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# preach

verb (preach, preaches, preached, preaching)

«preach» 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. (church) To give a religious talk, called a sermon, to people, usually in a church. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#m1)
2. To tell others strongly that something is right and that they should do it: «preach kindness». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#m2)
3. (informal, disapproving) To give advice or tell people what is right in an annoying, bossy way: «Stop preaching at me!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#m3)

### In the lessons

In church life the priest, minister or pastor preaches a sermon; in the Bible Jesus and the apostles preach the good news. In everyday life «preach» can be a complaint about someone lecturing others. Phrases: «preach a sermon», «preach the gospel», «practise what you preach» (do what you tell others to do), «preach to the converted» (tell people what they already believe), «preaching to the choir».

### Examples

- The vicar preached about forgiveness on Sunday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x1)
- Jesus preached to crowds by the lake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x2)
- Mum always says we should practise what we preach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x3)
- Don't preach at me, I know I made a mistake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x4)
- The coach preaches teamwork every training session. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x5)
- John the Baptist preached in the desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x6)
- Telling our class to recycle was preaching to the converted. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x7)
- They were going to hear the clergyman preach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: preached, preaching. A person who preaches is a preacher; the talk is a sermon. «Preach to» someone, «preach about» something. In the informal sense it is often unkind, like «lecture».

## In Jewish tradition

To preach means to speak out, often as a prophet. Micah's hearers tell him not to preach, and Ezekiel is told to speak against Jerusalem.

**Interpretation.** The Hebrew words really mean "drip" or "speak out", and the psalm uses it for telling of God's justice to all.

### Examples

- 'Preach ye not', they preach; 'They shall not preach of these things, that they shall not take shame.' (Prophets MIC.2.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preach/#x1)
- I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, lo, I did not refrain my lips; O LORD, Thou knowest. (Writings PSA.40.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preach/#x2)
- 'Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel; (Prophets EZK.21.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preach/#x3)

### Note

Regular verb: preached, preaching. A person who preaches is a preacher; the talk is a sermon. «Preach to» someone, «preach about» something. In the informal sense it is often unkind, like «lecture».

## On Mova

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