[3] Basics of Bible Interpretation by Bob Smith
 

Entire book available online at Peninsula Bible Church which includes numerous sermons by Dr. Ray Stedman (click to search Dr. Stedman's excellent books & sermons) covering virtually every book in the Bible.
 

Related resource: Dr Stephen R Lewis' Hermeneutics - The Study of the Interpretation of Scriptures - 152 page Pdf - he has a very interesting overview of the history of Bible interpretation beginning on page 22. This synopsis gives you a good sense of how the Word has been handled over the last 2000 years beginning with the Early Church fathers (if you don't already know, you might be surprised at how they began to interpret the Word!), the Middle Ages (I sometimes think how God's Word of truth and life was handled and mishandled in this lengthy period had something to do with the "dark" in "Dark Ages"! Judge for yourself), the Reformation Era and then into the Modern era. A very enlightening and informative "trip".

[4] The Greeks Had a Word for It

This link is a practical discussion on the value of Greek Word Studies for the lay person (chapter from "Basics of Bible Interpretation")

[5] Helpful Hints on Hebrew

What Every Bible Student Needs to Know About Hebrew from ("Basics of Bible Interpretation"). Smith quips

"The only Hebrew I know, as the saying goes, is the man who has the tailor shop around the corner. And this doesn't help much toward understanding the Hebrew language, because usually he doesn't know it either. But Strong's Exhaustive Concordance comes to my rescue for whatever I, personally, can gain of the meaning of Hebrew terms." In this same source Dave Roper adds that most of us have "never encountered anything quite like Hebrew. Certainly the script is peculiar. It reads from right to left, and there are a host of other rather obvious disparities. However, the real difference is less obvious, and it is this difference that is the real crux of the matter: Hebrew is a vehicle for expressing a uniquely Eastern viewpoint. The problem then, is not merely one of understanding another language, but of understanding another way of looking at life and things. It is this point that most English readers do not fully appreciate. There are many specialized language tools which can be used to define terms and better understand nuances of meaning, but these in themselves are inadequate, simply because they can't reproduce this cultural dimension. In fact, I don't know that it can be adequately reproduced. The only way to fully understand a people is to get fully involved in their language, literature, and customs. Unfortunately, that just isn't possible for most folks. Few have the time or inclination to learn the requisite number of dead Semitic languages and then immerse themselves in the literature. (Some who did, it appears, never came up!) There are, however, some basic perspectives which, when maintained, will enable anyone to more fully appreciate and more accurately interpret the Old Testament." (Click for discussion of 4 major areas that can provide insights into the OT Hebrew mindset).

[6] Figures of Speech

This links to the chapter in "Basics of Bible Interpretation". Quoting from that source on the value of understanding figures of speech, specifically metaphors, Max Muller observes

"It is not too much to say...that the whole dictionary of ancient religion is made up of metaphors. With us these metaphors are all forgotten. We speak of spirit without thinking of breath, of heaven without thinking of sky, of pardon without thinking of a release, of revelation without thinking of a veil. But in ancient language every one of these words, nay, every word that does not refer to sensuous objects, is still in a chrysalis stage, half material and half spiritual, and rising and falling in its character according to the capacities of its speakers and hearers."

[7] AT Robertson's (ATR) Word Pictures studylight.org  or Crosswalk or
 

There are multiple choices on the Web for A T Robertson's Word Pictures but I prefer Studylight.org because it is (1) Faster and (2) the cross references links are to the NASB.

Robertson's 6 volume work offers insights on the Greek text of virtually every NT verse. Some knowledge of Greek is helpful for optimal utilization, but it is still useful even without that knowledge. The notes on many verses function much like a "commentary".  Click to download Greek fonts for Greek script to be properly displayed on your computer.

You should also be aware that Robertson is not a believer in a literal interpretation of the 1000 in Revelation 20, commenting that...

Here we confront the same problem found in the 1260 days. In this book of symbols how long is a thousand years? All sorts of theories are proposed, none of which fully satisfy one. Perhaps Peter has given us the only solution open to us in 2 Peter 3:8 (see note) when he argues that “one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.” It will help us all to remember that God’s clock does not run by ours and that times and seasons and programs are with him. This wonderful book was written to comfort the saints in a time of great trial, not to create strife among them. (Robertson's comment on Revelation 20:2) (Comment: The only problem with invoking 2 Peter 3:8 [note] to "allegorically" or "spiritually" interpret the 1000 years is that John does not use the term of comparison "like" or "as" but flatly states 1000 years.)

