How to Use a Bible Concordance: A Beginner's Guide

A Bible concordance is an alphabetical index of every word in the Bible that points you to the exact chapter and verse where it appears. You use one by looking up a word you want to study, scanning the verse list it generates, and reading those passages to see how Scripture uses that term across different books.

If you've ever wanted to find that one verse about peace you half-remember, trace how the word "covenant" travels from Genesis to Hebrews, or look up the Hebrew or Greek word behind an English translation, a concordance is the tool that gets you there. It's one of the oldest Bible study aids around — and once you know how to read it, you'll use it constantly.

What a concordance actually looks like

Most concordances list a word in bold, then give you a series of short snippets from verses where that word appears, each followed by a reference like "Gen 1:1" or "Rom 8:28". Exhaustive concordances (like Strong's) include every single occurrence of every word. Abridged ones leave out common words like "the" and "and" to keep the book a manageable size.

The classic version is Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, which adds a numbering system. Each English word is tagged with a number that maps to the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) word in the back of the book. That lets you peek behind the translation without learning the original languages.

How to actually use one for study

Start with a word you're curious about — say, "rest." Look it up alphabetically. You'll see dozens of verses across both testaments. Read a handful in their full context (open your Bible, don't just rely on the snippet). Notice patterns: Is "rest" connected to land, to Sabbath, to a person? You'll start to see how a theme threads through Scripture in a way that single-verse reading never reveals.

For deeper study, use the Strong's number to look up the original word. The same English word in your translation often comes from two or three different Hebrew or Greek terms with different shades of meaning. That distinction can change how a passage hits you.

This pairs naturally with a daily reading rhythm. If you're working through a plan like Bible In A Year and a phrase keeps showing up — "fear of the Lord," "remnant," "in Christ" — the concordance lets you pull the thread without losing your place in the daily reading.

Print, digital, or app?

Print concordances still have a tactile appeal, but most people today use digital ones. Free websites like Blue Letter Bible and Bible Hub include Strong's concordance search built in. Most Bible apps have a search feature that functions like a concordance for your chosen translation. Pick what fits how you already study — the tool only matters if you actually open it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a concordance and a Bible dictionary?

A concordance tells you where words appear; a Bible dictionary explains what they mean and gives background on people, places, and concepts. They're complementary tools — concordance for "where," dictionary for "what."

Do I need an exhaustive concordance or is an abridged one enough?

For most readers, a good app-based search or Blue Letter Bible covers the same ground as a print exhaustive concordance, for free. If you prefer print and want to do serious word studies, Strong's Exhaustive is the standard.

Does the concordance work for any Bible translation?

Concordances are tied to a specific translation because they index the exact English words used. Strong's is based on the King James Version, but most apps let you switch translations while keeping the underlying Hebrew and Greek numbering.