Volume 35: Original Scripture Languages
Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic & Koine Greek Linguistics
Original Scripture Languages provides a linguistic portal into the three ancient tongues in which God revealed His written Word. It details the poetic concreteness of Biblical Hebrew, the imperial utility of Aramaic portions, and the precise syntactic nuance of Koine Greek in the New Testament.
A linguistic and theological introduction to the three original languages of Scripture—Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic, and Koine Greek—and translation philosophy.
Key facts
- The Old Testament was written almost entirely in Biblical Hebrew, with approximately 268 verses in Biblical Aramaic (found in Ezra, Daniel, and Jeremiah).
- The New Testament was composed entirely in Koine ('common') Greek, the universal trade language of the 1st-century Mediterranean world.
- Hebrew is an action-oriented, root-based Semitic language written from right to left with rich imagery and wordplay.
- Koine Greek features a highly sophisticated verbal aspect system (Aorist, Perfect, Imperfect), enabling extraordinary doctrinal precision.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the New Testament written in Koine Greek rather than Hebrew?
Alexander the Great's conquests established Koine Greek as the international lingua franca; God providentially prepared this universal language so the Gospel could spread rapidly across the Roman Empire.
What parts of the Bible were written in Aramaic?
Aramaic appears in Daniel 2:4–7:28, Ezra 4:8–6:18 and 7:12–26, Jeremiah 10:11, and several preserved phrases spoken by Jesus in the Gospels (e.g., Talitha koum, Ephphatha, Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani).
What is the difference between Word-for-Word and Thought-for-Thought translations?
Formal equivalence (Word-for-Word, e.g., ESV, NASB) preserves original grammatical structures, while dynamic equivalence (Thought-for-Thought, e.g., NIV, NLT) prioritizes readability and idiomatic comprehension in modern English.
Why are original languages vital for theological study?
Every translation is an interpretation; studying original Greek and Hebrew enables pastors and scholars to evaluate nuances of tense, voice, mood, and idioms that cannot be fully conveyed in a single English word.