Scripture LensGenesis 1:1 and John 1:1 · Guided study
How to study Hebrew and Greek Bible words
How can you use original-language tools when you do not read Hebrew or Greek?
Learn a practical Bible word-study method: read the context, compare translations, identify a Hebrew or Greek term, and check how the author uses it.
Open John 1:1 in the reader (opens in a new tab)Read it in context
Begin with a passage, not an isolated dictionary entry. Read the paragraph and notice who is speaking, what is happening, and how the sentence advances the argument or story. Original-language tools can clarify your reading, but a list of possible definitions is not a translation of the verse. Scripture Lens places word information beside the passage so that you can keep checking the context.
What to observe
- Read the chapter in your usual translation, then compare another edition. Write down the particular difference you want to understand. Different English wording may express the same sense; it does not automatically indicate an error.
- Select a word with a reliable Hebrew or Greek alignment. Record the original form, transliteration, and lexical identifier where supplied. An English word may represent several source words, and the same source word may have different English translations. Do not force a one-to-one match when the data does not support it.
- Use the lexical entry to identify a range of possible senses. Then ask which sense fits this sentence, the author's topic, and the grammar. Do not combine every dictionary meaning into one expanded definition for the verse.
- Compare other uses by the same author before widening the search. Notice what is similar and what is different. A repeated word provides a useful lead, but each passage still has its own context.
- Write a short conclusion in your own words and distinguish what the wording shows from what you infer. Save the passage and the source of the lexical information with your note. When grammar or translation choices remain disputed, record that uncertainty instead of treating an English gloss as proof.
Key original-language terms
in the beginningCompare Genesis 1:1 with the rest of the creation account. The familiar English phrase is a starting point for studying the sentence, not a reason to assign a hidden meaning to each letter.
word, message, account, reasonJohn 1:14 identifies the Word as the one who became flesh. That literary context is essential when choosing among the term's possible senses.
Follow the connections
Study takeaway
A useful word study explains how a word functions in its passage. Context, grammar, and the author's usage narrow the possibilities offered by a dictionary.
Continue studying
These notes are Scripture Lens editorial study guidance. Read the linked passages and compare our study methodology (opens in a new tab) before drawing a conclusion.