The words we use are important. We as Christians are admonished in the Bible to be careful in our conversation toward others. An example of this is Proverbs 15:1. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” When wrath is turned away, it should bring joy to us. That’s one example of hundreds that could be used to prove this truth. However, the idea for today isn’t the words we use in everyday conversation but the words that the Bible uses. One of the pleasures I get regularly is to find meanings of words. This type of study is called “word study.”
A beautiful part of word studies is to find the underlying meanings of a particular word. Often, there are pictures we can visualize that make those meanings come into focus. These give us a greater understanding of the passage. Biblical word studies are exciting for me first because I’m a Christian and second because I’m a pastor. A specific word may be used as a verb and the same word used as a noun in another instance. I came across a word that can be used in both ways. I Corinthians 13:7 says, “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” The word “beareth” when used as a verb it means “to cover,” “to pass over in silence,” or “to keep confidential.” When it is used as a noun the picture is that of a “roof on a house.” It protects us from the elements and offers protection. Isn’t that a wonderful picture of Christ concerning us? The blood of Christ “covers over our sins”, the judgment of God “passes over us” because of Calvary, and the Lord “forgives and forgets our sin” all because of the sacrifice Jesus made at the cross. That act, and that act alone, gives us a “roof”, a protection, and we are kept by the power of God. But remember this, the passage in I Corinthians directs the Christian in how he or she is to love others. Be honest with yourself. How do you “bear” when it comes to others. Ministers are privy to multiple situations of hurt and despair that most church members aren’t’. Yet, each of us, you and I, have people that confide in us, seeking help, understanding, and direction. Do you give them a “covering of protection?” Are you their “roof?” If Corrie Ten Boom were still alive, she’d use the term “The Hiding Place.” What difference are you making in the life of others? Are you a person of character others can trust and place their confidence in? Do you bear them up?
That is just one example of a word study. Perhaps the greatest known and most used word study resource is Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. Almost every word in the Bible is cataloged and a meaning is given. That should be the first stop if you are just getting started. Run the references that Strong gives. There are, of course, other exhaustive concordances. There is Young’s Concordance and Cruden’s Concordance along with others. These resources can be found in print or online. I use both. The point is words can give you great joy as the passages you read and meditate on unfold before your very eyes.