How To Do a Biblical Word Study | Step-by-Step

My understanding and knowledge of the Bible grew tremendously when I learned how to do a Biblical word study. Focusing on the context and meaning of a single word in the original language opened my eyes to discover more about God’s character and what the verses actually mean.

Resources You Need for a Word Study

• Bible
• Notebook
• Pen
• Computer or Device (we will be utilizing the Blue Letter Bible App and BibleStudyTools.com)

Step-by-Step Walk Through on How to Do a Word Study

1. Identify the Word

Identify the word or phrase you would like to know more about. I was curious about what “Be Still” meant in Psalms 46:10, so that’s what we will be going through together.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

2. Look at Different Translations

One of the easiest ways to look up various translations is by going to Biblestudytools.com. When I look up Psalm 46:10, I see that the English Standard Version says “Be still” while the Holman Christian Standard Bible says “Stop your fighting.” The Bible in Basic English translation says “Be at peace in the knowledge that I am God.”

Looking at other translations can open your mind to other meanings. But what I’ve found most helpful is digging deep into the original language by using the Blue Letter Bible App.

3. Look at the Original Meaning in the Blue Letter Bible App

Since Psalms is a book in the Old Testament, the original language is going to be in Hebrew. If you are looking at a word in the New Testament, the original language is Greek.

Download the Blue Letter Bible App.

Once the app has downloaded, open it and click the search function to type in Psalms 46:10. Click on the number 10 and a page will open with different study tools. Here you will see Interlinear/Concordance, Translation Comparison, Cross-References, Text Commentaries and other resources listed.

Click Interlinear/Concordance and it will open up another page that will list the Strong Definition. On the far left you will see “Be still” with Strong’s definition in the middle and the original word in Hebrew on the far right.

Be still is listed as Strong’s H7503 and the Hebrew word is raphah. Under the Strong’s definition, you will see a blue button labeled (Parse). Parse is essentially telling you what the verb means in the original language. For instance, if you click parse for the word raphah, it brings up a blue box which gives the following information.

(Note: if you aren’t seeing the Parse button switch to the King James Version (KJV) for the tool to appear).

You can click on the stem as well as the aspect to see what they mean. In this verse, raphah is a Hiphil Imperative verb. Hiphil expresses “causative” actions. Anytime you see the Imperative verb, it means it is classified as an order or command. 

Based on this information, we see that God is commanding us to be still. But we still don’t know exactly what that would’ve meant to the original Hebrew audience. Let’s take a look at the original definition.

Under the Strong’s header, click H7503. 

A new page will open. Look at the Outline of Biblical Usage listed. Here are all the different definitions for “be still” in Hebrew. Pay close attention to the Hiphil definition. This is the causative verb we saw earlier.

Under (Hiphil) is says:

• to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake
• let go
• to refrain, let alone
• to be quiet

So now we have a slightly better understanding of what the word means in Hebrew. Let’s take a look at what the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon has to say. Scroll down and click Tap to view the entire entry.

Here you will see expansions on the definitions listed. We see at the top that it says “to cast, to throw.” We also see it says to relax, to desist. These all tie into the definition of the word based on the context of the verse. Since we are looking at the Hiphil stem, scroll down until you see the definitions listed.

Pay very close attention to the end of (2) – see where it has Psalm 46:11 listed? “leave off (your own attempts) and know.”

After examining the original definitions as well as the Lexicon, now we have more of an idea what God means when He says “Be Still” in Psalm 46:10. It doesn’t just mean the lack of movement or silence, it is saying to stop fighting God. To desist from trying to do and just rest in the knowledge of Him. Literally translated by the Lexicon as “lowering your hands” and “leave off your attempts and know.”

4. Look at Other Verses Where the Same Word is Used

The BlueletterBible app also records other verses in the Bible where raphah is used. Click the half triangle at the top of the page to exit the Lexicon. Scroll down to the bottom of Concordance Results, and you will see the verses that also contain H7503. If you scroll down, you will come across a reference to Song of Songs 3:4.

“I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go…” The phrase “would not let him go” is also translated into the Hebrew raphah.

Looking at this verse in light of Psalm 46:10, we see that we should lower our hands from all our striving, so our hands are free to grab onto God. And once we’ve touched Him, may we never let Him go to go back to our old exhausting ways.

For an interesting side note, remember how one of the definitions for raphah is also “to cast, to throw”? One of the definitions for Trust (batach) in Psalm 62:8 is “throw oneself or one’s cares on.” What an incredibly beautiful picture of the character of God. Only He can handle the weight of our souls. He won’t drop us. Trust is the catalyst to rest.

5. Digging Even Deeper

If you want to spend even more time digging into a word or phrase, look at other verses where different Hebrew or Greek words are used for the same English word.

For instance, Exodus 14:13 says “Fear not, stand still (yatsab) and see the salvation of the Lord” and 1 Kings 19:12 describes the “still (demamah) small voice” of God). Still in these verses use different Hebrew words, indicating different meanings. Do a word study on each of them for a more complete word study.

6. Putting It All Together

Once you’ve dug deep and have a notebook full of research, now is when you start the application process. Ask questions like how does this help me better understand the context and meaning of the verse? What is it teaching me about God? How does it challenge me to a deeper faith? How does this tie in with the big picture of the Bible (all pointing to Jesus?)

Take your time here. If you journal, journal about it. Let it sink in deep. He is the great teacher Rabbi.  Go sit at his feet and learn.