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# ministry

noun (a ministry, ministries)

«ministry» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A government department led by a minister: the Ministry of Education. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#m1)
2. The work of a religious leader such as a priest or minister. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#m2)
3. (formal) The time someone spends as a government minister or religious minister. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#m3)

### In the lessons

In civics lessons and news, ministries are the parts of government that run things like health, defence and schools. In religion, «the ministry» is the work of the clergy. Phrases: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence, go into the ministry.

### Examples

- The Ministry of Education decides what schools teach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#x1)
- My uncle works for the Ministry of Transport. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#x2)
- The ministry announced new rules for cars. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#x3)
- Her father entered the ministry and became a vicar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#x4)
- The Ministry of Health gives advice about flu. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#x5)
- Each ministry is led by a minister. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#x6)
- The minister spoke about his ministry in the church. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/#x7)

### Note

Countable: ministries (y to ies). Capital M in names: Ministry of Defence. In the USA government departments are usually called «Departments», not «Ministries». A «minister» is a person; «ministry» is the department or the work.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means the service done in the sanctuary. In Hosea it means the work of the prophets, through whom God speaks.

**Interpretation.** The "vessels of ministry" are the holy tools the Levites carry for the service in the Tabernacle. The rabbis teach that the Levites carried these vessels with great care and reverence, covered so that no one could see them. Hosea's verse is read as saying that God sent His word to Israel by prophets in visions and parables.

### Examples

- And they shall take all the vessels of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on a bar. (Torah NUM.4.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/ministry/#x1)
- I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes. (Prophets HOS.12.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/ministry/#x2)

### Note

Countable: ministries (y to ies). Capital M in names: Ministry of Defence. In the USA government departments are usually called «Departments», not «Ministries». A «minister» is a person; «ministry» is the department or the work.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «ministry» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/ministry/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ministry» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ministry.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «ministry» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/ministry/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ministry» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/ministry.html) on Mova free.