Interpretation is different that comprehension. While comprehension has you looking for ideas, interpretation forces you to explain the ideas in your own words.
Interpretation includes using cross references.
To interpret the text, first we let the Bible tell us about the Bible. This means looking for Bible verses that have ideas in common with the text you are studying. Here is an example of how to use cross references.
First, I found an idea I wanted to know more about.
Job 1:7 (ESV) says, “The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
When I read that verse it made me wonder what all of that meant. Going to and fro? Walking up and down? God obviously had a reason for asking a question he already knew the answer to. He had a purpose for this question. But what is it?
Then I looked up the cross references for that particular verse.
I looked for cross references for the verse. You can find cross references in your Study Bible or on a Bible App. I prefer the app. But do what you works best for you.
In the Blue Letter Bible App, there is a list of different references for Job 1:7. There were twelve different references listed. So I went and looked them up. Here is the one that stuck out to me.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.“
Then I thought on how the cross reference helps me understand the verse in Job.
Do you see how the verse in 1 Peter gives more context to the verse in Job? Satan’s answer to God was vague. But in 1 Peter we understand more about what Satan does on earth. He prowls. He’s going all over the earth looking for someone to eat up. He’s hunting.
Isn’t that kinda cool? I think it is. The Bible explains itself so clearly. There are connections like this all over scripture. Satan isn’t just taking a stroll, he is actually looking for fresh meat.
Interpretation includes paraphrasing.
Now, I remember getting an assignment as a Freshman in college all about paraphrasing Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The dread I felt is memorable to this day. Ugh. Ha. I don’t remember what grade I got on that assignment, but I clearly remember how much I despised paraphrasing.
Paraphrasing is writing a detailed rendition of the text in your own words. It’s more than what we call a summary. A summary communicates the ideas; a paraphrase communicates exact thoughts in the correct order. Paraphrasing is about detail. While you paraphrase, your words are precise. You take care, making sure the original meaning isn’t lost.
This is what we want to do with scripture. I’m always tempted to skip this part. It’s not my favorite. But I think it’s one of the most important steps. Up to this point in your study, you have searched for ideas. You’ve marked words, noticed repetition, numbered lists-but paraphrasing is different. It doesn’t ask what you notice; it asks what it means. Are you able to communicate what the text actually means so others can understand it?
While paraphrasing the first section in Job, I was shocked at how much I missed until I wrote down a paraphrase. It forced me to look at the details, to see the ideas in the text. I noticed the order of events differently. In fact, the truth hit me harder as I was forced to write it in my own words. Never skip the paraphrase-trust me-it’s when all the comprehension work starts to come together.
Interpretation includes reading commentaries.
We’re all human; and since that’s the case I think it’s a healthy to recognize that our paraphrases will include mistakes. The truth is we are not going to understand perfectly every time. There will be ideas that we miss. This is why we read commentaries.
A commentary is a book that teaches about the Bible verse by verse. It explains. Now, you may be thinking, “Why didn’t we just skip the paraphrasing, and just go straight to the commentary?” Well, because it’s cheating. First, we want to know what the text says for ourselves, then we read what others say about the text.
I always recommend reading an odd number of commentaries. You’ll find different authors disagreeing on an interpretation. That’s normal. That’s why it’s good to look at more than one.
Some questions to think about as you consult commentaries:
- How does their interpretation compare to the other commentaries you have read?
- How does their interpreation compare to the paraphrase you wrote?
- From all the commentaries you read, which one do you most align with and why?
Conclusion
Interpretation steps are important because it gives us the opportunity to put our observations into ideas. Those ideas should reflect the author’s original meaning. Interpretation is about finding what the author wanted for the original audience.
