively on interpretive reading; when it is properly subordinated as a means, its end is exegesis; all of its techniques are of service to the grammatical art. But exegesis is not the end; nor is grammar the highest art. Exegesis is for the sake of a fair critical judgment, grammar for the sake of logic and rhetoric.

Related terms

• eisegesis
• epexegesis
• exegete
• exegetical

Translations

See also

• eisegesis
• hermeneutics

Latin

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ???????? (ex?g?sis, “interpretation”).

Noun

ex?g?sis f (genitive ex?g?sis); third declension

1. exegesis
2. exposition

Declension

Third-declension noun (i-stem).

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ???????????? (herm?neutikós, “of or for interpreting”), from ???????? (herm?neú?, “translate, interpret”), from ???????? (herm?neús, “translator, interpreter”), of unknown origin; folk etymology suggests a connection with Hermes. The term was introduced c. 360 B.C.E. by Aristotle in his text Perì Hermeneías (On Interpretation).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /h???m??nju?t?ks/

Noun

hermeneutics (countable and uncountable, plural hermeneutics)

1. The study or theory of the methodical interpretation of text, especially holy texts.
   • 1885, Thomas Seccombe, Saunders, Richard (1613-1687?), article in Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 50,

     SAUNDERS or SANDERS, RICHARD (1613–1687?), astrologer, a native of Warwickshire, was born in 1613, commenced the study of hermeneutics about 1647, and practised astrology and cheiromancy during the golden age of the pseudo-sciences in England.

   • 1885, Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson (original translators and editors), Arthur Cleveland Coxe (editor of American edition), Philip Schaff (also credited as editor), Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I,

     I have included in this volume the four books of St. Augustin On Christian Doctrine. It is the first and best patristic work on biblical Hermeneutics, and continued for a thousand years, together with the Prefaces of Jerome, to be the chief exegetical guide. Although it is superseded as a scientific work by modern Hermeneutics and Critical Introductions to the Old and New Testaments, it is not surpassed for originality, depth and spiritual insight.

   • 1913, Anthony John Maas, Hermeneutics, article in Catholic Encyclopedia (1913),

     Usage has restricted the meaning of hermeneutics to the science of Biblical exegesis, that is, to the collection of rules which govern the right interpretation of Sacred Scripture. Exegesis is therefore related to hermeneutics, as language is to grammar, or as reasoning is to logic.

Derived terms

• hermeneutical
• hermeneuticist

Related terms

• hermeneut
• hermeneutic

Translations

Further reading

• hermeneutics in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• hermeneutics in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• hermeneutics at OneLook Dictionary Search
• hermeneutics on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• On Interpretation on Wikisource.Wikisource