How to do a Bible Word Study in 20 Minutes or Less

[Affiliate links may be used in this post.]

Guest Post by Annie McGuire of “Daily His Disciple”

I’m so excited that Annie agreed to write this post for The Modern Mary. I have been trying to write a post about doing a Biblical word study for a long time, but it just never came together. After I found Annie’s post about word studies, I knew I had to reach out to her to write for this blog. I know that you will be as blessed by her writing as I have been.

---

The Working Woman’s Guide to Word Studies

How to do a Bible Word Study in 20 Minutes or Less

Do you long for an in-depth understanding of the Bible but just can’t seem to find the time to study?  Or are you at a loss as to where to start?

I’ve been there.

Then God gave me someone who taught me how to study the Bible. The first step was to learn how to do a word study.  After discovering this tactic, I fell in love with the scriptures and the rest is history!

Why do a Word Study?

Studying individual words in the Bible brings a deeper knowledge and better understanding of Biblical principles.  What the word means in English may not be the same as the Hebrew or Greek text it was originally written in.  Without digging into the scriptures, we may arrive at an interpretation and application that is skewed, and miss out on some valuable insights as well.

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. -Psalm 119:162 (KJV)

There’s a treasure trove of beautiful truths waiting to be discovered in the scriptures! Word studies are a simple yet significant strategy to effective Bible study.

How Long Will it Take?

Whether you’re working outside the home or within, one thing is for certain- you’re busy and your time is precious.  With a smartphone or internet access word studies can be done in 20 minutes or less with these simple steps.

10 steps to doing a Bible word study:

1. Decide on a word.
2. Define the word in a dictionary, writing down synonyms and antonyms.
3. Look up the word in a bible study app like E-swordor Blue Letter Bible .
4. Click on the word and choose Interlinear/Concordance. (This gives you a breakdown of each word in the verse, in the original language it was written.)
5. Then tap on the specific word for the Hebrew(OT)/Greek(NT) definition and usage.
6. Write down the scripture references listed with this word and look them up.
7. Read the context of the verses within the chapter and book.
8. Compare scripture with scripture for a full understanding of the word.
9. Compile your notes and write out the biblical definition of the word based on your study.
10. Pray for God to reveal the doctrine and the application.  Ask him “What does this mean?”, and “What does this mean to me?”

No matter if you’ve been saved for a few days or have been walking with Jesus for years, this Bible word study strategy is simple enough for everyone.  My kids even enjoy it!

So if you can give God 20 minutes of your day, you can have a deeper knowledge of the Bible and thereby a greater knowledge of God himself.

And the more you know Him, the more you love Him. 

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. -Matthew 22:37 (KJV)

---

Annie McGuire

“As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I spend my time passionately pursuing his presence, studying his scriptures, and teaching his truths.  I serve alongside my husband as he pastors a new church plant, and have the privilege of leading the women’s ministry and serving in the children’s ministry.  We have four kids who are leaving the nest quicker than I’d like, and writing is my labor of love. ”

Annie’s Blog:  www.dailyhisdisciple.com

You can also find Annie on:

Facebook: Daily His Disciple

Twitter: @dailyhisdisc

Pinterest: dailyhisdisciple

Instagram: Daily His Disciple