Will Kinney and Herb Evans are solidly locked into using the Strong's Concordance (SC) to "prove" their position regarding the KJV translation from Hebrew and Greek. I think it is a good subject to consider the use and potential misuses of the Concordance.
The primary and truly only real useful reason to use the Strong's Concordance when it comes to Bible study is for finding those passages where you only remember one word from the passage. Of course, the original concordance is only useful for the KJV.
When the Hebrew and Greek lexicon was added to Strongs, "all hell broke lose." It gave everyone the opportunity to think they were actually getting positive, accurate information about the underlying Hebrew and Greek texts. That is a very wrong assumption.
The "lexicon" behind Strongs is misleading. Here are a few reasons why:
The lexical entries are lacking. It is really more of a thesaurus than it is a lexicon. There is a lack of explanation regarding the USAGE/BACKGROUND of terms and is simply a list of meanings. A real lexicon provides a more full/accurate understanding.
Context issues. There is a problem with the numbers. The numbers ONLY identify the Hebrew word, not the context. Hence, Will Kinney makes the mistake of foisting an English meaning on a Hebrew term by using the Strong's Concordance. The Strong's Concordance ONLY identifies a Hebrew/Greek term, it does not give meanings across contexts. This is where close attention is required. There is a fallacy called "illegitimate totality transfer" and those who use the Strong's Concordance need to be aware of this fallacy.
Failure to identify all Hebrew/Greek words. Even though the impression is given that Strongs gives ALL of the words, it especially lacks when it comes to Hebrew and Greek. There are Hebrew constructs and Greek prefixes that Strongs does not identify. As you know, if you are missing a part of a word, then coming up with the meaning for that word is absurd.
No piece of software or tool like the Strong's Concordance can ever replace a knowledge of Hebrew and Greek. Most on this forum agree with that and are careful in their use of these tools. However, we do run across the arrogant who become provocative based on their "findings" in Strongs. The problem ultimately is not Strongs, but a heart matter.
Hope this helps!
__________________ Simply observing the floccinoccinihilipilification of the KJVO movement.
With the introduction of Strongs into Bible software programs like Online Bible and the one I now use, Logos, Strongs is helpful.
1) It helps, at times, find the root of a difficult Hebrew term. Those who know Hebrew know that a Hebrew word can lose its identity and the root is almost indistinguishable. There are those pesky words you simply have to know and memorize. So, Strongs helps there.
2) Strong's numbering systems that link to the standard lexicons like BDB and BDAG are great. They are not foolproof and I have run across errors. Generally, if you can get to the right entry in a standard lexicon, then ignore the supplied lexicon in Strongs.
3) There are different kinds of lexicons. Computer software like Logos enable a very quick cross-referencing with Strongs to the best lexicons today.
__________________ Simply observing the floccinoccinihilipilification of the KJVO movement.
I have to agree with you. Any KJV only person that thinks he needs the Hebrew and Greek lexicon is strattling the fence.
__________________
"I have a sort of craving that our text should be cast upon the world before we deal with matters likely to brand us with suspicion. I mean, a text, issued by men already known for what will undoubtedly be treated as dangerous heresy, (like necromancy?) will have great difficulties in finding its way to regions which it might otherwise hope to reach, and whence it would not be easily banished by subsequent alarms." -your buddy, Brooke Foss Westcott (Life, Vol.1,p.454)
I have to agree with you. Any KJV only person that thinks he needs the Hebrew and Greek lexicon is strattling the fence.
And you know on what side of the fence a strattler will fall on? The wrong side!
Purge the KJVO movement of those who attempt to use ANY dictionary, lexicon or commentary! They are undermining the KJV movement! They are compromisers. They will and are creating doubt...
I use the NIV...it all started when I bought Thayer's Lexicon*...need I say more?
*I no longer recommend Thayer's as it does not give an accurate picture of the Greek as we have learned from continuing modern education.
__________________ Simply observing the floccinoccinihilipilification of the KJVO movement.
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Strong's Concordance: A good tool, but limited
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