This is not as complicated as it looks
so don't be intimidated. If you just want to do a very basic study the
first section is what you should try. It will be helpful to
open up a second window of Internet Explorer so you can keep this
window open to look at the instructions. To open a second window go to the
top of the page on Internet Explorer and select "File" and then "New" and then "Window". A page
identical to this one will open.
Note: For background on Word
Studies the following offsite link has a helpful discussion of the the
importance of Greek Word Studies and walks you through the steps -
How To Do Word Studies
A BASIC GREEK WORD STUDY
STEP 1: STRONG'S LEXICON
Select the Search Engine
studylight.org. (or
use the box above)
i). In
the dropdown box select "NAS with Strong's Numbers".
(already selected in this example)
ii). Check
"Resources". (already selected in this example)
iii). Type
in the verse would like to study.
iv). Click "Search"
v).
Click
the underlined word you would like to study and a small window opens (usually
in the upper right corner of your screen) which has the following
information which you will want to record for use in the steps that
follow. A sample "word study worksheet" is given below (click)
(you might consider copying and pasting this table to your word processor)
(a) Strong's Number is
at the top of the popup window. You will use Strong's number in Step 2.
(b) Transliterated Word beneath the Strong's Number. You will need
the transliterated word to search Vines Lexicon in Step 3. (Transliterate
simply means to spell out the Greek word in the characters of the English
alphabet, the closest corresponding letters)
(c) Word Origin has underlined Strong's Numbers which represent the
root words used to compose the specific word you are studying. One can
often glean helpful insights into the meaning of the word under
investigation by clicking the related Strong's Numbers.
(d)
At the bottom under
"Translated Words" the KJV and NAS are followed by a number in
parentheses which represents the total number of times the Greek word is
used in the NT. Note that a single Greek word is often translated by more than one
English word. Those words and their frequencies are listed after KJV and
NAS.
STEP 2: ALL NT USES OF GREEK WORD
This step explains how to find every NT
use of the Word you are studying. Skip to STEP 3 if you are not interested
in studying every use.
Type
Strong's # in Search box below, press "go" to
retrieve
the
definition. The definition is identical to Step 1 but
also provides a "Verse Count" with links to every NT use
of the Greek word corresponding to that Strong's #. Click the underlined
Scriptures for the specific verses. Notice the English word used to translate the
Greek word is highlighted (a different shade of gray) for
identification. Click each verse to study the passage in
context, which is
critical to determining the meaning of each specific usage of the Greek
word. Discerning the subtle nuances and differences in the meaning of a
given Greek word in different Bible passages is a skill that does take
some practice, but can be very rewarding. As an aside, the study of all
the Scriptural uses (in
context) of a specific Greek (or Hebrew) word is
one of the primary means used to arrive at the definitions you read in
every Greek or Hebrew Lexicon.
STEP 3: VINE'S LEXICON
Now
let's see if we can discover some additional information on the word we
are studying be checking another respected Greek resource, Vines
Lexicon of NT Greek
i).
Simply type in your word in English or
in Greek.
ii).
Be aware that if
you type in the English word, you may retrieve more than one Greek word so
you need to know which Greek word was used in the specific verse you are
studying. If you know the transliterated Greek word (see discussion under
Step 1), search on that word (in the query for "Greek")
iii).
Example: Let's say you are studying the word "redemption" in
Romans 3:24. If you type "redemption" (minus the quotation marks) in the
English search box you retrieve a four words, two verbs
and two nouns. You may be able to determine which one is used in Romans
3:24 by reading down the page (a keyboard shortcut is to press control key +
the letter "f"
which brings up "Find" into which you could enter 3:24 to more rapidly
locate Romans 3:24 on the page)
On the other hand if you know the transliterated word
(see Step 1 above)
for redemption in
Romans 3:24 is apolutrosis, enter that word in the Greek search box
and you will retrieve two hits.
STEP 4: ROBERTSON'S WORD PICTURES
Now
let's see if we can discover some additional information on the word we
are studying by checking another respected Greek resource, Robertson's
Word Pictures (RWP).
i).
In the Studylight.org search (STEP 1) you retrieved a list of resources in the right hand
column.
ii).
Find the resource abbreviated
"RWP" and record any insights you might glean. This resource is
"hit or miss". Sometimes you will discover some excellent insights but
other times it is less helpful.
STEP 5: IN DEPTH WORD STUDIES
Click here
for a list of in depth definitions
of Greek words on this website. This list will be expanded over time
but many of the more
common
Greek words have been completed. You might also do a search on
preceptaustin.org for the word you are studying as there are many word
studies that may not yet be listed on the in depth study page.
STEP 6: PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
Now
take the insights you have gleaned and practice re-phrasing the verse by substituting
some of the definitions/insights you have gleaned from the above steps.
Your goal is to arrive at a better understanding of the verse. A word of
caution is in order. You need to be aware (as discussed more below) that many Greek verbs have more than
one meaning, so you must be careful that the definition you substitute
into the verse makes good sense in
context.
Otherwise you might misinterpret the passage.
Note that the technique of
re-phrasing the verse using the insights gleaned from your word study is
in a sense what
is done in the translation known as the Amplified Version. In fact I often
use the Amplified translation as a mini-lexicon or mini-commentary. In the
Amplified Version notes marked by parentheses () signify what
amounts to a definition of the preceding word or phrase. On the other hand
brackets [ ] contain clarifying words or comments not actually
expressed in the immediate original text. For example, look at Romans 3:24
in the Amplified Version...
[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God,
freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy),
through the
redemption
which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
"All" is in brackets and is not found
in the original Greek manuscript but is added for clarification. On the
other hand "grace" is followed by a parenthesis which gives a definition
of grace. There is nothing helpful in the Amplified Version regarding
"redemption" in this verse, but just to show you how it can occasionally
be helpful type in 1 Cor 1:30 in the query box below for a note in
parenthesis following the word "redemption".