[8] Vincent's New Testament Word Studies
 

Highly respected Greek word studies by Marvin Vincent covering all 27 NT books. Godrules.net is the only free online source for Vincent's on the Web as far as I am aware. Vincent is generally conservative and sound with interesting insights into Greek words that cannot be found in other resources. He is always worth checking but remember that he is a "commentary" so as always you need to be a Berean.
 

You can enter either English or Greek words in the Search Engine. Vines is thoroughly conservative and often has some very insightful comments (but keep in mind his lexicon also functions much like a commentary so be a Berean). An added advantage of this site is that the Scriptural cross references are all linked so that clicking the Scripture will open up the verse, albeit in the RSV.

Alternative (albeit slightly more cumbersome in my opinion) source for Vines is Blue Letter Bible (type verse, click "enter"). The displayed result includes a up to 6 small blue boxes in the left margin. Select box "D" for "Dictionary" to  determine if there is an entry for Vines for that verse.

Don't overlook the value of the plain English dictionary when doing GREEK WORD STUDIES. Take a moment and do the following exercise - I guarantee you will derive some incredible insights on 2 words commonly found in Scripture. Click the link to Webster's above & look up "anxious". Note especially the comment regarding the "Etymology" of this word. Now type in "worry" & study the entry. What a vivid picture of what anxiety & worry can do to our psyche! Now you have some additional insight into why Jesus spent so much time (study Mt6:25-34) exhorting us not to "worry" in the Sermon on the Mount. He knew the negative impact worry & anxiety could have on our spiritual life. So utilize Webster's frequently in your Word Studies and you will frequently be rewarded with similar picturesque insights.

[11]  Webster's Dictionary (1828 edition)
 

More "bibliocentric" or Scripture saturated than the more recent editions of Webster's Dictionary & worth searching to see if it has a specific definition for a word you are studying.

[12]  Dictionary.com
 

The distinct advantage of this site is that it produces a simultaneous search of several dictionaries including: American Heritage, Easton's Bible Dictionary, Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (this resource frequently using Scripture to illustrate the meaning!). In addition it will also give you a link to Roget's Thesaurus to check for synonyms. Another potentially useful resource is the web based encyclopedia Wikipedia

[13]   Greek Septuagint (LXX)

Preceptaustin.org makes frequent use of the Septuagint (LXX) which often provides useful insights on Old Testament passages that cannot be gleaned from other resources.

Ferdinand Hitzig, an Hebrew authority used to say to his class.

“Have you a Septuagint? If not, sell all you have, and buy one.”

What is the Septuagint (usually abbreviated LXX)?
 

In simple terms the Septuagint (LXX) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament.

The Hebrew scholar Gesenius explains that...

At the time when the old Hebrew language was gradually becoming extinct, and the formation of the O. T. canon was approaching completion, the Jews began to explain and critically revise their sacred text, and sometimes to translate it into the vernacular languages which in various countries had become current among them. The oldest translation is the Greek of the Seventy (more correctly Seventy-two) Interpreters (LXX), which was begun with the Pentateuch at Alexandria under Ptolemy Philadelphus, but only completed later. It was the work of various authors, some of whom had a living knowledge of the original, and was intended for the use of Greek-speaking Jews, especially in Alexandria. (Gesenius, F. W. Gesenius' Hebrew grammar. Page 17)

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia adds some interesting details regarding the importance of the Septuagint (LXX):

The Greek version of the Old Testament commonly known as the Septuagint holds a unique place among translations. Its importance is many sided. Its chief value lies in the fact that it is a version of a Hebrew text earlier by about a millennium than the earliest dated Hebrew manuscript extant (916 AD), a version, in particular, prior to the formal rabbinical revision of the Hebrew which took place early in the 2nd century AD. It supplies the materials for the reconstruction of an older form of the Hebrew than the Masoretic Text reproduced in our modern Bibles.

It is, moreover, a pioneering work; there was probably no precedent in the world’s history for a series of translations from one language into another on so extensive a scale.

It was the first attempt to reproduce the Hebrew Scriptures in another tongue.

It is one of the outstanding results of the breaking-down of international barriers by the conquests of Alexander the Great and the dissemination of the Greek language, which were fraught with such vital consequences for the history of religion. The cosmopolitan city which he founded in the Delta witnessed the first attempt to bridge the gulf between Jewish and Greek thought. The Jewish commercial settlers at Alexandria, forced by circumstances to abandon their language, clung tenaciously to their faith; and the translation of the Scriptures into their adopted language, produced to meet their own needs, had the further result of introducing the outside world to a knowledge of their history and religion.

