What is the value of doing a word study in understanding the Bible?

A short list of Synonyms is added, embracing some Greek and English words which could not well be considered in the Dictionary. It is important that those who believe in the verbal inspiration of scripture should study the words used by the Holy Spirit as far as they have the means.

The few Synonyms here given may be regarded as samples, and may lead the reader into a new and interesting field of study, which if followed out would embrace the careful consideration of hundreds of other words. Such a study will not merely tend to the acquisition of a more correct knowledge of the letter of the divine oracles, but it will form the mind in the thoughts of the God who deigns to use human language to convey to our souls what the Holy Spirit Himself calls "the deep things of God." 1 Cor. 2:10. One who carefully studies such subjects in a proper spirit will be ever learning more of the mind of God as expressed in the scriptures.

By "word study," we mean the gathering together of certain words used throughout Scripture. For instance, in the chapter on Topical or Doctrinal Study, we have seen how a doctrine can be traced from the first intimations in the Old Testament to the full display in the New. Word study is an application of this thought in one of its branches.

It is hoped this sketchy article may encourage some of our younger brethren to study the Scriptures, and find out these delicate shades of meaning, so difficult to translate. Without any knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, it is quite possible to follow up this subject. Over sixty years ago the writer purchased a copy of Young’s Analytical Concordance, which he prizes and uses more than any other book outside the Bible. In it is given against every word the corresponding Hebrew or Greek word. A most valuable Index-Lexicon is appended at the end of the concordance, in which each Hebrew and Greek word is listed, and under each word are appended the different words employed in the English Bible to represent the one Hebrew or Greek word, sometimes running into scores.

But here just a word of warning. A little knowledge is sometimes a dangerous thing. The writer knew an old brother, a most estimable man, who managed to learn a few Greek words. His little knowledge became a perfect nuisance as he paraded his few words on every occasion. One day he said most triumphantly this Greek word differs altogether from that Greek word, so they cannot mean the same thing. We replied, Suppose there is a biography of your life printed in the English language. A Greek Christian knowing a little English reads it. In chapter one he reads that you are a brave man. In chapter three he reads you are a courageous man. He tells us these are two very different words in their spelling, and therefore they cannot mean the same thing. But they do.

A little knowledge of another language is useful, if it shows us how slight and superficial our knowledge is, leading us to be careful how we press our views. Knowing such words as we have dealt with, does not carry with it the knowledge of cases of nouns, tenses of verbs, pronouns, and all the intricacies of a flexible language. But even the bare meaning of the original word may help at arriving at a shade of meaning, not apparent in its English dress. It is blessedly true that a Christian knowing no language but his native English is better equipped for knowing the mind of God in reading the Scriptures, than the most learned Hebrew and Greek scholars, who have scholarship but lack the illuminating grace of God in their hearts.

How interesting, and how instructive too, was this way of establishing the Hebrews in the faith, teaching them, and teaching us, the importance of the Scriptures, assured that in them we shall find no unnecessary verbiage. In some little word or phrase, hitherto overlooked, we may find the clue to some important matter, or the solution of that which has hitherto been a difficulty. For the claims of Moses some might have argued for ever, and never have been silenced by opponents. One little word shed a light on that point, and was sufficient definitely and finally to conclude the matter.

These subjects should certainly be of deepest interest to the hearts of those who have known the redeeming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are many diverse thoughts about them, so it is earnestly pressed upon every reader that he examine every occasion on which such words occur in Scripture, and the context of them. This will surely be a great help in clearing his thoughts about them. Such a search will be greatly simplified by consulting a Greek concordance, such as Wigram's which lists every occurrence of the original Greek word from which these works are derived. Vine's Dictionary will be found helpful in this also.

One great difficulty the translators had to contend with was how best to convey the niceties, the delicate shades of meaning of the Hebrew and Greek languages into plain English. We purpose in this article to furnish a very few examples of this from the New Testament, it may lead others to further searching of the Word of God in that direction.

As the words "only begotten," taken in their literal etymological meaning, might suggest to English readers the idea of Birth, and the beginning of Being, it is of transcendent importance to ascertain with what meaning the word is used in Scripture. For the true explanation of a word employed in inspired writings is determined by its use rather than by its derivation.

The passages in which the Greek word so translated is found are all cited below, proving that the sense in which it is used is very different from that which such a translation might lead a careless reader to imagine.

None whatever. In the first place the meaning of a word is to be decided not by its derivation but by its use; and the use of the word in Scripture is with the meaning of making satisfaction for sin by enduring the penalty, and therefore expiating, and not with the meaning of reconciling. For instance, the word prevent, according to its derivation, would mean to come before or anticipate. When the Authorized Version was made in 1604 A.D. its use agreed with its derivation, and hence the translators inserted it in Matthew 17:25 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15. Today it is never used in its derived sense but always as meaning to hinder. If we always insist on taking words according to their derivation we shall have some strange misunderstandings before we are done!

References to the original Greek of the New Testament have been made not to give an impression of erudition but to address arguments that are based on the meaning of words. This method can deter rather than convince but is sometimes necessary to clarify the scope of the thoughts being considered.

Context is said by some to be the key to the Hebrew language. I have no objection to make to this statement. I wish it had been more followed out and acted upon. I remark, however, that the observation is necessarily true of every language. For instance, in Greek, let any one write a disquisition on the term "beginning" as connected with our Lord. If he does not mark and observe the contexts of Gen. 1:1, and Mark 1:1, and John 1:1, and its force generally in John, he will be without a right clue, even if he fall not into error. A teachable mind has to weigh forms and terms of a language ere using them; and much more important still in divine grace is the mind of the Spirit of God as given to the believer. (John 6:52, 63; 1 Cor. 2)