Introduction to Word Studies in Hebrew

Overview

• Word studies, or context studies, involve exploring scripture to gain deeper understanding and insight.
• The goal is not to find hidden meanings of words, but to connect different scriptural passages sharing common ideas.

Example: Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel)

• Focus on the word "plan" in Genesis 11:6.
• Use tools like Bible Hub's interlinear translation to understand Hebrew words.

Tools and Resources

Bible Hub

• Type reference (e.g., Genesis 11:6) and use the interlinear tool.
• Examine Hebrew words and their English translations.

Strong's Concordance

• Click on Strong's number to explore word meanings.
• Example word: zamam (pronounced "zam")
  • Meaning: to consider, purpose, devise.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB) Hebrew Lexicon

• Scholarly resource available on Bible Hub.
• Provides detailed meanings and interpretations.
• Important sections:
  • Part of Speech: Verbs are often best for studies.
  • General Meaning: Summary of overarching meanings.
  • Categories of Usage: Interpretive categorization by scholars.

Understanding Hebrew Verbal Stems

• Example stems: Qal, Niphal, Piel, etc.
• Stems change verb meanings significantly; keep them separate in studies.
• Example: Same word for "to die" and "to kill" in different stems.

Practical Application with Context Studies

• Use BDB as a starting point, not a definitive guide.
• Compare different scriptural uses to derive meaning:
  • Deuteronomy 19:19: Malicious witness planning evil.
  • Psalm 31:13: Slanderers planning to harm.
  • Psalm 37:12: The wicked planning against the righteous.
• These comparisons support the interpretation of "evil planning" in Genesis 11:6.

Conclusion

• Context studies enable strategic exploration of scripture.
• They provide depth understanding and illumination.
• BDB is a valuable resource for this purpose.

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Note: Ignore cognate language information and the list of Hebrew formations when starting out.