How to do Word Studies

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1A.  The Importance of Word Studies.

1B.  See Matthew 4:4; 24:35; 1 Tim. 6:3; Rev. 22:18-19.  Every word that proceeds from the mouth of our God is of utmost importance!

2B.  Consider such important words as FAITH, GRACE, JUSTIFY, LOVE, REDEEM, SANCTIFY, GOSPEL, CONFESS, HOLINESS, etc.   We need to understand how God defines these crucial terms.

2A.  The Importance of Knowing the Meaning of the Greek Word.

1B.  Sometimes the same English word may represent different Greek words.

Examples:

1)  John 21:15-17.  Two different Greek words for "love" are used in this passage; and two different Greek words for "feed" are used.

2)  Galatians 1:6-7.  Two different Greek words both translated "another."  The first means "another of a different same kind" and the second means "another of the same kind."

3)  2 Corinthians 5:18-19 with Hebrews 2:17.  The word "reconciliation" is found in both of these passages but there are two different Greek words.  A word study of the word in Hebrews 2:17 would reveal that it actually means "propitiation."

4)  2 Peter 2:7-8.  Here again we have two different Greek words both translated "vexed" by the KJV translators.  The meaning of these two words is similar but not identical.

2B.  Sometimes different English words may represent the same Greek word.

Examples:

1)  Matthew 28:19 with Acts 15:14    nations=Gentiles

2)  Philippians 3:6,12,14     persecuting=follow after=press

3)  Luke 4:1    Ghost=Spirit

4)  1 Corinthians 13:8     fail=vanish away

5)  John 3:8    wind=spirit

6)  1 John 2:20,27    unction=anointing

3B.  Sometimes the Greek word is not translated into English at all, but it is merely transliterated into English.  So what you really have is a Greek word spelled with English letters!

Examples:

1)  See the word list in Chapter 2 for several examples:  baptize, demon, evangelize, mystery, parable, prophet, Sabbath, etc.

2)  1 Corinthians 16:22  (compare Galatians 1:8-9).  If you were to translate the word "anathema" is would means "accursed, devoted to destruction."    "Anathema" is a transliteration;  "Accursed" is a translation.

3)  Matthew 1:20 (angel).  Compare Mark 1:2 where this same Greek word is translated (angel=messenger).

4)  See Revelation 19:1,3,4,6 where we have a Hebrew expression that has been transliterated into Greek: ajllhlouvia The Greek word was then transliterated into English (Alleluia).   An actual translation of this word would be "Praise ye the LORD."   

5)  Sometimes a transliteration can be very misleading.  In 2 Corinthians 9:7 the word "cheerful" is the Greek word hilaros (iJlarovς).  If we were to transliterate this word, we would have, "God loves a hilarious giver!"  Obviously this is not the meaning of the verse.  "Cheerful" is a much better translation. Hilaros to the Apostle Paul meant the same as cheerful means to us today.

4B.  If a person does not know Greek, how can he determine which Greek word underlies the English word which he is studying?

For example, how can one discover that two different words for "love" are used in John 21:15-17 or that "unction" and "anointing" are two ways of translating the same word in 1 John 2:20,27 or that the word "messenger" in Mark 1:2 is the same word as "angel" in Matthew 1:20?  To make such discoveries you need a TOOL!  You need an interlinear Greek-English New Testament (in which the Greek words are written directly above the English words). I would recommend either one of the following:

1)  The Englishman's Greek New Testament by Zondervan Publishers.

2)  The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament with a Lexicon (dictionary) by George Berry (Zondervan Publishers).

Note:  There are different Bible software programs that will also help you to see which Greek words underlie the English words if you are more inclined to use a computer in doing your Greek studies.
 

3A.  The Importance of WORD USAGE.

1B.  USAGE DETERMINES MEANING.

The question ever before us is this:  HOW WAS THE WORD ACTUALLY USED?  How was the word used in the New Testament?  How was the word used in the Septuagint? (very helpful)  How was the word used by other Greek writers? 

Compare a DICTIONARY.  A dictionary is merely a listing of WORD USAGE (a catalog of how words are used in any given language).

