Hermeneutika
/id/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (ID).Definition & Context
NounNoun
A word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.
A branch of philosophy and linguistics that studies the theory and methodology of “interpretation”, particularly applied to sacred, literary, legal, and historical texts, with the aim of uncovering meaning embedded within layers of language and historical context.
Synonyms & Variants
eksegesis
Exegesis refers to the concrete practice of interpretation, while hermeneutics focuses on the theory and methodology underlying that practice.
ilmu takwil
A method of interpretation that seeks the inner or esoteric meaning behind the literal text.
interpretasi
Interpretation is a general term for the act of interpreting, whereas hermeneutics is the academic discipline studying the theoretical foundations of that act.
pembedahan makna
The process of deeply analyzing a text to uncover its underlying structures and messages.
tafsir
The word `tafsir` originates from Arabic and is predominantly used in Islamic contexts. Hermeneutics covers a broader cross-cultural and interdisciplinary scope.
ilmu tafsir
Primarily used within Islamic scholarly tradition. Its scope is narrower than hermeneutics, which is cross-traditional in application.
semiotika
Semiotics and hermeneutics overlap in the study of textual meaning, but semiotics focuses on the structural system of signs rather than the reader's historical process of understanding.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word “hermeneutics” was borrowed into Indonesian via Dutch hermeneutiek or directly from Latin hermeneutica, both ultimately derived from Ancient Greek hermeneutike (techne), meaning “the art of interpretation”. Its root verb is hermeneuein, meaning “to explain” or “to make clear”, which many scholars associate with the name of the Greek god Hermes, the divine messenger tasked with conveying and translating the gods' messages to humanity. As a formal discipline, hermeneutics flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries through the works of Protestant theologians such as Johann Conrad Dannhauer, and was later expanded by Friedrich Schleiermacher into a universal theory of interpretation applicable beyond religious texts. In the 20th century, Hans-Georg Gadamer further developed the field in his landmark work Wahrheit und Methode (1960), establishing hermeneutics as the epistemological foundation of the humanities. In Indonesia, the term is widely used in religious studies, philosophy, law, and literary criticism.
Real-world Usage
Mahasiswa teologi itu mendalami hermeneutika untuk menafsirkan teks Alkitab secara kritis.
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.