World

WORLD. This word in the A.V. is the translation of five Hebrew and four Greek words. It is therefore not always plain in what sense it is used. The Hebrew terms have these literal meanings: "The earth," "rest," "the grave," Isa 38:11; "the world," corresponding to aion in the N.T., or that which is finite, temporary. Job 11:17; "the veiled," unlimited time, whether past or future; used very frequently, and generally translated "for ever;" and finally, the poetical term for "world," which occurs some thirty seven times, but in various meanings which are easily understood. When the Hebrews desired to express the universe, they employed a phrase like "heaven and earth and the sea, and all that in them is." Ex 20:11. In the N.T. the Greek words are equally diverse: Aion, "duration," thus used of time past, Luke 1:70, of time present, with the idea of evil, both moral and physical. Mark 4:19. Hence "children of this world," or worldly men, Luke 16:8; and so Satan is called "the god of this world." 2 Cor 4:4. Aion is also put for endless duration, eternity, 1 Tim 6:16, to signify the material world as created by the Deity, Heb 11:3; also the world to come, the kingdom of the Messiah. Ge, the earth, in contrast to the heavens. Rev 13:3. Kosmos, used in several senses: (a) the universe, the heavens, and the earth. Matt 13:35, and thence for the inhabitants of the universe, 1 Cor 4:9, and an aggregate. Jas 3:6. (b) This lower world as the abode of man, John 16:18; the inhabitants of the earth or mankind. Matt 5:14. (c) The present world, as opposed to the kingdom of Christ. John 12:25; specifically, the wealth and enjoyments and cares of this world. Matt 16:26, and so for those who seek the opposite things to the kingdom of God, the worldlings. John 15:19. Oikonmene, the inhabited earth, Matt 24:14, the people of it. Acts 17:31, sometimes the Roman empire (the then civilized world), Acts 17:6, including Palestine and adjacent parts. Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28. The Jews distinguished two worlds, or aeons, the present aeon to the appearance of the Messiah, and the future aeon, or the Messianic era, which is to last for ever. The closing days of the present order of things were called "the last days." Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1; Acts 2:17. The same phraseology is found in the N.T., but the dividing-line is marked by the second instead of the first advent of the Messiah. Matt 12:32; 1 Cor 10:11; Gal 4:3; Heb 1:2; Heb 6:5; Jer 9:26.

WORLD. This word in the A.V. is the translation of five Hebrew and four Greek words. It is therefore not always plain in what sense it is used. The Hebrew terms have these literal meanings: "The earth," "rest," "the grave," Isa 38:11; "the world," corresponding to aion in the N.T., or that which is finite, temporary. Job 11:17; "the veiled," unlimited time, whether past or future; used very frequently, and generally translated "for ever;" and finally, the poetical term for "world," which occurs some thirty seven times, but in various meanings which are easily understood. When the Hebrews desired to express the universe, they employed a phrase like "heaven and earth and the sea, and all that in them is." Ex 20:11. In the N.T. the Greek words are equally diverse: Aion, "duration," thus used of time past, Luke 1:70, of time present, with the idea of evil, both moral and physical. Mark 4:19. Hence "children of this world," or worldly men, Luke 16:8; and so Satan is called "the god of this world." 2 Cor 4:4. Aion is also put for endless duration, eternity, 1 Tim 6:16, to signify the material world as created by the Deity, Heb 11:3; also the world to come, the kingdom of the Messiah. Ge, the earth, in contrast to the heavens. Rev 13:3. Kosmos, used in several senses: (a) the universe, the heavens, and the earth. Matt 13:35, and thence for the inhabitants of the universe, 1 Cor 4:9, and an aggregate. Jas 3:6. (b) This lower world as the abode of man, John 16:18; the inhabitants of the earth or mankind. Matt 5:14. (c) The present world, as opposed to the kingdom of Christ. John 12:25; specifically, the wealth and enjoyments and cares of this world. Matt 16:26, and so for those who seek the opposite things to the kingdom of God, the worldlings. John 15:19. Oikonmene, the inhabited earth, Matt 24:14, the people of it. Acts 17:31, sometimes the Roman empire (the then civilized world), Acts 17:6, including Palestine and adjacent parts. Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28. The Jews distinguished two worlds, or aeons, the present aeon to the appearance of the Messiah, and the future aeon, or the Messianic era, which is to last for ever. The closing days of the present order of things were called "the last days." Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1; Acts 2:17. The same phraseology is found in the N.T., but the dividing-line is marked by the second instead of the first advent of the Messiah. Matt 12:32; 1 Cor 10:11; Gal 4:3; Heb 1:2; Heb 6:5; Jer 9:26.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The earth and the surrounding heavens; the creation; the system of created things; existent creation; the universe. The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen. Rom. 1. 20. With desire to know, What nearer might concern him, how this world Of heaven and earth conspicuous first began. Milton.

2. Any planet or heavenly body, especially when considered as inhabited, and as the scene of interests analogous with human interests; as, a plurality of worlds. "Lord of the worlds above." I. Watts. Amongst innumerable stars, that shone Star distant, but high-hand seemed other worlds. Milton. There may be other worlds, where the inhabitants have never violated their allegiance to their almighty Sovereign. W. B. Sprague.

3. The earth and its inhabitants, with their concerns; the sum of human affairs and interests. That forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe. Milton.

4. In a more restricted sense, that part of the earth and its concerns which is known to any one, or contemplated by any one; a division of the globe, or of its inhabitants; human affairs as seen from a certain position, or from a given point of view; also, state of existence; scene of life and action; as, the Old World; the New World; the religious world; the Catholic world; the upper world; the future world; the heathen world. One of the greatest in the Christian world Shall be my surety. Shak. Murmuring that now they must be put to make war beyond the world's end -- for so they counted Britain. Milton.

5. The customs, practices, and interests of men; general affairs of life; human society; public affairs and occupations; as, a knowledge of the world. Happy is she that from the world retires. Waller. If knowledge of the world makes man perfidious, May Juba ever live in ignorance. Addison.

6. Individual experience of, or concern with, life; course of life; sum of the affairs which affect the individual; as, to begin the world with no property; to lose all, and begin the world anew.

7. The inhabitants of the earth; the human race; people in general; the public; mankind. Since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it. Shak. Tell me, wench, how will the world repute me For undertaking so unstaid a journey Shak.

8. The earth and its affairs as distinguished from heaven; concerns of this life as distinguished from those of the life to come; the present existence and its interests; hence, secular affairs; engrossment or absorption in the affairs of this life; worldly corruption; the ungodly or wicked part of mankind. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. John xvii. 9. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John ii. 15, 16.

9. As an emblem of immensity, a great multitude or quantity; a large number. "A world of men." Chapman. "A world of blossoms for the bee." Bryant. Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company. Shak. A world of woes dispatched in little space. Dryden. All . . . in the world, all that exists; all that is possible; as, all the precaution in the world would not save him. -- A world to see, a wonder to see; something admirable or surprising to see. [Obs.] O, you are novices; 't is a world to see How tame, when men and women are alone, A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew. Shak. -- For all the world. (a) Precisely; exactly. (b) For any consideration. -- Seven wonders of the world. See in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction. -- To go to the world, to be married. [Obs.] "Thus goes every one to the world but I . . . ; I may sit in a corner and cry heighho for a husband!" Shak. -- World's end, the end, or most distant part, of the world; the remotest regions. -- World without end, eternally; forever; everlastingly; as if in a state of existence having no end. Throughout all ages, world without end. Eph. iii. 21.