Executive Summary
Strong's Concordance is the most popular tool for bridging the gap between English translations and the original biblical languages. However, it is also the most misused.
This guide provides a practical tutorial on using our advanced Concordance Tool and, more importantly, teaches you how to avoid the four most common interpretive errors that plague Bible students.
The Power (and Danger) of Strong's Numbers
Since its publication in 1890, Dr. James Strong's exhaustive index has been a gift to the church. It assigns a unique number to every unique Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) word, allowing students who don't speak the original languages to look up definitions and occurrences.
But a dictionary definition is not the same as meaning. Meaning is determined by context, not just a dictionary entry. When we treat Strong's definitions as a "secret code" that unlocks hidden spiritual truths, we often fall into linguistic fallacies.
How to Use Our Concordance Tool
We have built a modern, enhanced interface for Strong's Concordance that makes word study faster and more intuitive. Here is how to get the most out of it:
1. Smart Search
You don't need to know the Strong's number. Just type an English word (e.g., "Love", "Grace") or a transliteration (e.g., "agape", "chesed"). Our tool instantly suggests matches in both Hebrew and Greek.
2. Contextual Glosses
Don't just stop at the definition. Look at the "Biblical Occurrences" section to see how different translations render the word in different verses. This range of meaning is crucial.
The 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using a concordance without training in hermeneutics (the science of interpretation) can lead to error. Here are the four traps to watch out for.
Mistake #1: The Root Fallacy
This is the belief that the "real" meaning of a word is found in its etymology (its historical root parts).
Example: Ekklesia (Church)
People often say the Greek word for church, ekklesia, comes from ek (out of) + kaleo (to call), so it means "the called-out ones."
The Reality: By the first century, ekklesia simply meant an "assembly" or "gathering." It was used for political mobs (Acts 19:32) and Israel in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). While theology tells us Christians are called out, the word itself just means assembly.
Tip: Usage determines meaning, not roots. "Butterfly" implies nothing about butter or flies.
Mistake #2: Illegitimate Totality Transfer
This occurs when a student looks at the list of all possible definitions for a word and assumes the word means all of them in every single verse.
Example: Sozo (Save)
The Greek word sozo can mean "to save," "to heal," or "to deliver."
The Error: Some teach that every time you see "saved" in the Bible, it guarantees physical healing because sozo is used for healing elsewhere.
The Reality: Words have a semantic range, but context selects one meaning. If I say "I saved money," it doesn't mean I healed the money. Context is king.
Mistake #3: The "Literal" Trap (Idioms)
Hebrew is full of idioms—figures of speech that don't make sense if translated literally word-for-word.
Example: Erekh Apayim
A famous Hebrew description of God (Exodus 34:6) is literally אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִםlong of nose (erekh apayim), which means "long of nose" or "long of nostrils."
The Reality: In Hebrew idiom, anger was associated with snorting/hot nose. To have a "long nose" meant it took a long time for your nose to get hot. It means patient or slow to anger. A "literal" word study here would be confusing and absurd.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Grammar
Strong's numbers identify the lexical root, but they often ignore the grammar (stem, tense, mood) which modifies the action.
Example: The Hiphil Stem
In Hebrew, the Qal stem is simple action ("he reigned"). The Hiphil stem is causative ("he made [someone] reign").
If you just look up "reign" in Strong's, you might miss that God is the cause of the action in the text. Always check if the concordance notes the stem (Hiphil, Piel, etc.) or look at a interlinear translation.
Best Practices Checklist
To study safely and accurately, follow these three simple rules:
- Context determines meaning.Never assume a word means the same thing in Verse A as it does in Verse B without checking the context.
- Consult multiple translations.If NIV, ESV, and NASB all translate a word differently, that's a signal the word has a complex meaning. Dig deeper there.
- Look for the semantic range.Use our concordance tool to see all the different ways a Hebrew/Greek word is translated into English. This gives you the boundaries of its meaning.
Ready to start your study?