My husband taught me how to journey through a word study using some tools that we have today. By conducting word studies we have been able to come to clearer understanding of the scriptures. It's always an adventure when we gather with other believers and enjoy studying like this together.
Tools Needed:
-KJV Bible. I use this in word studies because I use the next tool, a Strong's Concordance.
-Strong's Concordance (I use the online one as well as the hardbound one I have at home)
-Hebrew Bible and translator (At Crosswalk.com it will give you these tools when you click on the linked word in the verses.)
-Greek Bible and translator
-Dictionary
-Notebook paper
-pen
-highlighters or colored pencils
-book markers
-small post it notes pad
We use the last four tools listed when we want to document everything we study. We choose to underline some verses or words in the verses with a particular color. We also use small post it note papers to hold our place right that the verse we are studying so we can easily flip back and forth and find the verse again with ease. (I will write another article soon, to show you how I use those.)
We do not rely fully on only the KJV and Strong's concordance. We have found that digging deeper into the Hebrew and Greek to be the most accurate way to finding the truth. In addition to all this, we must rely on the greatest tool, that is the person of the Holy Spirit. His guidance is ALWAYS necessary in understanding God's Word.
John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."Let's begin this word study with Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
1 John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
I went to the online Strong's Concordance and typed in 'Hebrews 4:16', here is what it gives me.
Next, I click on the linked word 'grace', and it gives me the Greek word and definitions. Grace in Hebrew is Charis, which means:
1. grace
1. that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2. good will, loving-kindness, favour
1. of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3. what is due to grace
1. the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
2. the token or proof of grace, benefit
1. a gift of grace
2. benefit, bounty
4. thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
The page also tells me how many other times the same word grace(Charis) appears in the New Testament.
Next, I wanted to know what the word 'grace' means in the Old Testament. So I looked up Genesis 6:8, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."
In Hebrew the word is Chen meaning:
favour, grace, charm
1. favour, grace, elegance
2. favour, acceptance
At the top of that page you will see where it says 'word origin' with a number(o2603). When you click on that number, it gives you more understanding behind that word's meaning. Here is what it says:
Chanan:
1. to be gracious, show favour, pity
1. (Qal) to show favour, be gracious
2. (Niphal) to be pitied
3. (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious
4. (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on
5. (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration
6. (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour
2. to be loathsome
When I conduct a word study, I double check all of this information and read the verses that use the word, in this study it's grace. I would do this by reading all the verses that contain the word 'grace'. In this case, it appears MANY times in the Bible, so the study would be a lengthy one.
When I looked at the right side of that last page I see several books of the Bible where the word Chanan is found. I clicked on the linked word for Psalms, to see the verses that contain that word and it shows me several verses that contain the word mercy, supplication, favour, etc.
I hope you have enjoyed this word study with me. May the grace of God be with you all.
Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in serving the Lord in her community.
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