Introduction to the Strong's Concordance

What is a Strong's Concordance?

A Strong's Concordance is a helpful guide for people studying the Bible. It lists every word from the Old and New Testaments in their original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) and matches them with their English meanings. Created by Dr. James Strong, it gives each word a special number for easy comparison. People use this tool to better understand the Bible's words and meaning. It is popular among Bible readers, teachers, and language experts who want to explore the deeper context of the text.

As you're probably aware, the Bible wasn't originally written in English. Every word we read in the Bible has been carefully translated from the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts. But this translation process is not perfect. Thus sometimes to assist with understanding what the text is actually trying to tell us, we can go back to the original languages and in so doing, gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of scripture.

How is it used?

Here are some of the example uses for a Strong's Concordance.

1) Word Study

A Strong's Concordance enables users to study specific words from the Bible in their original languages. By examining the roots and meanings of these words, they can gain a deeper understanding of the text and its message. This can help them better appreciate the nuances of the Scriptures and expand their knowledge of biblical languages.

For example, a user may want to study the English word "love" in the Bible. While English covers most of the definitions of 'love' with a single word, this is not the case in the original Bible languages. 

By referring to the Strong's Concordance, they can find the original Greek word "agape" (Strong's number G26), which is often used to describe divine love or God's love for humanity. Comparing this to other Greek words for love, like "phileo" (Strong's number G5368), which describes affectionate or friendly love, can help them better understand the different aspects of love presented in the Scriptures.

2) Cross-referencing

The unique numbering system in the Strong's Concordance allows users to cross-reference words throughout the Bible. By comparing instances where the same original word is used, they can identify patterns and themes, leading to a richer comprehension of the text. This can also help them establish connections between different parts of the Bible, making their study more comprehensive and meaningful.

For example, if a user wants to study the concept of "faith" in the Bible, they can use the Strong's Concordance to find the original Greek word "pistis" (Strong's number G4102). They can then locate all instances where "pistis" is used in the New Testament and compare the various passages, deepening their understanding of faith's role in the biblical narrative and linking scripture with scripture.

Useful Resources

Here are some great tutorials and explanations on how to use a paper Strong's Concordance:

• Video - How To Use Strong's Concordance
• Video - How To use a Strong's Concordance: Word Study on "Hell"
• PDF - Here are the basic steps for using Strong's Exhaustive Concordance