Enhanced Strong's Lexicon Giving Strange Results

Mark Galer

I have been getting strange results with Strong's recently when using the ESV version with the Interlinears turned on. One example is in Isaiah 49:23; when the word 'father' is highlighted, `aman (H539) appears, but the word comes back with the explanation 'to believe.'  Another example is the word 'prostitute' found in Joshua 2:1. In Strong's it comes back with H2185, referring to 'military equipment.' Please note I am just a student of the Bible without any formal education. The Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible always comes up with the proper definition. Is it be, or is Strong's acting strange? Thank you.

Dave Hooton

One example is in Isaiah 49:23; when the word 'father' is highlighted, `aman (H539) appears, but the word comes back with the explanation 'to believe.' 

It exposes the limitations of Strong's numbers which does not adequately account for different meanings of the same word (homonyms).

Another example is the word 'prostitute' found in Joshua 2:1. In Strong's it comes back with H2185, referring to 'military equipment.'

The Hebrew word suggests that H2181 should have been used instead of H2185. But it is connected with the fact that the KJV mistranslated the word as "armour", so maybe H2185 is correct?

I think it was NAS that tried to overcome limitations like these by assigning "new" Strong's numbers to their bible, but that only worked with their lexicon and created even more confusion, so FL reverted to "standard" Strong's for the NAS bible.

Mike Binks

I have been getting strange results with Strong's recently when using the ESV version with the Interlinears turned on. One example is in Isaiah 49:23;

This is what I get! What do you see?

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1242674#Comment_1242674

It exposes the limitations of Strong's numbers which does not adequately account for different meanings of the same word (homonyms).

Just adding, any Strongs lookup is going to struggle.  Below is DBL's attempt:

Translators had trouble as well (Isa 49:23 as example).  There was a trend:

1382: Nursers (spoken of kings)

1560: Nursing fathers

1876: Supporters (didn't last; back to nursing fathers)

1902: Foster fathers (first appearance; seems to stick)

1971 & later: Guardians - children tenders - foster fathers - nursing fathers (pick!)

Mark Galer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1242675#Comment_1242675

I get somewhat the same result, the problem is Strong's Hebrew definition of the word 'father' in that verse means 'To Believe'. The Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon, in my humble opinion, gives a much better definition of the word.

Mark Galer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1242675#Comment_1242675

I have been getting strange results with Strong's recently when using the ESV version with the Interlinears turned on. One example is in Isaiah 49:23;

This is what I get! What do you see?

Somewhat the same, but the meanings are off. Someone above gave a good explanation of it, but I thank you for your response...