How to Use Strong's Concordance Online: Bible Word Study for Beginners

Strong's Concordance definition: A comprehensive indexed catalog of every word in the King James Bible, cross-referenced with its Greek or Hebrew original and a dictionary-style definition. Created by Dr. James Strong in 1890, it assigns a unique number to each word (H1-H8674 for Hebrew, G1-G5624 for Greek), allowing non-scholars to study the original biblical languages.

Strong's Concordance is the most popular word study tool in the Christian world. You've probably seen Strong's numbers in the margin of your study Bible—those little numbers that seem to unlock deeper meaning in Scripture. But how do you actually use them? And what can they really tell you?

The truth is: Strong's Concordance is incredibly powerful for beginners, but it's also easy to misuse. In this guide, you'll learn exactly how to use it to understand what the original Hebrew and Greek actually say—and more importantly, what it means for your faith.

Who Created Strong's Concordance and Why

In 1890, a Methodist minister and scholar named James Strong published The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Strong's goal was simple but revolutionary: to create a tool that allowed any English Bible reader to access the original Greek and Hebrew words, even without formal language training.

At that time, studying the original languages required:

• Years of seminary training
• Access to expensive Greek and Hebrew texts
• Ability to read unfamiliar alphabets
• Deep linguistic knowledge

Strong's Concordance democratized Bible study. For the first time, ordinary Christians could look up a word in their English Bible and immediately see the original Greek or Hebrew word, its pronunciation, and what it meant.

Over 130 years later, Strong's Concordance remains the most accessible tool for original language study. Every major Bible software company—Blue Letter Bible, Bible Hub, Olive Tree, Logos—includes Strong's numbers. And while newer, more scholarly tools have been created, Strong's remains the entry point for millions of Bible students worldwide.

How Strong's Numbers Work

Strong's Concordance assigns a unique number to every distinct Hebrew and Greek word in the Bible. Here's how it works:

Hebrew words (Old Testament): Numbered from H1 to H8674

• H1 = את (et, "sign of the direct object")
• H430 = אלהים (elohim, "God, gods")
• H1696 = דברו (dabar, "to speak, to say")

Greek words (New Testament): Numbered from G1 to G5624

• G1 = ἀγάπη (agape, "love")
• G25 = ἀγαπάω (agapao, "to love")
• G2316 = θεός (theos, "God")

When you look at a Bible with Strong's numbers (or use Strong's online), every occurrence of a Hebrew or Greek word is tagged with its unique number. This means:

You can instantly identify the original word. In English, "love" might translate several different Greek words—agape (G25), philo (G5368), eros (G2033). By looking at the Strong's number, you know exactly which Greek word is being used.

You can find every occurrence of that word. Once you know the Strong's number, you can search the entire Bible to find every verse that uses that same Greek or Hebrew word. This reveals patterns and connections you'd miss in English alone.

You can see the word's basic definition. Each Strong's number entry includes a definition and alternate translations, showing the word's semantic range—how its meaning varies in different contexts.

Step-by-Step: How to Look Up a Word in Strong's Online

Let's walk through a concrete example: looking up "loved" in John 3:16.

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world..."

Step 1: Find the word in your Bible

Open John 3:16 in a Bible with Strong's numbers or use Blue Letter Bible (blueletterbible.org).

Step 2: Look up the Strong's number

In John 3:16, "loved" is tagged with G25. This is the Strong's number for the Greek word agapao (ἀγαπάω).

Step 3: Click the number or search it

If you're using Blue Letter Bible or another online tool, click G25 (or search "G25"). You'll see:

• Greek word: ἀγαπάω (agapao)
• Pronunciation: ag-ap-ah'-o
• Definition: to love (in a social or moral sense); to exercise brotherly love (as distinguished from romantic or erotic love)
• Usage: Used 143 times in the New Testament
• Related words: G26 (agape, the noun form meaning "love"), G27 (agapetos, "beloved")

Step 4: See every verse using this word

The tool will show you every instance where G25 appears in the New Testament. You'll see that agapao appears in:

• John 3:16 ("God so loved the world")
• John 11:5 ("Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus")
• John 14:23 ("The Father will love him")
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (the love chapter)
• Romans 5:8 ("God demonstrates his love for us")

Seeing all these verses together reveals how the same Greek word functions in different contexts. In some, it's God's love for humans. In others, it's Jesus' affection for friends. In 1 Corinthians 13, it's the kind of love Christians should show each other.

Another Example: Romans 8:28 - "All Things Work Together"

Let's try a phrase: "All things work together for good."

Step 1: In Romans 8:28, "work together" is actually one Greek word: synergeo (G4903).

