Knowing the history of words can help you understand
the nature of its definition. The study of the history of
words is called Etymology.
A good etymological dictionary can reveal good information
about how words evolved over time. With a Bible 400 years old
this is often useful.
If you don’t have the money or resources to buy a shelf of
etymological dictionaries you can try this one:
http://www.etymonline.com
It compiles etymologies from dozens of sources including
those at Oxford and Cambridge. It will get you started.
It’s from etymologies that we learn that “gay” used in
James 2:3 once meant something different than we
are now familiar.
For His glory,
Justin Curtis Johnson