Then came the most momentous event in its history, the starting-point of a new life; the translation was taken over from the Jews by the Christian church. It was the Bible of most writers of the New Testament. Not only are the majority of their express citations from Scripture borrowed from it, but their writings contain numerous reminiscences of its language. Its words are household words to them. It laid for them the foundations of a new religious terminology.

It was a potent weapon for missionary work, and, when versions of the Scriptures into other languages became necessary, it was in most cases the Septuagint and not the Hebrew from which they were made.

Preeminent among these daughter versions was the Old Latin which preceded the Vulgate (Jerome’s Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.), for the most part a direct translation from the Hebrew, was in portions a mere revision of the Old Latin; our Prayer-book version of the Psalter preserves peculiarities of the Septuagint, transmitted through the medium of the Old Latin.

The Septuagint was also the Bible of the early Greek Fathers, and helped to mold dogma; it furnished proof-texts to both parties in the Arian controversy. Its language gives it another strong claim to recognition.

Uncouth and unclassical as much of it appears, we now know that this is not wholly due to the hampering effects of translation. “Biblical Greek,” once considered a distinct species, is now a rather discredited term. The hundreds of contemporary papyrus records (letters, business and legal documents, etc.) recently discovered in Egypt illustrate much of the vocabulary and grammar and go to show that many so-called “Hebraisms” were in truth integral parts of the koine, or “common language,” i.e. the international form of Greek which, since the time of Alexander, replaced the old dialects, and of which the spoken Greek of today is the lineal descendant.

The version was made for the populace and written in large measure in the language of their everyday life. (Orr, J., M.A., D.D. The International Standard Bible encyclopedia: 1915 edition - if you are interested in further study read Click Septuagint-1 and Septuagint-2)
 

Why study the Septuagint (LXX)?

The Hebrew Masoretic text (mentioned above) is the original language text used by virtually all popular English versions when translating the Old Testament into English. Virtually all modern English Bible translations utilize the original Hebrew text rather than the Septuagint to translate the Old Testament. This fact however by no means depreciates the value of the Septuagint (LXX) in the study of the Old Testament Scriptures.

Remember that Jesus and his disciples most often used the Septuagint (LXX) manuscripts rather than the original Hebrew Old Testament scrolls. Why? First, the Septuagint (LXX) was widely available and secondly the majority of the culture used Greek as the common language. Without getting too technical, it is notable that when quoting OT passages in the NT the New Testament writers chose to quote the Greek text (Septuagint) over the Hebrew text approximately 93% of the time. (source: "Notes on the Septuagint" - warning: annoying "pop-ups") One can conclude that the "men moved by the Holy Spirit (who) spoke from God" clearly were confident that the Septuagint (LXX) manuscripts were authentic and reliable resources in their writings.  It follows that the modern student can likewise use the Septuagint (LXX) with complete confidence.

To reiterate, the Septuagint (LXX) was the "version" most often quoted by Jesus and the New Testament writers. Stated another way, most of the New Testament quotes of the Old Testament are not taken directly from the Hebrew but the Greek translation of the Hebrew.

In view of the widespread use of the Septuagint (LXX) by Jesus and the NT writers, it is surprising that the value of the Septuagint especially for exposition and interpretation by pastors and teachers has been underestimated and underutilized. It would be interesting to know how many pastors routinely study the Septuagint when preparing expositional messages from the Old Testament.

Below are some specific ways the Septuagint (LXX) can be profitably utilized.

LXX in Greek Word Studies

Since many of the Greek Words in the Septuagint are also used in the Greek New Testament, by studying the Septuagint Greek, one can often glean wonderful insights not available by restricting one's study to the NT Greek. '

LXX as a "Mini-Commentary"

This aspect of the LXX will probably only apply to those who do more in depth Bible study and have some familiarity with the original languages. In my experience as a Bible teacher for over 20 years, when one studies the Old Testament in a modern version like the NASB and the parallel passages in the Greek Septuagint, the Septuagint often functions like a "mini-commentary", not altering the meaning of the verse but adding color, vibrancy and life that would otherwise go unnoticed and unappreciated. As an aside, I don't find simply using Brenton's English translation of the LXX to be helpful. One needs to go to the original Greek texts (which can be done with relative ease utilizing computer programs such as Logos Bible Software [Libronix] and Hermeneutika both of which have a Greek lexicon that defines words found only in the O.T). This type of ancillary study will of course take more time, but the reward in the form of instructive insights is worth the investment.  if you are a pastor/teacher of God's Word, it behooves you to consider utilizing these resources to supplement your sermon and lesson preparation.

