Drew University Library http://www.drew.edu/library

What Bibleworks is: a sophisticated multi-lingual concordance with reference support

 Basic layout

  • 3 windows: Search, Browse, Analysis/edit

Helps

Bible versions

  • Command line button shows these: many languages
  • Options for both searching and displaying: 1 to search; 1+ to display
  • Standard selection for searching: NRS
  • Standard selections for displaying for OT students: NRS, TNK, BHT, WTT

Basic Searching

  • Searching in English [set to KJV]
  • By word: period [.] precedes, e.g: *.*meditate
    • Can click on each verse and read it singly
    • Or in context by toggling [feet button]
  • By verse: type whole name; or consult abbrevations [Setup window with wrench icon; choose booknames]
    • E.g. Psa 85:10
  • By phrase: single quote [‘] precedes: ‘glory of the lord
  • Boolean:
    • and=[.] and 2 words, e.g. .justice mercy
    • Or=[/] and 2 words, e.g /mercy kindness
    • Not=[!] preceding not-ed word, e.g. .lord !god
  • Truncators:
    •  for any number of letters: .Abra*m yields Abram and Abraham
    • .*aul and limit to NT [under Search, Set Search Limits]

Comparing Translations [examples: NRS and TNK]

  • 2 key tools: Text Comparison; Parallel Versions
  • Text comparison: Select Tools: choose versions: enable, apply, and close.
    • Set display versions to NRS and TNK. e.g. Gen 16:13; and now Gen 16:1-16
  • Parallel display: Choose tools; Parallel Versions; select versions NRS and TNK, click add and then ok for each;
    • Note: Bibleworks software does not allow this to print as is; it only allows for printing the vertical comparison in the browse window. But: we can get a screen shot of the parallel comparison by alt+Print Screen, and then paste into WordPad.
  • Parallel Versions (under Tools menu) can construct parallel Bibles (e.g. English and French)

Using the Hebrew/Greek by way of English

  • Hebrew letters and sounds: Resources: Hebrew grammars; Gesenius: Individual Sounds and Characters
  • Greek letters and sounds: Resources: Greek grammars; Davis: the alphabet
  • Select KJV for searching; KJV, Hebrew BHT and WTT for display
  • Command line: gen 16:13
  • Change order of display
    • Options [wrench]: version order, BHT [within English] to bottom
  • Students can
    • practice pronouncing the Hebrew with the phonetics
    • look up grammar of individual Hebrew words: cursor over Hebrew word
    • study word analysis in analysis window
    • copy Hebrew phrases and search them: e.g. Gen 16:13 [e.g. shem adonay]
  • Strong numbers: unique number assigned to each Hebrew/Greek word of Bible
  • Allows students to see:
    • How 2 Hebrew words get translated with same English word
    • How 1 Hebrew words receives 2 English translations
  • To use:
    • Select the KJV for display [not all Eng Bible versions are keyed to Strong Numbers]
    • Within View: select toggle on for Strong Numbers
    • Example: .meditate
      • One English word that translates different Hebrew words
      • Search on 07742: only instance
    • Example: /mercy kindness
      • Note that both Gen 19:19 and 20:13 translate same word: 02617 but differently
      • .mercy@02617 finds all places where mercy translates hesed [highlighted cases]
      • .*@02617 finds all different English translations in KJV of hesed

Morphology searches

  • Hebrew/Greek words can be read as roots declined, inflected, prefixed and suffixed in different ways.
  • Hebrew morophology text: WTM; Greek morphology text: BNM
  • Involves keying in Greek and Hebrew
    • For keyboards, go to: Help; Online Help Contents; Frequently Used Links; Hebrew and Greek keyboards
  • Search in WTM on psa 85:11 and display WTM and KJV
    • Note parsings of nouns and verbs
    • Example: .ktb@vq* note how this gathers all the different forms of one verb

EditWindow: can copy Hebrew from browse window

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