Step 2: Looking up G4903, you find:

• Greek: συνεργέω (synergeo)
• Pronunciation: soon-er-geh'-o
• Definition: to work together, to cooperate; to help, to be a co-worker
• Root words: syn (G4862, "with, together") + ergeo (G2038, "to work")

Step 3: Seeing the root words reveals the word's structure. "Syn" + "ergeo" literally means "to work-with" or "to work-together." This is where the English word "synergy" comes from!

Step 4: Looking at where else synergeo appears in the New Testament, you find it in:

• Romans 8:28 ("All things work together for good")
• 1 Corinthians 16:16 ("Those who work with [synergeo] us")
• James 2:22 ("Faith and works work together [synergeo]")

This pattern reveals that synergeo always involves cooperative action. In Romans 8:28, the meaning becomes clearer: God doesn't control everything, but God works together with believers to bring about good. It's a partnership, not domination.

What Strong's Numbers Tell You (And What They Don't)

Strong's Concordance is powerful, but it has clear limits. Understanding these limits prevents misuse.

What Strong's Numbers Tell You

1. The original Hebrew or Greek word: You see what word the English translation is rendering. If your Bible translates it differently than another, you can check if they're using the same original word.

2. Basic definition: Each entry provides a simple, clear definition—useful for understanding the word's primary meaning.

3. Pronunciation: Most people read the Bible in English and have never heard biblical Hebrew or Greek pronounced. Strong's gives you pronunciation, which helps the words feel real.

4. Word frequency: You can see how many times a word appears in Scripture. A word that appears 150 times is more significant to biblical theology than a word appearing once.

5. Related words: Strong's shows you related Hebrew and Greek words, revealing linguistic families. You see that agape (G26, love-noun), agapao (G25, love-verb), and agapetos (G27, beloved) are linguistically connected.

What Strong's Numbers DON'T Tell You

1. Full semantic range: A word's meaning often varies by context. Strong's gives a basic definition, but not the nuanced differences. For example, logos (G3056, "word") can mean a spoken word, a narrative, divine reason, or a theological principle depending on context. Strong's won't tell you which meaning applies in John 1:1.

2. Etymology that's fully accurate: Strong's includes etymologies (word origins), but some are outdated by modern scholarship. For instance, Strong's suggests certain words come from specific roots that later scholars have disputed.

3. How the word was used outside the Bible: Strong's focuses exclusively on biblical usage. But biblical Greek wasn't unique—it was used in secular Greek writings too. A fuller understanding of a word's meaning requires knowing how Greeks and Hebrews used it in non-biblical contexts. Modern lexicons like BDAG include this information; Strong's doesn't.

4. Theological implications: Strong's gives you the word's basic meaning, but not its theological significance. Knowing that metanoia (G3341) means "a change of mind" is helpful, but you need commentary or deeper study to understand why repentance involves changing your mind, not just feeling sorry.

5. Cultural context: Words exist in cultural contexts. The Hebrew word shalom (H7965) means "peace," but ancient Israel's concept of shalom included wholeness, prosperity, and restoration—a richer meaning than the English word "peace" conveys. Strong's will give you the definition, but not the full cultural weight.

A Practical Example: Tracing "Love" in John 21:15-17

Let's see how to use Strong's to trace a theme through a passage. We'll look at John 21:15-17, where Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?"—but with a surprising word swap.

Verse 15: "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" (agapas—G25) Verse 16: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" (agapas—G25) Verse 17: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" (phileis—G5368)

Wait—the question changes! In verses 15-16, Jesus uses agapao (G25). In verse 17, He uses philo (G5368).

Using Strong's, you find:

• G25 (agapao): to love with deliberate choice, commitment, and will
• G5368 (philo): to love with affection, warmth, and emotional bond

The difference is significant! In verses 15-16, Jesus asks Peter: "Do you love me with commitment and sacrifice?" Peter, unsure and wounded, replies: "Lord, you know I love you with affection, as a friend." On the third question, Jesus switches to philo, asking: "Peter, do you even love me like a friend?" Peter is grieved because he can't even claim the lesser love.

Without Strong's numbers, you'd read this as three identical questions. With Strong's, you see Jesus is making a profound point about the different types of love and Peter's spiritual journey.

This is Strong's Concordance at its best: enabling deeper understanding than English alone permits.

