It sounds complicated, but it’s not. Recently I was wanting to improve the quality of my Bible Study time. In my research, I came across a way to study the Bible that is completely revolutionizing my approach: Greek & Hebrew Word Studies. With the right tools, in just a few minutes a day I can really dig into the Scriptures to understand what God was getting at. There was a time when you had to be a Scholar to understand Greek and Hebrew Word studies, but modern tools make it so, so simple and accessible!
BlueLetterBible.org is a super-helpful phone app (and also a website) for Bible Study! You can use BlueLetterBible as a study tool online (via a browser) or download their free app to your phone. Either way is fairly intuitive and does the same things. 
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Go to your favorite app store and download Blue Letter Bible. (Or on desktop, navigate to BlueLetterBible.org).
Whether you are using the app or the desktop version, they work the same way:
In the Box that says “Search the Bible” type in the verse you want to look up. In the drop menu immediately beside that (or below on desktop) select the version of the Bible you wish to use. Click “go.” For this example we will look up Ephesians 2:4-5 (from Day 1 of the God Loves Me Bible Journaling Challenge) in the King James Version. You will be taken to a screen with a Bible passage starting with the verse you selected and giving the following verses as well. From here, you can do a number of things.
What Is a Strong’s Index Number?
Before we get started, you need to know what a “Strong’s Number” is. Back in 1890, a theology professor named James Strong led a project where over 14,000 words in the Bible were given a number and indexed. Words that had come from Greek were given a number starting with “G” and Hebrew words were given a number that started with “H.” Today, you and I can use that index to find every single mention of any word we want to study.
How To Do A Greek & Hebrew Word Study
Ok, ready to start?
#1. Pick which word or phrase you want to study. For this example we will explore the phrase “hath quickened us together with.” In the app, touch the small verse number beside the verse, in this case, we will be digging into verse 5. A blue menu will slide in from the side. Choose the first option, “Interlinear.” Then scroll down until you see the phrase you wish to study.
(If you’re on a desktop, there is a blue navigation bar at the top of the site where you will find an option that says “Strongs.” Check that box. Now, the Strongs index number for all the words in the passage will appear. Click on the number immediately following the phrase you wish to study. In this case, it’s is Strong’s Number G4806. For the following steps you’ll be taken to a new screen.)
#2. On the app, you will immediately see the Strong’s Number (In this case, G4806) and the Greek Word. You’ll see the word in Greek characters and English characters: syzoopoieo. There is an audio option to hear the word pronounced if you’d like.
(On Desktop, you are taken to a new screen. “Transliteration” means this is the closest, most reasonable spelling in English for that Greek word. In this case the Greek word “syzoopoieo” was translated into the English phrase “hath quickened us together with.” In the pronunciation section, you can click on the speaker to hear the correct pronunciation of the Greek word.)
In the Etymology section (on the app, access this by clicking the Greek word in English characters), we see that ‘syzoopoieo’ actually came from two root words. If we click on those words we will discover that “syn” is a primary preposition denoting a very close union. “zoopoieo” means “to make alive, bear living young, arouse, invigorate, restore life.” These are very helpful clues to see the depth of what God is trying to say here: (“very close union” “bear living young” “invigorate” “restore life”…) Consider this new information in context of the verse. How does knowing the meaning of the original word used in this text (before being translated into English) help you to better understand what this verse means?
How To Use The Concordance
As you scroll down the page you will see other features. The “Concordance results” will give you a list of every other time that word or phrase is mentioned in the Bible. (By the way, this list will vary a bit based on the translation you have selected.) Sometimes, seeing all the other places in the Bible where a specific word was used can really help clarify exactly what God meant when He used that particular word.
How To Access Other Translations
It can also be helpful to see the verse you are studying in other translations. Use your browser’s back button to navigate back to the verse you are studying.
On the app, open the menu by pressing the icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Then select “Translation Comparisons.”
(On the desktop version there is a box marked “Tools” to he left of the verse. Hover over that and you will see a menu pop up with several different options. Clicking on the “Bibles” option will show you the verse you are studying in several different translations.
Cross References:
The “Cross Reference” option (in the menu on the app, or the orange tab in the desktop menu) will list other important verses that use the same Greek or Hebrew word. Seeing where the Bible uses that exact word and it what context can often help shed light on what a specific verse means.
Commentaries, Dictionaries & Misc
These tabs are self-explanatory. Here you will find extra information pertaining to the verse. Commentaries are simply someone’s comments about the Bible.
Dictionaries will help you understand the exact meaning of certain words. The Misc. tab often features photos, maps, or other tools that may be helpful to your study.
BlueLetterBible.org is a FABULOUS (and Free!) Bible Study tool that make Greek and Hebrew Word studies accessible to anyone! I hope you are as blessed using it as I have been.
A Fun and Fast Introduction to Greek & Hebrew Word Studies
If you’d like to see some examples of Greek and Hebrew word studies in action, check out the Sparkling Gems series by Rick Renner. The books are daily devotionals. Each devotion is 4 or 5 pages long and he not only explains the Greek and Hebrew words, but he tells stories to make the meaning clear and relevant. This is a book meant for adults, but I read them to my children.
You’re Invited!
One last thing! If you haven’t yet, come join our Facebook Group Bible Journaling For Non Artists. This is where I share my best Bible Study tips and we talk about Bible Study and Bible
Journaling (with no pressure to be fancy).
