Wondering whether you should use a concordance or a cross reference? While both help you study Scripture, they serve different purposes. This article explains what each tool does, when to use it, and how to access them in the Olive Tree Bible App.
Cross References
A cross reference points you to other Bible verses that relate to the passage you're reading. These verses may share the same theme, topic, prophecy, person, or event, helping you see how Scripture connects across the Bible. In the Olive Tree Bible App, you can find cross references in the Resource Guide under Related Verses.
In this example, the Resource Guide displays several cross references included with the NIV. Selecting any resource opens related verses connected to the verse you're reading.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge displays related verses grouped by the verse you're studying, making it easy to explore connected passages without leaving your current reading.
Cross references are ideal for studying themes and topics throughout Scripture.
If you're studying a specific word instead of a passage or theme, a concordance is usually the better tool.
Concordance
A concordance helps you find where a particular word appears throughout Scripture. It's especially useful for word studies, allowing you to trace how a word is used across the Bible.
Like cross references, many Bible translations include a brief concordance. However, if you want to perform a more comprehensive word study, a dedicated concordance is the better choice. In the Olive Tree Bible App, the easiest way to access one is through the Lookup feature.
Tap-and-hold a word, such as 'patient' in Ephesians 4:2 shown here. Next, tap Lookup.
Select the concordance you'd like to use. Here the Olive Tree NIV Concordance is shown.
You'll see every occurrence of the English word patient throughout the Bible. You can easily access those verses in the pop-up window for easy reading.
You’ll notice that Olive Tree Concordances actually have three options.
- Verse References – Shows every place the English word appears.
- Strong's Numbers – Finds every occurrence of the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation.
- Dictionary – Opens a dictionary entry explaining the meaning and usage of the original-language word.
Conclusion
As you can see there are key differences between a cross reference resource and a concordance.
Use a cross reference when you want to:
- Explore related passages
- Study a biblical theme or topic
- See how Scripture connects
Use a concordance when you want to:
- Find every occurrence of a specific word
- Study the original Hebrew or Greek word
- Compare how a word is used throughout Scripture
Looking to expand your Bible study? Browse our collection of concordances and cross reference resources available for the Olive Tree Bible App.