How to Do a Hebrew Word Study

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use free online tools to investigate Hebrew words behind English Bible translations:

• An interlinear Bible
• Strong’s Dictionary

We’ll use the word mercy as our example, tracing it from the English text to its original Hebrew word. Sometimes it will be ḥesed (חֶסֶד)—but not always. This process will help you begin thinking like a Bible translator.

Step 1: Opening the Interlinear

• Start by going to BibleHub.com.
• In the search bar, type the word mercy and hit “enter.”
• Click on the “OT” tab.
• Go down the page and click Psalm 123:3.
• Click the Interlinear tab.

Step 2: Finding Strong’s Number

• You’ll now see a word-for-word alignment of the English and Hebrew text.
• Find the English word mercy in the verse.
• Look directly above it to see the Hebrew word (and transliteration).
• Above that, you’ll see a Strong’s number (e.g., H2617 for ḥesed).

Step 3: Opening Strong’s Dictionary

• Click the number to open Strong’s Dictionary.
• You’ll discover the key features and background of this Hebrew word.

Exercise: Try It Yourself

Open the Interlinear for Psalm 123:3 on BibleHub.

Look beyond the word mercy and examine some of the other English words in the passage. Pay close attention to the word translated as “filled.” You may find that its actual meaning carries more depth than the English suggests.

For each word you choose, answer the following:

• What Hebrew word lies behind the English?
• Is this Hebrew word a verb, noun, or something else?
• What additional nuance does the Strong’s entry reveal?

Key Takeaways

• A single English word like mercy may come from several different Hebrew words.
• The Interlinear helps you identify the original Hebrew term.
• Strong’s Dictionary gives you a foundational understanding of the word’s meaning—but deeper study is always encouraged.
• This is your first step toward thinking like a Bible translator.

Next Up: Digging Deeper with a Lexicon

You have learned how to trace English words back to their original Hebrew form using an interlinear Bible and Strong’s Dictionary. That’s a strong start—but it’s just the beginning.

If you want to go beyond Strong’s brief definitions and begin uncovering the full meaning of a Hebrew word, you need to explore its root—and all the related words that grow from it. Most lexicons require some knowledge of Hebrew to do that, but in this next lesson, I’ll show you how to bypass that hurdle using a lexicon I created specifically for students like you. No Hebrew required.

Let’s dive into the Hebrew word behind believed in Genesis 15:6 and uncover how a concept like faith is grounded in something far more concrete than we often imagine.