HOW
TO GET A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF A BIBLE SCRIPTURE
When the English
translators read the Hebrew/Aramaic text of the Old Testament or the Greek
version of the New Testament, they chose English words that would best express
their understanding of the original languages. A good concordance lets us do
that too. We can look up the etymology of any word used in the Bible and see
the intricacies of its definition. It’s easy now with an online concordance
like Strong’s (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3427/kjv/wlc/0-1/).
As we read the definition of a word, the Holy Spirit teaches us how it applies
to our lives. We get a deeper understanding of the holy scriptures by doing
this simple research.
As an example, I’ll show
you how to do this, using two verses from Psalm 91. First, I’ll show you how to
look up the meanings of the words, then make them personal without compromising
the integrity or how the scripture fits with the rest of the Bible.
Psalm 91:1: “He that dwelleth
in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of
the Almighty.”
The word “dwelleth” is
the Hebrew yashab defined as sitting down with,
remaining, settling down with, continuing with, marrying, being still with.
“Secret” is cether, a
place where you’re covered, a hiding place, a place of protection.
“The most High”
is El Elyon, the Highest, Supreme, uppermost. There is no
one and nothing higher.
“Abide” is the
Hebrew lyin which means to stop (usually overnight),
implying to stay permanently, remaining, continuing.
“The Almighty” is El
Shaddai. Young’s Concordance defines this as the God
of overflow, constant supply, and source of all sufficiency.
Take a minute or two to think
about those definitions and mull them over. What is God saying to you in that
scripture? Put it in your own words without changing the meaning.
For example, this is how
I would say to myself: “Carolyn, sit down a few minutes and relax. Settle down,
be still, and picture yourself snuggled up in the protected hiding place of
God, up next to the One Who is the Highest Being ever to exist. He wants you
there. You can stay overnight, and then in the morning, you’ll be right by His
side and go wherever He goes. You’re close enough that His shadow is on you,
and you experience a constant overflow from Him. God is your continuing source
of everything you need.”
The next verse I want to
look at is Psalm 91:4: “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His
wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
The word “cover” is sakak which
means to join together and shut up, entwining as a screen, to fence in or hedge
in for protection and defense.
“Feathers” are from the
root word abar which means to soar or fly.
“Truth” is emeth meaning
stable, certain, sure, faithful, established and right.
“Shield” is a word
for pointed hook, prickly like thorns or a cactus hedge. It is a
large shield that guards by prickliness. It also carries the definition of
being piercingly cold.
“Buckler” is translated
from cochera, a shield that completely surrounds a
person.
Again, take a few
minutes to think about these definitions and see what God is saying to you.
The God of the Bible is
our God, and He’s protected His Word all these thousands of years so that when
we read a verse, He can speak personally to each of us. It’s great to have
people who preach and teach us the Word, but God loves us individually and has
made it so that each of us can read the Bible and hear from Him ourselves. God
tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
When we study a verse or
section of scripture by looking up the meanings of the words, we’ll get a
deeper understanding of what our Heavenly Father is saying to us.
“Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to
him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matt. 7:7-8).
Love, Carolyn
My
new book, BIBLE LESSONS FROM NATURE, will be out soon. I’m
excited for you to be able to read it. The last time I published a paperback,
it had to be in black and white, but this time they could do it in color! Yay!
I know you’re going to love it. https://www.amazon.com/Carolyn-Molica/e/B007GZO1HA?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_15&qid=1651431514&sr=8-15
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