Translation Tiers:

1. An interlinear Bible to directly follow the Greek and Hebrew texts.
2. A literal translation to take the reader to the core of the Greek and Hebrew meanings.
3. A modern English translation, effective for public reading, memorization, and evangelism.
4. An emphasized translation to bring out the full meaning and intensity of the original texts.

Translation Process: Greek and Hebrew Sources >> Interlinear Bible >> Literal Bible >> Study Bible >> Emphasized Bible

All sources are freely available and linked through to the original source, making the multi-tiered translation process an “open translation.” In other words, the source behind the translation is clear and available to all. The tools and databases include resources such as Strong’s Lexicon to make the translation process transparent even to those without extensive training in Greek and Hebrew.

The three levels are also provide support by enhancing the expression of meaning on multiple levels. For example, since languages often do not translate in a one to one fashion, in many cases the multiple tiers express a fuller or corresponding meaning, as well as both a “word for word” and “thought for thought” rendering.

Berean Interlinear Bible

The interlinear gloss is a word for word, Greek word order rendering based on the most reliable Greek sources. This text also contains complete parsing tags, as well as Strong’s numbers to for easy reference to Greek lexicons. The basis for the interlinear text is the Biblos Interlinear, developed over several years and now refined by the translation committee.

The following are elements for each word of the interlinear:

1. Greek text (See below for sources)
2. Transliteration
3. Morphology: Part of Speech – Person, Tense, Mood, Voice – Case, Number, Gender, Comparison
4. English Gloss
5. Strong’s Number
6. Lexical definition
7. Punctuation: Both the Greek text source and, separately, the English gloss are punctuated to assist in reading and understanding.

Berean Literal Bible

The second step in the translation process was the development of a word for word English word order text. In most instances, this text closely follows the interlinear. Some of the features of the Literal Bible are as follows:

1. Parts of speech match as closely as possible in translation from Greek to English.
2. Tense, mood, and voice of verbs are maintained as closely as possible.
3. All tags from the interlinear are maintained so that the word for word translation can be connected back to each element of the original text.
4. Gender is translated to be consistent with the Greek sources (This is also maintained in the Interlinear and Study Bibles).
5. Pronouns that represent Deity are capitalized for clearer study of difficult passages (This format is maintained from the Interlinear and through the Study Bible).
6. Sentence structure is maintained so that, in general, the flow of the longer Greek sentences is not interrupted in the translation to the literal version.

Berean Study Bible

As the interlinear and literal versions were refined, they were strenuously transformed into a smooth text in modern English. The goal was to maintain a high level of readability along with core meaning integrity.

This process involved seven full rounds of editing that sought to develop a text with a high literary quality that does not compromise accuracy. This method ensured that as literal a text as possible would be maintained, while offering a syntax and flow that are well suited as a modern literary tool.

Quite importantly, it was required that the translation stay consistent with core meanings of the original source. All links and paths back through the translation process are maintained, as the Study Bible links back to each literal rendering and Greek root. Additionally, the Study Bible makes generous use of section headings and paragraph formatting, to meet the needs of the modern reader.

Berean Emphasized Bible

As work on the BSB progressed, the desire arose to further and more fully express the emphases, nuances, and style of the original texts.

The Berean Emphasized Bible is under construction for both the New and Old Testaments, and will be a wonderful tool for readers, students, teachers, and pastors alike. The translation is designed to bring out the full meaning, intensity, and clarity of the original Greek and Hebrew sources.

Publication and Sharing

Another significant goal of the project is to share a Bible text that is as free as possible from licensing and publishing constraints. While a copyright is necessary so there are not multiple variants of the same version, we intend to enable royalty-free publishing of digital resources and generous licensing for use in print. Since we believe that a translation must be directly connected to the Greek and Hebrew roots, the tools and data for these connections will be made freely available as well.

Translation Committee

The Berean Bible Translation Committee is comprised of members of the Bible Hub and Discovery Bible teams. Advisory Editors Dr. Gary Hill, Dr. Grant Osborne, Dr. Eugene H. Merrill, Dr. Maury Robertson, Dr. Ulrik Sandborg-Petersen. Special thanks to the Bible Hub team for work on an inclusive base text and interlinear. Special thanks to the Discovery Bible team for extensive language support, including the extension of translation notes of Dr. Gleason Archer, which have contributed greatly to the development of the interlinear, literal, study, and emphasized versions.

