Read in context
Read John 14:15–31. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure and speaks about the Father, the promised Holy Spirit, and remembering His teaching. Peace is offered within that impending separation and conflict.
Bible Study Tutor
How to do a Bible word study: step-by-step method
A Bible word study examines how an important word contributes to a passage without pulling it away from its sentence, author, genre, or place in Scripture. For example, studying “peace” in John 14:27 begins with Jesus comforting troubled disciples, not with a list of every possible meaning of peace.
Study a word in its sentence first: John 14:25-31
Read the passage before comparing your answers with the worked notes. Each example separates what the text says, how its meaning follows from context, and one possible response. Use a Bible and paper or your preferred study tool.
John 14:25-31 · BSB · Berean Standard Bible
25 All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. 28 You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me. 31 But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.
Scripture text source · Public domain
1. Observation · what does it say?
Question: What is repeated in verse 27, and what contrast appears?
Example answer: Jesus speaks of peace twice, identifies it as His peace, and contrasts His giving with the world’s giving. He then addresses troubled and fearful hearts. The surrounding verses discuss His departure and the Spirit’s teaching, so the promise belongs to His care for the disciples in that situation.
2. Meaning · how does the context explain it?
Question: What can the immediate context tell us about peace?
Example answer: Jesus’ gift is not dependent on the absence of difficulty: His departure is imminent. The contrast points toward the security of belonging to Him and receiving His continuing care, rather than a guarantee of comfortable circumstances. A word study should establish this use in context before comparing every other occurrence of the word.
3. Application · one possible response
One possible response: “Before a conversation I fear, I will reread Jesus’ words, pray honestly, and decide to speak truthfully and gently rather than trying to control the other person’s response.” This expresses trust amid difficulty instead of treating peace as proof that conflict must disappear.
Study a word in its sentence first
Try it yourself: What does John 14 itself establish about peace?
Record the two uses in verse 27, the contrast with the world, and the instruction about troubled hearts. Read verses 25–31 before consulting a dictionary. Compare John 16:33 afterwards, noting its own setting. Distinguish supported conclusions from questions you would need further resources to answer.
A reading to avoid
Do not import every possible meaning of a Greek or Hebrew word into this verse. Record what the sentence and surrounding paragraph support, and label further questions rather than inventing certainty.
Pray and revisit
Jesus, help me receive Your peace and remain faithful when my heart is troubled.
After trying your response, return to the passage: what did you learn, what did you do, and what still needs thought? You can revise your notes as your understanding grows.
Step-by-step process
- Choose an important or repeated word in a specific Bible passage.
- Read the whole paragraph or chapter and summarize its main point before isolating the word.
- Write the word, reference, sentence, speaker or author, audience, and reason the word matters.
- Notice repetition, contrasts, commands, promises, grammar, and nearby ideas that shape the word in context.
- Compare how the same book or author uses the word in nearby passages.
- Use cross references or optional original-language tools carefully, without importing every possible definition into the verse.
- Explain in one or two sentences how the word clarifies the main passage.
- Write one prayer, belief, or action that responds to the passage rather than to the word in isolation.
Tools you need
Begin with the passage itself, a way to record observations, and cross references if they help you follow the author’s use of the word. Read the paragraph or chapter more than once before consulting outside resources.
Tools you do not need
You do not need specialist software or knowledge of Greek or Hebrew to begin. Original-language tools can be useful, but they are optional and must not override the sentence, grammar, and context.
Compare in the right order
Look first at the immediate passage, then the same book and author, and only then at related passages elsewhere in Scripture. Each comparison should clarify the main passage rather than replace it.
Return to the passage
Finish by stating how the word contributes to the author’s main point. A faithful word study explains the passage more clearly and leads to a response shaped by what the text actually says.
Word study checklist
Use this checklist before moving from observation to application.
- Have I read the whole paragraph or chapter?
- Have I written the word, reference, and immediate context?
- Have I noticed repetition, contrast, commands, promises, or questions around the word?
- Have I checked whether the same author uses the word nearby?
- Have I avoided building a meaning from the word alone while ignoring the sentence?
- Can I explain how this word helps clarify the passage?
Common word study mistakes
These corrections keep a word study from becoming detached from Scripture.
| Mistake | Better approach |
|---|---|
| Dictionary dumping | Use only the sense that fits the sentence and passage. |
| The root fallacy | Do not assume a word’s history or parts determine its meaning in this verse. |
| Treating every occurrence identically | Let each author, sentence, and genre shape the word’s meaning. |
| Ignoring grammar | Read the whole phrase and notice how the word functions in the sentence. |
| Proof-texting | Understand the immediate passage before gathering wider cross references. |
Print the word-study worksheet
Use the dedicated printable companion to record context, repetition, careful comparisons, a faithful summary, and a response. Bible Study Tutor does not currently include a dedicated guided word-study workflow.
Common questions
What is a word study in the Bible?
A Bible word study examines how an important or repeated word contributes to the meaning of a particular passage, then compares related uses without ignoring context.
How do I do a Bible word study?
Choose a word in a passage, read the surrounding context, record how the sentence and author use it, compare related passages carefully, and finish by explaining the passage’s main point.
Do I need Greek or Hebrew for a Bible word study?
No. Careful reading, context, repetition, and cross references are enough to begin. Original-language tools are optional and should be used humbly because a dictionary entry does not determine a word’s meaning by itself.
What is the biggest mistake in a Bible word study?
The biggest mistake is separating a word from its sentence and assuming every occurrence or dictionary definition has the same meaning. Context and grammar must guide the study.
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