What does "x" mean in y:z

Question

It seems to be a popular question format to ask about the meaning of a word ("x") in a verse ("y:z").

There was one question whose originally accepted answer (now deleted) struck me the wrong way. It did little more than give the Strong's definition of the Greek word, and just felt lacking.

It made me think that it would be helpful to have some guidelines for what might make a good answer for this type of question. For example, beyond giving a dictionary definition, it might be helpful to have some attention paid to usage and context, perhaps the grammatical construct if relevant, perhaps give and evaluate some options, etc.

So, what would be some guidelines for a good answer to this sort of question?

Answer 1

_{This answer is inspired by this Meta.SO post regarding good answers}

My advice for writing an excellent answer:

• Be definitive

  Adding a reference to Strong's helps out significantly in this. Using conjecture (such as "Well, I was always taught..." or "It seems to me that...") makes for a poor answer. The answers to these types of questions need to be crystal clear and definitive (when possible).

• Be clear

  Adding a reference to Strong's does help, but often a word carries multiple meanings. Therefore we need to be clear about which meaning applies to this verse (and why it applies). Often this requires analyzing context or showing the word within the sentence structure in order to explain why a certain definition is understood. Ultimately, though, it is important in these types of answers to be very clear.

• Include outside support

  Saying on your own authority that a given word means a given thing is difficult to do (even in your native language). It's much better if you have outside support to show that others agree with your opinion on the matter. This is especially true if you're not a scholar of the subject. (For example, my first line in this post shows directly my outside support on this.)

• Include Links

  Referencing Strong's is nice. Linking to it is even better so that the people reading the answer can launch off into their own word studies

• Be Complete

  The QnA format of this site requires that questions and answers be relatively short. No one is expecting you to post a book regarding a given subject. However, the outstanding answers are ones that are fully supported so that no argument can be made against it.

• When the answer is questionable, include multiple opinions

  In general, you should always seek to find the one true answer. However, in some cases it's not possible to have a definitive answer. (Since the topic is highly debated or debatable) When these types of questions arise, you should include a short survey of opinions about the subject. If you include both sides, it insures that your answer is complete. Also, I've found that it helps avoid contention since both sides of the argument are represented. Finally, in these situations, the survey of possible answers really is the only true, complete answer.

• Revise your answer to include more information as it comes along

  Like the people that write the answers, no answer is perfect. Often someone will spot a mistake or error and post a comment asking for clarification or pointing out the error. Use these comments as a means to refine the answer. Also, if you can please the one or two dissenters, it will gain you more reputation and your answer will rise to the top as the best.

Some General guidelines to keep in mind:

• Be respectful of others (See also the FAQ page)

• Spelling and Grammar matter

• If you have to guess, be honest that your answer is not to be taken as fact

• Don't be afraid to delete your answer if a better answer comes along

• Don't be afraid of deleting your answer to repost a better answer

• Never repost your answer if a moderator has deleted it