A Fun Word Study

Check out this step-by-step explanation - How to do a Word Study. Gain greater understanding of God's Word using online or book resources. #BibleLoveNotes #Bible

Why not enhance your personal Bible study by doing a word study.(1) 

You'll need a notebook and concordance:
(Update: Bible Gateway has updated their site so the pictures below are from their older site, but the site functions the same.)

1. To do online, try the concordance at Bible Gateway.(2)

2. Type the word you want to study in the search box. For example, when I type "Heart," I find there are 725 results in the NIV.

3. Click on the first reference and ask: 
  • What insight does this passage give about the word "heart"?
  • Does it raise any questions?
4. Write down your answers. For example, for Genesis 6:5, the first reference, I write:
  • Mankind's hearts and thoughts were completely wicked.
  • What's the difference between hearts and thoughts?
5. For New Testament references, click the drop down menu in the Bible translation box and choose "MOUNCE."(3) Then click on your word and read the meaning in the Greek.

    6. Do the same with each reference.

    7. Write insights in your notebook. 

    When I did this with "heart," I got a bigger glimpse of God's heart.

    Why not give it a try, and leave a comment and tell me which word you decide to study?

    To do a very short Bible study on this devotion, check out today's Bite Size Bible Study.


    Step by Step Directions using Bible Gateway:
    Type word into the search box:


    The results will appear:

    After reading a New Testament passage, click the box that displays the Bible translation and choose "Mounce" in the drop down menu.


    Then click on the word to see the Greek meaning for more insights:

    (1)Let it be a year-long project, if you'd like. You can do it daily or weekly, but I recommend you do it regularly.

    (2) You can also use Bible Study Tools or an actual exhaustive concordance if you prefer a book to an online resource. And there are other online resources too. I'm just sharing one I've used.

    (3) Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament ~ If the reference is Old Testament, you can check the Old Testament Lexicons available on  Bible Study Tools HERE. But this process is a little more complex - you must first click on one of the several Hebrew words used for "heart" and this will give you the specific definition for that Hebrew word and list where that Hebrew word is found in the Old Testament. It's worth your time, but takes several steps to find your word.


    Check out this step-by-step explanation - How to do a Word Study. Gain greater understanding of God's Word using online or book resources. #BibleLoveNotes #Bible

    4 comments:

    1. I love word studies and I do 'm often for my blog topics. Thanks for posting on it!

      ReplyDelete
    2. Your devotions are my favorite! So much info in quick bites. I love your suggestions and your additional links for further study. Thanks so much!

      ReplyDelete
    3. Ooh, I do this ! Sometimes I go down a rabbit hole chasing a word or phrase but God has shown me so much when I do this. I started out SOAPing verses, then went to verse mapping, which is a lot more detailed and intensive. But some days it's just one word in His Word and I roll it and toss it and study it.

      ReplyDelete