There will come a time, as you consistently read and study the Word of God, that every single engagement contains a possibility of pulling you into the “rabbit hole” phenomenon that we described in our previous post. You’ll find yourself so immersed and absorbed in your study-journey that you lose track of time in your digging.
In this blog we will offer a few ideas on how to safely and wisely chase those rabbits. Your exploration may allow you to reflect on how the original writers of Scripture may have felt as they saw connections; it may give you a sense that your adventure could be a baton for others to grasp and move further.
- Choose a verse or Scripture passage that has something about it that seems to be enticing you to go a little deeper. This often happens consistently as a result of your usual Bible reading or study.
- Initially, write out the passage in the King James Version – because the resource tool in this example uses that long-established translation. Simply write out the verse, leaving some space between the lines or the phrases in each passage for notes.
- This is where the pursuit of the “rabbit” really begins: examine different translations or paraphrases of Scripture that you have found trustworthy and note their nuanced differences in the spaces you’ve left under the appropriate phrases. You may want to use different pen colors for the different versions; the versions might include NIV, NASV, ESV, The Passion, Amplified Bible, The Message.
- Now let’s go back to the KJV. As you read the passage you wrote out first, mark the words you believe may need more exploration or are important. As you finish this for each verse of the passage, use a separate piece of paper to make a list of the words you marked. Most of us do not know Hebrew or Greek (the original languages of the Bible). But the next step can get us pretty close to the actual meanings.
- Get access to a Strongs Concordance; a purchase of this can be well worth it in your “chasing of rabbits.” The English words inside are in alphabetical order.
- Find any words on your list that can be matched to the passage you’ve chosen.
- For each word you find, write on your list the NUMBER printed to the right of your verse.
- Look up your numbers in the Hebrew (OT) or Greek (NT) language sections. (If your passage is in the Old Testament, look up your number in the Hebrew section; if in NT, look for your verse number in the Greek section.)
- Write the Hebrew or Greek definitions on your list of words and consider them with your multiple translations.
Now you can go in many directions with all your compiled research! Maybe you write out your own expanded translation! Maybe you want to share your discoveries in another format. Maybe your journey is the basis of teaching others. Below are examples using Zephaniah 3:17.
The process of exploration should always be targeted toward interpreting the passage – never toward embellishing it with your own ideas. Just stay with the essentials of the passage you have chosen.
This method of study is by no means an end-all of Scriptural research! But when you find a verse or a passage that consumes you – and there will be many on your journey – allow the Spirit to nudge you down that “rabbit hole.”
You’ll never fully discover the depths of the Word of God. It is infinite!
Share your discoveries with others through conversation, letters, cards, etc!
See you in “Wonderland”!
Examples…
Zephaniah 3:17
King James Version
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord, the promise keeping God, is not at all far away. He’s actually present right there at the center of your life. He’s a mighty and powerful warrior, a valiant champion, and a victorious hero with the ultimate power of deliverance and rescue. He takes delight in rejoicing over you. It brings Him great pleasure. He calms and quiets you with His love. He relieves your fears and creates peace. This is all very personal. It is His magical craft and handiwork. He exults and rejoices over you with loud singing and shouts of joy. You’ll find Him spinning around and dancing as if possessed or influenced by a violent and intimate emotion.
Zephaniah 3:17
JEHOVAH HAS A SECRET…
RELATIONSHIP
“Oh my God!”
Jehovah has been hiding in plain sight
Right in the center of my life
Present at the very core of my existence
He resides there as
Mighty Warrior
Valiant Champion
He saves me
He protects and preserves me
He delivers me and sets me free
His delight in me gives Him great pleasure
He has established
a
Secret Place
Just for the two of us
HE’S ALWAYS THERE
Waiting for me to arrive
This is
a
Magical Place
“Oh my God!
What are You doing?!”
He’s dancing around
as if under the influence
of a
violent emotion
He is
Shouting and Singing
in
Triumph
“Can You be any more undignified than this?!”