exegesis
Exegesis (noun) means a close, systematic explanation of a text, especially a religious one, aimed at drawing out what it actually says and meant to its first readers. Example: “His exegesis of the passage draws on the original Hebrew.”
How to use exegesis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA careful, detailed explanation of what a piece of writing means.
Scholarly and theological; in general writing 'interpretation' or 'analysis' reads better.
Note the pronunciation: the middle syllable is 'JEE', not 'GEE' as in 'get'.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His _____ of the passage draws on the original Hebrew.
Etymology
From Greek exēgēsis ('interpretation'), from exēgeisthai ('to lead out, explain'), from ex ('out') plus hēgeisthai ('to lead').
Related words
Rhymes for exegesis
See all rhymes for exegesis →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between exegesis and eisegesis?
Exegesis draws meaning out of a text by attending to its language, context and original audience. Eisegesis reads meaning into a text, projecting the reader's own assumptions onto it. The first is the goal of scholarship; the second is the error it tries to avoid.
What is the difference between exegesis and hermeneutics?
Hermeneutics is the theory: the principles and methods that govern how texts should be interpreted. Exegesis is the practice: applying those principles to a particular passage. You use hermeneutics to do exegesis.
What is the plural of 'exegesis'?
'Exegeses', pronounced ek-suh-JEE-seez, following the Greek pattern seen in 'thesis' and 'theses'. The adjective is 'exegetical'.
What is the meaning of exegesis?
"exegesis" (noun) means a close, systematic explanation of a text, especially a religious one, aimed at drawing out what it actually says and meant to its first readers.