“Said” is used 2258 times in the Old Testament and 874 times in the New Testament in the English NIV Translation.
Said: To Say
Hebrew - ‘mr (amar)
Greek - Legō (lego)
This is the word used when someone says something.
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.”
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.”
11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.”
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.”
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.”
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Except for the first verse, everything created by God in this chapter was SPOKEN into existence. God could have chosen to do that in any way or express it in any way, but we know that everything around us, was SPOKEN into being. Because of what He SAID, we are here today.
2 Samuel 22:14
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
Psalm 68:33
to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
who thunders with mighty voice.
There are 2 words, from the same root word for said that go very different directions:
Greek - Eulogeō
To bless or honor
Greek - Katalalia
To slander or defame
We don’t come anywhere near the level of God’s power in speech, but we do have the power to build people up, or tear them down.
Said: Quoting someone
Hebrew - ‘im-rā(h)
This word is used when you are validating something that was said, because of the fact that it was from God. It’s used to talk about the promises of what God has spoken.
Greek - Eipon (ay-pohn)
This word is used to quote someone else saying something, often for historical purposes.
Both of these words are used many times to stand on the strength of God’s word in scripture.
Jesus stood on scripture as the power behind his words, even though scripture IS His words. He quoted:
- Exodus 7 times
- Isaiah 8 times
- Deuteronomy 10 times
- Psalms 11 times
Matthew 4:2-11
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword
When we go into anything in this world, we have the option to go into it in our own strength, or in the strength of God.
Jeremiah 23:28-29
28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