What Do the Experts Say about the Value of the Septuagint (LXX)? 

Adolph Deissmann in his book "The Philology of the Greek Bible" makes the following statement regarding the significance of the Septuagint (LXX):

The daughter belongs of right to the mother; the Greek Old and New Testaments form by their contents and by their fortunes an inseparable unity. The oldest manuscript Bibles that we possess are complete Bibles in Greek. But what history has joined together, doctrine has put asunder; the Greek Bible has been torn in halves. On the table of our theological students you will generally see the Hebrew Old Testament lying side by side with the Greek New Testament. It is one of the most painful deficiencies of Biblical study at the present day that the reading of the Septuagint has been pushed into the background, while its exegesis has been scarcely begun"

Deissmann goes onto add that

A single hour lovingly devoted to the text of the Septuagint will further our exegetical knowledge of the Pauline Epistles more than a whole day spent over a commentary.

Related Resources...

Everett F. Harrison, "The Importance of the Septuagint for Biblical Studies, Part I," Bibliotheca Sacra 112: 448 (1955): 344-355 (HTML Format) (or here for Pdf)

Everett F. Harrison, "The Importance of the Septuagint for Biblical Studies, Part II," Bibliotheca Sacra 113: 449 (1956): 37-45 (HTML format). (or here for Pdf)

Where Can One Find Resources on the Septuagint (LXX)?

1) Study of the Septuagint (LXX) is most efficiently performed using one of the commercial Bible software products, especially Hermeneutika or Logos Bible Software [Libronix]

2) English translation of the Septuagint (LXX) by Sir Lawrence Brenton is available online at Apostles' Bible. This translation is interesting but does not yield as many insights into the OT passage as can be gleaned from studying the original Greek translation of the Hebrew. If you use Internet Explorer, you might consider placing the "Apostles' Bible" as an icon on your toolbar. Here's how:

First, open Internet Explorer.

Click "View".

Click "Toolbars".

Place a check in front of "Links" which should activate a bar directly beneath "Address".

Open Apostles' Bible.

Place your mouse pointer over the Explorer icon "e" (the icon directly in front of the http//... address), hold down the left mouse button and drag the "e" icon to the "Links" bar which should automatically place this shortcut to the Apostles' Bible on the Link for quick access.
 

To rename this icon (I usually shorten the name as I have links to multiple sites I use in Bible study) by placing your mouse over the "e" icon on the Link bar, holding down the right mouse button and selecting Rename. For example, I've renamed it as LXX. You can do the same for any website you frequently access.

Another source of Brenton's Translation is E-Sword (free) which includes some excellent search features and window popups when the mouse pointer is over verse references and Strong's numbers. Click to see an illustration of the features of E-Sword.

3) If you own Libronix with a Personal Book Builder key, Brenton's translation of the Septuagint is available for download (click here and download the compiled version).

For those who own a Personal Book Builder key you might check out the growing list of resources that are available for download at no charge. Click Libronix PBB Downloads. Here are a few examples of the works available

John Gill Collection

PD Theology Collection (books by Andrew Murray, A W Pink, F B Meyer including his commentary on Hebrews - The Way into the Holiest)

Works of Jonathan Edwards (2 Volumes)

John Owen Collection

Timeline: Life of Jesus

PBB - Russian Bible

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Old Testament

Updated Treasury of David by C H Spurgeon

Who is D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

Albert Barnes’ New Testament

The Practice of the Presence of God

And the list goes on and on...

4) Online Interlinear Versions:

I don't find these resources as convenient as the commercial products mentioned above and therefore seldom use them. They will be described for completeness.

Interlinear for our purposes is the English translation + parallel version of either Greek New Testament or the Greek Old Testament (The Septuagint = "LXX") or the English translation + parallel version of the Hebrew .  Note that in order to properly display the Hebrew & Greek characters you will need to download the fonts which is very quick and simple (Click).

An alternative source for Greek text of the LXX is the BlueLetterBible where  the LXX can be viewed by searching OT & clicking the box "C" to the left of the verse which in turn links with the Hebrew (parsed) and the LXX (not parsed).

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