Word Study

How to choose a word to Study

Select a word that is…

translated differently in English versions
emphasized in the passage - by repetition
difficult to understand (obscure or unclear words)
Theologically important words

Steve’s pet peeves on Word Studies!

NEVER use an English dictionary to define a Biblical word!
Remember that your word occurs in a specific context in a passage.
Keep the Bible understandable!

Example of value of Word Study

The word "temple" in 1 Corinthians 6:19
"temple" occurs in 117 times in NT but this word represents two Greek words hieron and naos
Strong’s #3485 (naos) occurs 46 times = inner sanctuary, holy of holies that only the priests could enter

Word Study Process

Step #1 - Consider the occurrences of the word in the same Testament.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance or
Bible Software programs
Once you know the Strong’s #, continue to use that word(s), not the English equivalents.

Write a one sentence summary of how each occurrence of the word is used in the same Testament.

Step #2 - Look at Hebrew/Greek dictionaries that give definitions of this word as used in the OT/NT.

Sometimes this will give you useful information on the word’s etymology (don’t read too much into this!)

Hebrew dictionaries

Hebrew and English Lexicon (by Brown, Driver, Briggs) – R 492.4 BROW
A Reader’s Hebrew English Lexicon of the Old Testament (by McDaniel) – R 221.3 MCDA
Hebrew-English Lexicon… Call #: R 221.3 HEBR

Greek dictionaries

A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian Literature (by Bauer, Danker, Arndt, & Gingrich) Call #: R 487.4 BAUE or R 487.4 DANK
Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament (by Thayer) – R 487.4 THAY

Step #3 - Consult Theological Dictionaries

Old Testament

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (2 volumes)
Dictionary of Old Testament Theology (12 volumes)

New Testament

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (3 volumes)
Dictionary of New Testament Theology (10 volumes)

Step #4 - Write out your dictionary-style definition(s) of the word based upon your study.

The word "court" could have the following dictionary definitions:

a) a surface for playing athletic events, eg. basketball, volleyball, tennis, etc.
b) a place for a legal verdict by a judge or jury
c) to begin a romantic relationship with a person of the opposite sex
etc...

However, whenever we read the word "court", we do not assume all three of these meanings to the word. Rather, we judge which specific definition is intended by the context.

Step #5 - Explain the meaning and significance of the word in the context of the passage you are studying.

Remember, the word does not mean all the possible things in one context that it means in other passages.
Try to explain why your word study has helped you understand this word and the passage you are studying better.