Study Helps: Strong’s Concordance
(for Word Meanings)
I sat in a number of seminars where I would hear
“This word in the
Strong’s is……”
The
definitions so given
brought clarity and depth to the scripture passage being
taught. My mouth watered to be able to experience this
richness in my own studies. I bought a Strong’s,
cracked it open, and nearly fainted. “This thing
needs a user’s manual!”
Simple
Design, Once You See It
Actually,
the
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the
Bible (the full name
of this book) is simple to use, once someone points out the
simple concepts on which it is based. So here are the
concepts:
•
Words are taken
from the Parallel Bible translation (KJV and NKJV work for
me).
•
Old
Testament was written in Hebrew.
•
New
Testament was written in Greek.
•
Words are
listed alphabetically in the Main Concordance. Each word is
ascribed a number. These numbers are found in the right
side of the entry column. These numbers are used to help
locate the definition.
•
Definitions are given in
the back two sections: Hebrew and Greek. If the word you
are looking up is found in the OT, then you will be
checking for your word’s assigned number in the
Hebrew section at the back. Likewise, is the word is from
the NT? Then you will be digging into the Greek section.
Definitions:
Exercise
1
This
sounds complicated, but really isn’t. Let’s try
looking up “abide” from John 15:4.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can
you, unless you abide in Me.
•
Locate
“abide” in the Main Concordance. Remember that
the words are in alphabetical order. Scan down the list of
Scripture references until you come to John 15:4.
•
The
word “abide” in this reference will be depicted
by “a’”. The entire word
“abide” will not be written out in any of the
references. So this entry reads: Joh 15:4
except it “a’” in the vine 3306.
•
3306 is your
reference number for the definition.
•
Take time to
scan over the variety of numbers in the “abide”
column. This means that there are
several meanings for the word
that translates into “abide” in
English.
•
The
meaning you want for “abide” in your particular
scripture is 3306.
•
Find that
number in the Greek section since this scripture is from
the New Testament. This means that the Scripture was
recorded in Greek. Make sense?
The number 3306 in the Greek Dictionary of the New
Testament gives you this:
Men-o is the pronunciation of the word in Greek.
It is a primary verb.
Word
Meanings:
To stay (in a
given place, state, relation, or expectancy)
•
Abide
•
Continue
•
Dwell
•
Endure
•
Be
present
•
Remain
•
Stand
•
Tarry (for) x
thine own
This much
information certainly helps to open up the meaning of
“abiding” in the vine doesn’t it?
Exercise
2
Let’s
do one more, just for practice and clarity. Look up
“know” from Psalm 46:10. Be still
and know that I am God.
•
Find
“know” in the Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary
since this word is from the OT.
•
The
ditto (“) marks to the right of your entry trace up
to the number 3045. The meaning of “know” in
the OT is predominantly 3045. You can tell by checking all
the numbers listed for “know”. Very few!
“Yadah”
is a lengthy entry. If you feel that this is an important
word to look at, copy the list so that it looks like the
“abide” list. Most people I know find this an
easy format in which to study a
word’s meaning.
Once you have the meanings sorted, it’s much easier
to reflect on them, ponder, pray for revelation. Be certain
to make notes for later. These notes become part of your
own treasure chest.
This should help you get started with mining the
Strong’s for word meanings.
But there’s more to be had. Click over
for some
instruction on how to use the Concordance part of
Strong’s to find scripture references. I’ll
meet you there.