2B.  ETYMOLOGY DOES NOT DETERMINE MEANING.

"Usage determines the meaning of words"--James L. Boyer, "Semantics in Biblical Interpretation," Grace Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, Spring 1962.

"The meaning of a word depends on its usage, not on its derivation"--"Biblical Exegesis and Hermeneutics," Encyclopedia Britannica, Macropaedia (1974), Vol. 7, p. 61.

"Usage determines the meaning of words"--Rollin T. Chafer, The Science of Biblical Hermeneutics (Dallas, TX:  Bibliotheca Sacra, n.d.), p. 28.

Etymology is concerned primarily with the history of a word.  It is the study of the derivation of a word.  Etymology is the study of the original meaning of a word (which is often different than the true meaning of a word as that word is currently being used).  WORD USAGE is concerned with how words are actually used and how they are currently used;  ETYMOLOGY is concerned with how words were originally used.  Therefore, it is USAGE not ETYMOLOGY that must determine the meaning of a word.

3B.  ETYMOLOGY CAN BE MISLEADING AND THUS HARMFUL

1C.  English examples:

1)  sincere    

The etymology of this word is "without wax"  (sine=without    cera=wax).  But today is you describe a person as being "without wax" would people conclude that you are describing a sincere person?

2)   book

The etymology of this word is "beech-tree."   But if you said to someone, "Over the summer I read a very enjoyable beech-tree," would the person understand your meaning?

3)  silly

This word originally derived from the verb "to bless."  But it is SILLY to think that we use this word in that way today!

4)  etymology

This word is from the Greek etumos which means "true," and hence the word means "true meaning." But "etymology" really means "original meaning."   So even the word "etymology" does not really mean etymology!  In other words, its original meaning does not agree with its current usage, and to find the "true meaning" we must always go by the current usage.

5)  understand

But what does "standing under" have to do with understanding?

6)  prevent

This word originally meant "to come before" and is used that way in the KJV of 1 Thessalonians 4:15. But we don't usually use this word in that way today.  Today it means "to hinder, to keep from happening" as "the father prevented his son from going out into the busy road."

2C.  Greek examples:

1)  The word for "read" - anaginoskō  (ajnaginwvskw)

ana = again                 ginoskō = to know      

But what does "knowing again" have to do with reading?

2)  The word for "deacon" - diakonos   (diavkonoς)

dia = through      konos = dust    [Note:  This derivation is questionable.  Some scholars would disagree with the assertion that diakonos originally meant through + dust].  But assuming that the derivation is legitimate, what does this really tell us about deacons?   "To raise a dust by passing through" and thus a deacon is one who serves energetically!   Certainly we would want deacons who "raise a dust" in their energetic service for Christ but to base this on the questionable derivation of this word is not a sound use of language.   The word actually means "servant" and deacons are to be humble servants of Christ.

4B.  ETYMOLOGY CAN BE HELPFUL.

Etymology can be of great value in illustrating the meaning of words.  But, the meaning must first be determined by usage.  Etymology can serve to illustrate a word whose meaning has already been determined by usage.

Examples:

1)  coveteousness                  pleonexia               (pleonexiva)

pleon = more      exia = to have

A covetous person is never satisfied. He desire to have more and more and more.

2)  gospel                      euangelion                         (eujaggevlion)

eu = good           angelion = announcement

The gospel is an announcement of good news, glad tidings!

3)  moment (1 Corinthians 15:52)          atomos           (a[tomoς)

Compare the English word "atom"

a = un (a negative particle)     tomos = to cut;  hence atomos means "uncut, unable to be divided."

How quickly will the Rapture take place?

This is answered in 1 Corinthians 15:52, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." The word "moment" is interesting. It is the Greek word "atom." The word atom means "not cut, you cannot cut it anymore." Suppose you were to keep cutting up a pie into smaller and smaller pieces. If you had a knife sharp enough and small enough you could keep cutting the pieces down to the point where you could not cut the pieces or particles any smaller. We call this an "atom." [However, we now know that you can even cut atoms into smaller particles].

