What is a Bible concordance and how can it be used?

TL;DR:

The Bible encourages us to study it for knowledge and understanding, and a concordance is a great resource in that journey.

Scripture is filled with encouragement to study it for ourselves. God commanded His people to recite His words daily and to meditate on them (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Jesus called us to know Him by knowing the Scriptures (John 5:39), and Paul encouraged Timothy to be a diligent worker through study (2 Timothy 2:15).

Today, while Scripture is in one sense more widely available in many languages, it also remains mysteriously distant from the original languages and cultures in which it was written.

Concordances are resources designed to assist us in discovering the deeper meaning in many passages. Not only do they provide a list of Scripture references where particular words can be found, but they also give us the original Hebrew or Greek words and the various definitions of those words, adding to our overall understanding of the text.

from the old testament

The Israelites were commanded to learn and recite the words of the Law (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11:18, 32:46, Psalm 119:11).
We are instructed to “get wisdom,” (Proverbs 4:7), and a key way to do that is by reading God’s Word.

from the new testament

Jesus likens those who heed His words to a wise man who builds his house upon a strong foundation (Matthew 7:24-25).
The Bereans searched the Scriptures to find the truth (Acts 17:11).
Paul told Timothy to study diligently (2 Timothy 2:15).

implications for today

A concordance helps Bible readers to dive deeper into the truest meanings contained within the Scriptures by learning the original word's definition. Different translations of the Bible frequently translate the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words differently from each other, which means most concordances are translation-specific. Many Bibles have a very basic concordance included in the back pages, but some concordances contain every single word in the Bible. These are called "exhaustive" concordances. The most commonly used exhaustive concordance is Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

. Additionally, some free concordances are available online.Looking up a word in a concordance can also be a helpful tool in finding a specific reference the location of which you cannot remember. For instance, you might remember reading about Noah finding favor. If you look up the word “favor” in a concordance, the first few references that pop up are as follows:GRACE

Genesis 6:8

, But Noah found f. in the eyes of the... H2580Genesis 18:13

, and said, "O Lord, if I have found f. in your sight… H2580Genesis 19:19

Behold, your servant has found f. in your sight... H2580 Genesis 6:8

is the desired verse. But each of these three references uses the same Hebrew word for grace (H2580). You can look up the word in the back section of the concordance. Upon looking up H2580, you will find the definition you were looking for: "H2580 chēn from H2603 chanan; graciousness, i.e. Subjective (kindness, favor) or Objective (beauty): — favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-)favoured."A Bible concordance is a very useful tool for studying the Bible and deepening knowledge of the Scriptures.

understand

A Bible concordance helps you find specific verses and passages by listing where particular words appear in the Bible.
A Bible concordance offers definitions of original Hebrew or Greek words.
A Bible concordance encourages in-depth Bible study by showing how words are used throughout Scripture and clarifying translation differences.

reflect

How does the encouragement to study the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 2 Timothy 2:15) impact your approach to daily Bible reading and study?
How can you apply the insights gained from using a concordance to your personal spiritual growth and understanding of God's Word?
What are some words you would like to study using a Bible concordance

engage

How can exploring the original Hebrew or Greek meanings of words with a concordance enhance discussions and interpretations of Scripture?
Why do you think Scripture emphasizes regular Bible study, and how does this shape our understanding of its importance in our lives?
Resources like concordances and commentaries can enhance our understanding of the Bible by providing deeper insights into original languages and contextual meanings. However, nothing replaces just reading and meditating on the Word of God.