{
  "id": "dict_005975",
  "term": "waxed",
  "slug": "waxed",
  "letter": "W",
  "entry_type": "archaic_translation_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "An archaic English Bible word meaning “became” or “grew,” not a separate theological concept.",
  "simple_one_line": "Older Bible English for “became” or “grew.”",
  "tooltip_text": "In older translations, “waxed” often means “became” or “grew” (for example, “waxed strong” or “waxed old”).",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Older Bible English",
    "Translation notes",
    "Archaic words in Scripture"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "became",
    "grew",
    "increased",
    "old English",
    "Bible translation"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "“Waxed” is an older English verb found in some Bible translations. In those contexts it usually means “became” or “grew,” not the modern sense of a wax substance.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "An archaic Bible-English verb meaning “became” or “grew.”",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Archaic translation-era word",
    "often appears in phrases like “waxed strong” or “waxed old”",
    "not a distinct doctrine or theological term",
    "best handled as a vocabulary/translation note."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "In older English Bible usage, “waxed” commonly means “became” or “grew.” It is a translation-era vocabulary item rather than a distinct theological concept, and may be better handled as an archaic language note than as a standalone dictionary headword.",
  "description_academic_full": "“Waxed” is an archaic English verb used in older Bible translations, where it commonly means “became,” “grew,” or “increased,” as in “waxed strong,” “waxed mighty,” or “waxed old.” Modern readers may mistakenly connect the word to wax as a substance, but that is not the intended meaning in these texts. Because the term reflects older English usage rather than a theological doctrine, it is better classified as an archaic translation term or vocabulary note than as a true theological entry.",
  "background_biblical_context": "The word occurs in older English renderings of biblical narratives and descriptions of changing conditions, strength, age, or prominence. Its importance lies in helping readers understand translation language, not in introducing a separate biblical idea.",
  "background_historical_context": "This usage belongs to earlier stages of English Bible translation, especially in older versions whose diction can be unfamiliar to modern readers. It is historically significant as part of biblical English, but it is not a technical theological label.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "There is no special Jewish background attached to the English word itself. The underlying Hebrew or Greek often simply expresses becoming, growing, or increasing.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Older translations commonly use this word in passages such as Luke 1:80, Joshua 13:1, and Esther 9:4, where the sense is “grew,” “became,” or “increased.”"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Other occurrences may appear wherever older English versions describe a change in condition, age, or strength."
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The English word “waxed” usually translates ordinary Hebrew or Greek verbs meaning “become,” “grow,” or “increase,” rather than a special theological term.",
  "theological_significance": "The term itself has no independent theological meaning. Its value is lexical: it reminds readers to read older Bible English according to its historical usage.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "This is a case of semantic change in language. A word that once carried a common meaning can become misleading to later readers if modern assumptions are imposed on older texts.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not read the modern noun “wax” back into these passages. The verb is archaic Bible English and should be interpreted in context as “became” or “grew.”",
  "major_views_note": "There is no doctrinal debate about the term itself; the only issue is proper understanding of older English usage.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry should not be treated as a doctrinal category or as evidence for a separate theological concept.",
  "practical_significance": "Understanding this word helps readers follow older Bible translations accurately and avoid misunderstanding archaic phrasing.",
  "meta_description": "“Waxed” in older Bible English means “became” or “grew,” not the modern substance wax.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/waxed/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/waxed.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}