Where to Use Strong's Concordance Free Online

You don't need to buy a book or software. Several excellent free resources include Strong's numbers:

1. Blue Letter Bible (blueletterbible.org)

• Most user-friendly interface
• Click any word to see Strong's number
• Search by Strong's number
• Shows every verse with that word
• Includes multiple translations side-by-side

2. Bible Hub (biblehub.com)

• Excellent for comparing translations
• Shows interlinear text (Greek/English side-by-side)
• Strong's numbers with quick definitions
• Discussion boards with community insights

3. Gospel Daily (/strongs-concordance)

• Optimized for Bible study in our app
• Integrated with our Greek Bible feature
• Verse context and cross-references
• Clean, focused layout for serious study

4. Logos Bible Software (free version)

• Powerful search capabilities
• Multiple translation comparison
• Strong's integrated throughout
• Desktop and mobile apps

5. BibleGateway.com

• Simple to use
• Links to Strong's definitions
• Good for quick lookups
• Slightly less detailed than others

Common Mistakes When Using Strong's Concordance

Mistake 1: Assuming one Strong's number = one meaning

The same Greek or Hebrew word can have different meanings in different contexts. Just because a word appears 50 times doesn't mean it means the same thing in all 50 places. For example, the Greek word sarx (G4561, "flesh") can mean literal physical flesh, the human body, sinful human nature, or humanity in general, depending on context.

Solution: Use Strong's to find the word, then read the verses in context. Don't assume meaning from the definition alone.

Mistake 2: Replacing Bible study with word study

Some people think that looking up Strong's numbers is the same as studying the Bible. It's not. Word study is part of Bible study, not all of it. Context, historical background, literary genre, and theological themes matter too.

Solution: Use Strong's as one tool among many. Combine it with commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and thoughtful reading.

Mistake 3: Treating Strong's as a translation

Some people believe Strong's definitions are the "true" meaning, better than what the Bible "really" says. But Strong's is simplified for accessibility. Professional translators consider far more than Strong's definitions when rendering a text.

Solution: Use Strong's to understand what the original word means, but respect that professional translators have already done sophisticated work. Use Strong's to enhance understanding, not replace it.

Mistake 4: Ignoring the date of publication

Strong's was published in 1890. Biblical scholarship has advanced significantly since then. Some etymologies are wrong by modern standards. Some definitions are outdated. This doesn't make Strong's useless, but it means it's a starting point, not the final word.

Solution: For serious study, consult modern lexicons after using Strong's. BDAG (for Greek) and BDB (for Hebrew) represent current scholarly consensus.

Mistake 5: Using Strong's to prove theology

People sometimes use Strong's to argue that their theological interpretation is correct because "the Greek word really means..." But etymology isn't theology. Knowing that metanoia means "change of mind" doesn't settle debates about the nature of repentance. Context, theology, and tradition matter too.

Solution: Use Strong's to understand words, but use exegesis, commentary, and community discussion to develop theology.

From Words to Meaning: The Next Step

Strong's Concordance opens a door to the original languages. But it's just a door. Walking through requires asking better questions:

Don't just ask: "What does this Greek word mean?"

Ask instead:

• "How is this word used elsewhere in Scripture?"
• "What is the literary or historical context?"
• "Are there cultural meanings I'm missing?"
• "What do commentaries and scholars say?"
• "How does this word fit into the author's broader argument?"

This is the journey from word study to exegesis—from understanding individual words to understanding the text's full meaning.

Conclusion: Your Gateway to the Original Languages

Strong's Concordance won't make you fluent in Greek or Hebrew. It won't answer every question about a passage. But it will transform your Bible study from surface-level reading to deeper investigation.

When you look up a Strong's number and trace a word through Scripture, you're not just learning vocabulary. You're following the authors' own thought patterns. You're seeing how prophets, psalmists, and apostles used language to convey spiritual truth. You're crossing a bridge from the English Bible to the ancient texts that shaped Christianity.

Start small. Pick a word that intrigues you—"grace," "faith," "kingdom," "peace." Look up its Strong's number. See every verse where it appears. Read them in context. Notice patterns. Let the original language deepen your understanding.

That's what Strong's Concordance was created for. That's why, 130+ years later, it remains indispensable.

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FAQ: More About Strong's Concordance

Q: Should I learn Greek and Hebrew instead of using Strong's? A: If you're called to serious theological study or ministry, yes—learning the languages themselves is ideal. But for most Christians, Strong's Concordance provides 90% of the benefit with a fraction of the time investment. It's a tool for depth without requiring years of study.

Q: Why do different Bible translations show different Strong's numbers for the same English word? A: Because different translations made different choices about which Greek or Hebrew word to render with that English word. This is actually helpful—it shows you the diversity of the original text and the translator's interpretive choices.

Q: Can I rely entirely on Strong's for Greek and Hebrew study? A: No. Strong's is a beginning tool. As you progress, you'll want more detailed lexicons (BDAG for Greek, BDB for Hebrew) that include etymology, usage in extra-biblical texts, and nuanced definitions. Strong's is the gateway; these are the deeper resources.

Q: What if my Bible doesn't have Strong's numbers? A: You can use any of the free online tools listed above. They'll let you look up the verse and access Strong's numbers. Many online Bibles let you click a word to see its number.