Hebrew and Greek

thetick · 01-08-2003, 06:38 AM

I just was wondering what you guys use to look things up in the original Greek and Hebrew? I'm needing to get some type of reference book that I'm able to do that with, and am needing a recommondation of what is good, and where to get one.

Blessings

Superman · 01-08-2003, 07:11 AM

For word studies, you need a lexicon. For entry level, I recommend Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words:

Let me be clear in saying that no lexicon can teach you grammar, which is a whole different ball game. It's good for word studies to get the bigger pictture, but it wont help you in grammar of Greek. Greek has a whooooole lot more going on to it than definitions. So one has to be careful when using a lexicon. You cant just look up a passage in Greek and use a lexicon to translate.

But this is a good place to start for more serious Bible study, and you dont have to know how to read Greek to use this.

I have a few that requires you to know how to read Greek to use the darn things.

But I started out with this one.

**+Donny** · 01-08-2003, 09:12 AM

Also, go to www.e-sword.com and download some of the translations (including GNT and HOT) and get some of the lexicons of Hebrew and Greek. That will help a lot and that is what I use.

I tried to learn some Greek grammar last semester and did okay. I read through about half of a basic Greek book and am going to start up again next year some time.

dungscooperdave · 01-08-2003, 09:34 AM

I use a computer program called "Wordsearch" (I think this is it here http://www.discountchristian.com/iexalt/products.htm) which I think basically just uses Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, which you can buy as a hardback from your local Christian bookstore or order online somehwere.

Superman · 01-08-2003, 10:06 AM

A concordance is not a lexicon. A concordance is a cross-reference of words used in scripture, not definitions of words. A lexicon is a dictionary for English and another language. It gives the definitions.

Some concordinces do have a lexicon attached to them, however...

Strong's lexicon is arguably the weakest lexicon out there. It barely gives any real definitions or how a word was used. It may only give a one-sentence answer, sometimes just one word! Hardly an in-depth study guide, good for only quick reference. That's why most people are encouraged to start out with Vine's or Thayer's lexicons, as they are a bit more thorough. I think for the beginner, Vine's is the most thorough and still easy to use.

The one thing Strong's has going for it is it's number system. The concordance and the lexicon can be used easily because each word has a number affixed to it, for those who cant read Greek. So if you have Strong's concordance, you can look up the word "sheep" for example, and it will list every time the word "sheep" was used in the Bible, and next to it, a number. So you look at the number, and go get Strong's lexicon that uses this numbering system and find it in the lexicon to get the definition. Very useful.

However, just about everyone has adopted this numbering system, so again, I recommend a different lexicon than Strong's, as just about everyone now uses Strong's numbers, including Vine's.

Mike Graham · 01-08-2003, 10:14 AM

I use an old DOS CD-ROM that is essential linked Strong's numbers and a lexicon, a little more, but not much. e-sword is a good source. What specifically are you asking for?

Dice · 01-08-2003, 10:21 AM

In addition to what Superman has said, it's also important to know that ancient greek is different than modern greek.

Pastork · 01-08-2003, 11:37 AM

I second Donny's recommendation of e-Sword, which is probably the best and most user friendly Bible study software available (and it is free!). The e-Sword site also includes for download a package from Lockman including the NASB Bible, NASB with Strong's numbers, concordance, and lexicon (which is better than the Strong's), which one has to pay $20 dollars to unlock, but it is well worth it. One can also download a beta version of Vine's for e-Sword at the site. For those of you with a good gackground in the languages, however, the best thing would be Bibleworks 5.0 (which costs about $300 dollars).

Pastork

SnapCase · 01-08-2003, 01:25 PM

Yeah, what Pastork said, Bibleworks. It's amazing.

**Ted Logan** · 01-08-2003, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr McB
In addition to what Superman has said, it's also important to know that ancient greek is different than modern greek.

In addition, classical Greek is different than Hellenistic Greek, which is what we're talking about.

I suggest buying a little book called Greek Enchiridion. It's a very useful introduction to Hellenistic Greek grammar.