How to Do a Word Study
In John 9, Jesus encounters a man who had been blind from birth. Then we read:
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
—John 9:6 (NIV)
Why “spit”? And what can we learn by looking more closely at it?
A word study can help you explore the language behind your translation, see how a word is used elsewhere, and then return to the passage with better context.
Here's how to start.
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1. Find the original word
Open John 9:6 with the NIV Reverse Interlinear on and select spit.
Behind the English translation, you'll find the Greek word ptyō (G4772), meaning "to spit (saliva)."
You don't have to know Greek to begin asking better questions. The original language gives you another piece of information to explore.
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2. See how Scripture uses the idea elsewhere
When you widen your search, you can look to other dictionaries. The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, available with Bible Gateway Plus, has an entry for spit, spittle:
spit, spittle. In the OT the action of spitting usually indicates a purposeful deed with an added notion of ritual defilement or legal rejection (Lev. 15:8; Num. 12:14; Deut. 25:9). The notion of defilement or rejection occurs also in the accounts of Christ’s passion (Matt. 26:67; 27:30; Mk. 10:34; 14:65; 15:19; Lk. 18:32). The action of spitting is mentioned in connection with several healing accounts (Mk. 7:33; 8:23; Jn. 9:6). In addition, modern English versions usually have “spit” as the rendering of Greek emeō G1840 in Rev. 3:16, but this verb properly means “to vomit.”
One entry, and you now have more than a dozen passages to read.
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3. Don't assume the same English word means the same thing
Look at the last sentence of that entry again.
Modern English versions usually render Revelation 3:16 with "spit," but the Greek there is emeō (G1840), which the resource says properly means "to vomit."
Same English word. Different Greek word.
That's a helpful reminder not to build an interpretation from the English word alone.
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4. Follow the connections
Now you have several places to explore.
The Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary entry for spit separates those passages by their Greek verbs:
1. ptuō (πτύω, 4429), “to spit,” occurs in Mark 7:33; 8:23; John 9:6.¶ In the Sept., Num. 12:14.¶
2. emptuō (ἐμπτύω, 1716), “to spit upon” (en, “in,” and No. 1), occurs in Matt. 26:67; 27:30; Mark 10:34; 14:65; 15:19; Luke 18:32.¶ In the Sept., Num. 12:14, in some texts; Deut. 25:9.¶
Two different Greek words, grouped under one English word in your Bible.
Read Mark 7:33, Mark 8:23, and John 9:6. What similarities do you notice? Then look at the passages listed under the second entry. What is different about each encounter?
How does the context change what the action communicates?
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5. Come back to the passage
A good word study eventually brings you back to where you started.
Return to John 9:1–7 and read the whole passage again.
What does John actually tell you? What doesn't he explain? And what do you notice now that you didn't notice before?
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6. Repeat the process
Start with a word that catches your attention. Check the original language, explore a dictionary entry, follow the related passages, and then come back to the Scripture you started with.
That's the goal of a word study: not to uncover a secret meaning hidden behind your Bible, but to look more carefully at the words Scripture uses and understand them in their context.
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Go deeper, at a time.
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