exegesis

American  

[ek-si-jee-sis] / ˌɛk sɪˈdʒi sɪs /

noun

exegeses plural

1. critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, especially of the Bible.

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exegesis British  

/ ˌɛksɪˈdʒiːsɪs /

noun

1. explanation or critical interpretation of a text, esp of the Bible Compare eisegesis

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• exegeses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of exegesis

1610–20; < Greek exḗgēsis an interpretation, explanation, equivalent to ex- ex- ³ + ( h ) ēgē- (verbid stem of hēgeîsthai to guide) + -sis -sis

Compare meaning

How does exegesis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• exegesis vs. eisegesis
• hermeneutics vs. exegesis

Explanation

If your teacher gives an explanation of a difficult text you are reading, she is giving you an exegesis on it. An exegesis is a critical look at a text. Exegesis comes from the Greek word for interpret and it's often used in connection with the Bible. Often times, religious rules are based on an exegesis of a text. For instance, some Jewish people do not eat meat and dairy in the same meal based on an exegesis of a law in the Torah that says you should not eat a calf cooked in its mother's milk.