A recurring word can look like the centre of an ancient religious work. Yet repetition alone does not establish that every occurrence carries an identical meaning. Choose a small set of passages and compare how the term functions in each one.
Record its neighbours
For each occurrence, note who speaks, what question is being addressed, and which words appear nearby. Keep the quotation brief and preserve a usable passage reference. A list of isolated words removes the context you need for comparison.
Write a provisional paraphrase of each occurrence without forcing them into one definition. Mark where the translation leaves you uncertain. If the edition supplies a note about the underlying language, keep that explanation with its source.
Look for a pattern and a difficult case
After comparing several examples, propose a limited pattern. Then choose the passage that fits it least comfortably. Does the pattern need narrowing, or does the difficult passage require further research?
This method gives you a better question for specialist scholarship than simply asking what the word “really means.” It also prevents an attractive keyword from becoming a shortcut around the varied arguments, speakers, and situations in the work you are reading.