On dictionaries
You know enough Greek now to be able to consult a dictionary with a minimum of frustration. In the second semester I recommend getting at least a small dictionary, whether of ancient or of Biblical Greek. Although I continue listing and linking new vocabulary to a total list, as I edit the content of the course, I am unable to update the vocabularies, and they become less and less useful as resources. It would be a good idea to buy now a small Greek dictionary. I list these resources separately for ancient and Biblical Greek, starting with the cheapest. The links take you to Amazon or Barnes and Noble, but you may also search for used copies elsewhere.
Ancient Greek Dictionaries:
A Lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon
Sufficient for an undergraduate student of ancient Greek ($ 35). Yet for only a few extra dollars the next size is far more useful:
An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon ($ 46). Perseus has it online, but please read my warnings below.
A Greek-English Lexicon, Ninth Edition with a Revised Supplement The large Liddell and Scott ($150) is a tool for scholars and advanced students.
Online Liddell-Scott:
Perseus has the middle and the large Liddell-Scot online. I do not recommend using these superb resources in Perseus until at least the third semester. There is too much information to sort through, and many pitfalls for the beginning translator. If you are advanced enough to tackle this, here are the instructions.
Once you have accessed Perseus and configured the display, go to Tools. One of the options will be Greek Dictionary.
Koinê Greek Dictionaries:
A
Concise Dictionary of New Testament Greek by Warren C. Trenchard
(Paperback ) ($18)
Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, by F. Wilbur Gingrich. University of Chicago Press, 1983. ISBN: 0226136132
Out of print, but used copies are
available.
Two larger editions, that someone who
plans to do scholarly research in Biblical Greek may consider, are:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, by Joseph H. Thayer. T&T Clark, 1901. Out of print, but used copies (expensive) are available.
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Walter Bauer, William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, ed., University of Chicago Press 2000. ($ 140). More comprehensive than the above.