Exegesis is a detailed and careful analysis, interpretation or explanation of a work, a text, a word or an expression.
Etymologically, this term originated from the Greek exegesis, which means “interpretation”, “translation” or “taking out (exposing) the facts”.
Normally, exegesis is used for the critical interpretation and explanation of artistic, legal and literary works, especially texts of a religious nature.
You exegetes, the name given to people who do exegesis, must be proficient in a wide range of disciplines that encourage critical analysis, such as textual criticism, study of historical and cultural background, investigation of the origin of the text, among other grammatical and syntactic characteristics of original work.
biblical exegesis
In the Bible, exegesis is the study of grammatical and systematic interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.
In order for a person to be able to do biblical exegesis, he must be an expert in the original biblical languages, such as Greek and Hebrew.
The opposite of biblical exegesis is the
eisegesis, when the interpretation is made exclusively based on subjective theories, without a deep and real research or analysis of the text.legal exegesis
Legal exegesis is based on the so-called School of Exegesis, a current of juspositivist thought, that is, that tries to explain the legal phenomenon based on norms and laws established by the authorities of a certain society.
Exegesis and Hermeneutics
Hermeneutics is considered by many to be synonymous with exegesis, as it is also the art or technique of interpreting and explaining a text.
Learn more about the meaning of hermeneutics.
In fact, the main difference between exegesis and hermeneutics is the specific rules and techniques that each interpretation system has.
See also the meaning of homiletics.
