How can knowing Greek and Hebrew be helpful when studying the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Studying the Hebrew and Greek language is important because it can help us “rightly handle” the Scriptures since these were the languages Old and New Testament writers used under inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). For example, Hebrew poetry is hard for us to truly appreciate unless we study it in its original language. The Psalms and the book of Job are very heavy in Hebrew poetry, so familiarity with Hebrew can help us recognize their poetic depth and get a more thorough understanding of what the author was trying to communicate. Without studying these books in Hebrew, we can’t see the rhyming schemes, nor the stanza, letter, or number patterns (ex. Psalm 119). Studying the Hebrew and Greek languages of the Bible can also be useful in interpreting controversial or difficult portions of Scripture. This helps in promoting healthy teaching (Jude 1:3) as well as in defending against false teaching (Acts 17:11). Ultimately, the Bible is a powerful spiritual tool in a Christian’s life, acting as both our guide and weapon (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17), so studying it more deeply in its original languages can only benefit us.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Rhyming words in Hebrew cannot be seen in English, so it can be helpful when reading books like Job and the Psalms to be familiar with the Hebrew language. For example, each stanza of Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, begins with one letter of the twenty-two-letter Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza includes eight verses all beginning with the same Hebrew letter. These features cannot be observed easily in English. However, the original language likely included these features for ease of memorization and poetic beauty.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Scripture is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and is our guide to life (2 Timothy 3:14-17) so it is worth deeply studying. We can read and learn much from the Bible in a translation, but studying the Hebrew and Greek text can give us an even deeper layer of understanding.
• Jude 1:3 says, "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." Jude considered accurate teaching so important that he stopped his plans to write about salvation to address the topic. Thankfully, studying the Bible in its original Hebrew and Greek text can aid in more biblically accurate teaching.
• The Bereans in Acts 17:11 provide a great example of doing due diligence to ensure that the teachings they were receiving from Paul were accurate with Scripture. We can do something similar when it comes to hearing someone teach. If we are unsure whether something we’re being taught is biblically accurate, we can look up the verse and/or passage in the Hebrew or Greek text. Church leaders should not be offended by such research, but rather, commend it like Paul did.
• Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” A believer’s obligation is to correctly interpret Scripture. Researching the Hebrew and Greek definitions of words and being familiar with how their tenses are used can help. When we study the Hebrew and Greek text, we are studying God’s word in the actual languages that the Holy Spirit used while inspiring the authors of the Old and New Testament (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Understanding these languages can deepen our understanding of what the authors were trying to communicate without the inevitable barriers that come along with translation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew (with a few portions in a related language called Aramaic). The New Testament was originally written in Greek. Despite many modern translations that faithfully represent the original languages of Scripture, no translation can capture every nuance of the original words of Scripture. So knowing Hebrew and Greek (or at least some of their words and verbal patterns) can prove helpful when studying the Bible.

For example, English verbs have tenses (such as past, present, and future tenses—e.g., sat, sit, will sit). Greek verbs also include aspect, which means that besides an action being past, present, or future, it can be either complete or incomplete. This verbal aspect is sometimes not clearly communicated in translation. Those who study the Greek text can, therefore, gain additional insights into details of the New Testament that a translation cannot provide. Ultimately, knowledge of Hebrew and Greek is certainly a beneficial tool in understanding the Bible.

UNDERSTAND

• Understanding the original languages the Bible was written in can deepen our understanding of Scripture.
• Knowing Hebrew and Greek can increase our appreciation of the genres included in the Bible, such as poetry.
• Controversial Bible passages may be better understood by reading them in the language in which they were originally written.

REFLECT

• How has understanding words/phrases from the original language of the Bible helped you better grasp the meaning of certain passages?
• What are some passages in the Bible that you’re unclear about? How can studying the Greek and Hebrew better help you understand those passages?
• How do you trust that God has given you all you need to know His Word while knowing that further study can help deepen your understanding?

ENGAGE

• How might word studies of certain passages in the original language enhance a group Bible study?
• What are some ways we can encourage each other to “rightly handle” Scripture?
• How might believers’ deep knowledge of the Bible be a witness to skeptics?