How to Do a Word Study in Greek or Hebrew

Have you ever wondered what a word in the Bible meant in its original language? Studying Scripture in Greek or Hebrew can provide valuable insight into a passage and help you better understand its meaning. After so much time (and so many translations), understanding the Bible’s original meaning can be difficult. That’s why doing a word study in Greek or Hebrew can be so beneficial for any Bible study. But then this poses the question: how do you do a word study in Greek or Hebrew?

What Does it Mean to Do a Word Study?

Before looking into the specifics of doing a Greek or Hebrew word study, there’s the natural question of what exactly is a word study? And how can it be beneficial?

Well, a Bible word study in simple terms is looking at a particular word in the Bible, and looking beyond the basic English meaning. Essentially, a word study is the process of examining that root word for its definition, where else it was used in the Bible, and its original context in Greek or Hebrew.

But looking at the word doesn’t just give you extra knowledge on the word itself, conducting a word study can help uncover the original intent of the Bible as a whole. Since so much meaning can be, quite literally, lost in translation, looking at the Bible’s terminology in its original language can give a better understanding of its full meaning.

How to Do a Greek or Hebrew Word Study

So the question remains: how to do a Greek word study, a Hebrew word study, or both at once? While every study approach is different, most word studies follow a similar process:

1. Identify the Original, Root Word
   • This may be an important theological word, a repeated word in a passage, or a word that seems especially meaningful to the verse you are studying.
2. Establish the Word’s Semantic Range
   • A word’s “semantic range” refers to the different ways that word can be used depending on context.
     • For example, the Greek “Parakaleo” may technically have a translated meaning (to “call to one’s side”), but its semantic range can change depending on the context. It can be used to encourage, urge, appeal, or even comfort.
3. Track the Word’s Usage
   • Seeing other places the word is used can help bring more context to the word’s meaning.
4. Look at Lexicons and Dictionaries
   • Consulting lexicons, dictionaries, and other study resources can provide a deeper understanding of the word.
5. Bring it All Together for Application
   • Ask how the word is being used in this specific sentence, paragraph, book, and context.

Even though the steps may seem simple, it can still be daunting to do it all. Let’s see how it’s done using Olive Tree’s tools and resources.

How to Conduct a Greek or Hebrew Word Study Using Olive Tree

Let’s break down each step of a word study using Olive Tree’s tools and resources.

1. Identify the Original, Root Word

First, choose the specific word you want to explore in Scripture.

In the Olive Tree Bible app, open a Strong’s-tagged Bible and tap on the English word you want to study. Next, the Strong’s information connected to that word will be displayed, allowing you to see the original Greek or Hebrew term behind the English translation. You can also tap and hold a word, then select Look Up to view available concordance articles or related resources.

2. Establish the Word’s Semantic Range

Once you have identified the Greek or Hebrew word, start looking at its possible meanings.

Tap the Strong’s number or open the Strong’s Dictionary entry to view a basic definition of the word. This will usually give you a simple overview of the word’s meaning and how it’s commonly understood. The goal is not to pick one meaning too quickly, but to understand the range of possible meanings the word can carry depending on the passage’s context.

3. Track the Word’s Usage

Next, tap the Strong’s number to see every location where that word appears throughout the Bible. This allows you to compare how the same original word is used in different verses, books, authors, and contexts.

Pay attention to how the word is translated into English in different places. The same Greek or Hebrew word may be translated several different ways depending on the context.

4. Look at Lexicons and Dictionaries

Olive Tree allows you to access Strong’s Dictionary information directly from a Strong’s-tagged Bible, and additional lexicons or dictionaries can be opened through your library if you own them.

These resources can help explain the word’s meaning, root, usage, and possible theological significance.

5. Bring it All Together for Application

Finally, return to the original passage and interpret the word in context. Compare the Strong’s definition, concordance results, dictionary entries, and related passages to see how the word supports the author’s main point.

The goal of a Greek or Hebrew word study is not to uncover hidden meanings, but to gain a clearer understanding of Scripture. Olive Tree’s tools help by connecting the English text to the original language and giving quick access to related verses, dictionaries, concordances, and commentaries.

Studying the Bible’s Original Language with Olive Tree

Studying the Bible in its original languages can help deepen our understanding of its original intent. That’s why doing a word study in the Bible’s original languages (Greek and Hebrew) can be such a beneficial step to any Bible study. Whether you want to better understand a word’s definition, explore its historical context, or gain a deeper understanding of Scripture as a whole, a word study can be a valuable addition to your Bible study routine. A word study can go a long way to making sure your Bible study helps you understand God’s Word as much as possible.