The term "atom" is also used of time. We can cut time into years and into days and into hours and into minutes and into seconds. An "atom of time" is the smallest measurement of time (the point where you can't cut time anymore). In English we might call this a "split-second." How fast will the Rapture take place? In a split second, in the twinkling of an eye. If you blink, you will miss it!

4)  confess (1 John 1:9)    homologeō    (oJmologevw)   

homo = same           logeō = to say         This, "to same the same thing"

When I confess my sins I am saying the same thing about sin that God does.  I am agreeing with God that what I have done is sinful. I am seeing my sin as God does.  God says that I have sinned and I am agreeing with God and saying, "Yes, Lord, I have sinned and done this evil in Thy sight" (Psalm 51). 

5B. WORD USAGE CHANGES WITH TIME.

Word usage is not constant through time. Changes in meaning often occur. Language is in a state of constant flux as long as the language is living (still being used). Dead languages (such as Latin) never change!

Example:

The King James Bible was published in 1611. Since that time many English words that were then used have changed their meaning and have become obsolete. This is one of the reasons for the word changes that you find in the New Scofield Bible. Some of these obsolete words are as follows:

1) “wot” (Romans 11:2)

2) “let” (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

3) “Ghost” (Matthew 28:19)

4) “every whit” (John 13:10)

Can you think of others?

6B. THE SAME WORD CANS BE USED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

So don't be surprised if the same Greek word is used in different ways in the Greek New Testament!

4A.  The Procedure for Doing a Word Study.

Perhaps it is a word that you came across in your personal study or devotional time, and you want to better understand what this word really means and how it is used in the Bible. For our example we will choose the important verb in 1 Thessalonians 4:17—"caught up."  In the Latin Bible this is the verb "rapturÇ" from which we derive our English word "rapture." Thus this word study will shed important light on the true meaning of the term "rapture."  This verse which we have selected is our "target passage." We want to determine the meaning of this particular verb especially as it is used here in this verse.

The fundamental principle for doing word studies is this: USAGE DETERMINES MEANING. Sir Robert Anderson has stated it well: "In dealing with a dead language, etymology (the origin or history of a word) may sometimes afford a clue to the meaning of a word, but the only safe and certain guide to its meaning is its use." Since usage determines meaning, we must see how our verb in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (HARPAZÆ, aJrpavzw) is used elsewhere in the New Testament and hopefully this will shed light on its meaning in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 which is our target passage.

Note:  The New Testament was written in Greek and the Old Testament in Hebrew (with the exception of a few Aramaic passages). Since the Greek verb we are studying is in the New Testament, we need not consult the Old Testament because God did not use the Greek language when He gave the O.T. The ambitious student, however, could study how the verb is used in the Septuagint which is an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, as long as he keeps in mind that the Septuagint is a translation, and is not the original text God gave.

Please notice that the lexicons did no really tell you anything that you did not first learn yourself. Thus you are not depending on the lexicons, but you are just using them as a helpful check or confirmation of what you have already discovered by your own study of the how the word is used in the Bible.

The following is a listing of helpful dictionaries that can be used without a knowledge of Greek or Hebrew:

Greek

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich used in connection with the Index to the Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich Lexicon by John R. Alsop (Zondervan). The Index helps those who do not know Greek to be able to use this lexicon.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Easy to use. You look up the English words and it will discuss the underlying Greek words.

A Critical Lexicon and Concordance, E.W.Bullinger. Similar to Vine’s. But be careful because Bullinger, though a fine scholar, denies eternal punishment and is ultra-dispensational in his thinking.

Hebrew

Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament by Brown, Driver and Briggs used in connection with the Index to Brown, Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon compiled by Bruce Einspahr. This lexicon is probably the best available. Though it was done by unbelieving liberals, the definitions, for the most part, are accurate.

Old Testament Word Studies by William Wilson. This is the closest thing to Vine’s that we have for Old Testament word studies.

Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament, edited by Unger and White.

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Harris, Archer, Waltke.

Two other helpful word study books:

Synonyms of the New Testament by Archbishop Trench (Greek words).

Old Testament Synonyms by Girdlestone (Hebrew words).
 

George Zeller (revised 2004)