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The Bible's languages, simply
and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. John 19:20
The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with some parts in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. The King James translators worked from those languages in 1611. Here is how they work, a little at a time, each with a verse you can see it in.
Which languages
Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, Daniel 2:4
and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, Ezra 4:7
"Syriack" and "the Syrian tongue" are the King James words for Aramaic. From Daniel 2:4 to the end of chapter 7, and in parts of Ezra, the original is in Aramaic, the everyday language of that empire.
Read it: Daniel 2:4, Ezra 4:7
How Hebrew works
Hebrew packs words together
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning" is one Hebrew word: bereshith. Hebrew joins little words like "in", "the" and "and" onto the next word, so one Hebrew word often needs two or three English words.
Read it: Genesis 1:1
Hebrew has its own letters, read right to left
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Psalm 119:1
The King James heads each part of Psalm 119 with a Hebrew letter (ALEPH, BETH, GIMEL...): in Hebrew, every verse of each part begins with that letter. Hebrew was first written with consonants only; the vowel marks were added later.
Read it: Psalm 119:1-8
One word, several English words
Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. Jonah 3:4
"Shall be overthrown" is one Hebrew word (haphak). In Learn more, tap a word to see the Hebrew or Greek behind it.
Read it: Jonah 3:4
How Greek works
Greek shows who does what with word endings
For God so loved the world, John 3:16
English uses word order: "God loved the world" is not "the world loved God." Greek marks it in the word's ending instead (like "he" and "him" in English), so Greek can put the words in almost any order.
Read it: John 3:16
How the King James was made
The words in italics were added
and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; Matthew 1:6
In the King James, words printed in italics (here "that had been the wife") have no word behind them in the original; the translators added them so the English reads clearly.
Read it: Matthew 1:6
Words left as they were
Words the writers kept in Jesus' own language
Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. Mark 5:41
Abba, Father, Mark 14:36
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:46
These words are kept as they were said, in Aramaic (Eli in Matthew 27:46 is the Hebrew form; Mark 15:34 has Eloi), with the meaning given in the text itself.
Read it: Mark 5:41, Mark 14:36, Matthew 27:46
Names with their meanings
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23
Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Genesis 32:28
Hebrew names carry meanings, and the text often gives them.
Read it: Matthew 1:23, Genesis 32:28
To think about
- Read Mark 5:41 or Mark 14:36. Why do you think the writer kept Jesus' own words in his language?
Every verse here is the King James text, checked word for word before the site goes up. Tap a verse to read it in the Bible.