Admittedly, the translation committee is small compared to many of the major translations. However, we believe that the method and even size also has lent itself to some clear advantages:

1. The use of a small and focused committee has avoided the scenario of a multi-million dollar project where costs and investments need to be recouped. Thus, generous permissions and usage allowances can be offered for all publishing formats.
2. Whereas some large committees assign a single book to each translator or team, the Berean Bible is translated as a single unit. We believe that this method lends to consistency throughout the text, and especially for the many parallel and related passages of Scripture.
3. The Berean Bible employs the concept of an “open translation” where all sources (interlinear, literal, study, and emphasized) are documented and matched to the original text. The full translation tables are available in the download section of this site. We believe that this lends to an honest dialogue over translation issues, where the original text can be referenced and understood by all who wish to study. Input to the committee is also welcome at any time.
4. In the above sense, the translation committee is very large. The interlinear base text has been studied by a large portion of the millions of users of Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible. Many hundreds of readers have offered specific input, all of which is considered on a verse by verse basis. This support comes from a great number and diversity of contributors, including lay persons, pastors, teachers, seminarians, and professors. This open policy will be continued and enhanced as the Berean Bible becomes available on many platforms, and all feedback and recommendations will be appreciated at any time.

We pray that this text will enable readers to connect with God’s word to study it, memorize it, share it, and proclaim it. We are inspired by the model of the early Christian church:

After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. – Colossians 4:16

The Scriptures belonged to the church and were meant to be examined, copied, and distributed. We hope to be able to live up to this example with all the resources we have been entrusted to pass on.

Greek Sources

The Greek source is documented for all renderings, with the following major sources being considered: Nestle, SBL, and Nestle Aland 28th Edition, Textus Receptus, Byzantine, Greek Orthodox, Tischendorf, Westcott and Hort, as well as a variety of manuscripts on which these critical texts are based.

In producing the translation, weight was given to the more reliable / earlier manuscripts and more recent critical texts. Significant variants are documented and footnoted.

In choosing a base text for the Berean Greek Bible, it was important to start with a source that we can share and make available for free digital use. The Nestle 1904 was chosen, as we believe it is the most accurate critical text currently in the public domain. Paragraph and poetry formatting for the Greek Text has been adapted from Westcott and Hort, 1881.

Significant variants between modern critical texts have been documented and taken into consideration for translation, along with additional manuscript evidence. The following are the major texts included for consideration and documented or footnoted in the Berean Bible:

NA28 [NA]

Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th revised edition, Edited by Barbara Aland and others, © 2012 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

SBLGNT ‹SBL›

Michael W. Holmes, Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. (Society of Biblical Literature, 2010).

Nestle 1904 〈NE〉

Eberhard Nestle, Η ΚΑΙΝΗ ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ. Text with Critical Apparatus. (British and Foreign Bible Society, 1904).

Westcott and Hort (WH)

Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort, The New Testament in the Original Greek, vol. 1: Text; vol. 2: Introduction [and] Appendix (Cambridge: Macmillan, 1881).

Byzantine Majority Text ⧼BYZ⧽

Maurice A. Robinson and William G. Pierpont, The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform, 2005. (Chilton Book Publishing, 2005).

Schrivener’s Textus Receptus 1896 {TR}

F. H. A. Scrivener , The New Testament in the Original Greek according to the Text followed in the Authorised Version (Cambridge: University Press, 1894).

Greek Orthodox Church (GOC)

The New Testament as is taught by the Greek Fathers, Greek Orthodox Church, 1904

Tischendorf 8th edition (Tischendorf)

Tischendorf’s 8th edition Greek New Testament, Constantin von Tischendorf, 1869-1872

Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550 (TR1550)

Stephanus Novum Testamentum Graece, Robertus Stephanus, 1550.

Old Testament

The Old Testament Translation is also underway and will undergo a similar process. We have tentatively scheduled the release for August 2017, and will provide updates as this project progresses.