The Pure Word Bible is a translation of the Bible that aims to convey the original meaning of the biblical texts as accurately as possible. It seeks to avoid interpretive bias and provide a transparent rendering of the ancient texts into modern English. Here is an overview of the key features and goals of the Pure Word Bible translation:
Literal Translation Approach
The Pure Word Bible takes a literal (word-for-word) translation approach as much as possible. The goal is to translate each Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek word into its closest English equivalent based on its meaning in the original languages. It avoids dynamic equivalency and paraphrasing which can obscure the precise wording of the original texts.
Textual Basis
The Pure Word Bible utilizes the latest biblical scholarship and textual evidence to determine the most reliable Hebrew and Greek source texts. For the Old Testament, it primarily follows the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. For the New Testament, it relies on the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece. By drawing from the best available manuscripts, it seeks to remove later scribal errors and revisions.
Formatting for Clarity
Formatting is optimized for clarity with minimal intrusion. Verse numbers are superscripted so they don’t interrupt the flow. Old Testament quotations in the New Testament are indented. Pronouns relating to God employ small caps to facilitate tracking across paragraphs. Names & places transliterated from Hebrew employ hyphens to aid in pronunciation. These small formatting improvements help the reader understand relationships between ideas.
Hebrew and Greek Meaning
When a single English word cannot adequately convey the meaning of a Hebrew or Greek word, explanatory alternatives are provided via textual footnotes. Parenthetical glosses of Hebrew and Greek words are also used sparingly to give readers access to the original nuances. This provides additional lexical information without compromising readability.
Names of God
The Pure Word Bible retains Hebrew transliterations of names for God such as Yahweh and Elohim instead of replacing them with LORD or God. The goal is to accurately reflect how the biblical authors originally referenced God. Divine pronouns and adjective agreements also match the Hebrew and Greek texts for translation transparency.
Messianic Prophecies
Prophetic passages that anticipate the coming of the Messiah are translated fully in line with their Hebrew meaning, without imposing later Christian reinterpretations. The Pure Word Bible lets the original Old Testament texts speak for themselves and allows readers to discern messianic passages on their own.
Doctrinal Neutrality
Theologically charged words like grace, justification, righteousness, etc. are rendered consistently in accordance with their actual meaning in the Greek and Hebrew texts. The Pure Word avoids theological bias or special formatting that favors any particular interpretation or doctrine. It allows the reader to discern the texts without doctrinal influence.
Literary Beauty
While literal and transparent, the Pure Word translation also gives careful attention to English grammar, readability, and literary excellence. The goal is to provide the fullest understanding of the biblical texts in a beautiful literary form suitable for both study and worship.
Old Testament Witness
The translators uphold the continuity of Scripture by resisting replacement theology and supersessionism. The OT is translated fully in accordance with its original ancient Near Eastern setting and Hebrew meanings, without denigrating its ongoing witness.
Text-Critical Footnotes
Significant textual variants in the source manuscripts are documented in footnotes. Old Testament passages where the Dead Sea Scrolls diverge from the standard Masoretic texts are also footnoted for reference. This scholarly apparatus enables researchers to see where expert opinions differ on debatable translational issues.
Supplementary Material
In addition to the full Bible text, the Pure Word project includes supplementary essays and appendices such as: “Principles of Bible Translation,” “Textual History of the Bible,” “Paleo-Hebrew Inscriptions,” “Prophecies of the Messiah,” “Hebraic Roots of the NT,” and “Hebraic Idioms in the OT.” This supplementary material provides helpful background and depth.
History of the Translation
The Pure Word Bible is a 20-year project spearheaded by Dr. Jacques Goldberg, a linguist and ancient language expert who assembled an international team of scholars to undertake the translation. They utilized the latest textual research and took a conservative, minimalist approach toward textual emendation and interpolation in order to provide the closest thing possible to the original unvarnished Word of God.
Copyright and Distribution
The Pure Word Bible is made available free online and in ebook format to allow easy distribution of God’s Word. Print editions are available for purchase via print-on-demand services at reasonable costs. The copyright is held by God’s Word Trust to ensure the text remains freely available rather than becoming restricted by a publisher.
Reception and Reviews
Since its completion in 2025, the Pure Word Bible has received both praise and criticism. Some conservative Christians prefer more theologically traditional Bible versions and are skeptical of an overly literal translation approach. Others appreciate it for making obscure Hebrew and Greek details more transparent. Critical reviews claim it is too wooden or awkward in places. Favorable reviews commend its linguistic precision and skillful English style. But overall, the Pure Word aims not to impress critics but to accurately render God’s Word for modern readers.
Study Use of the Pure Word Bible
The unvarnished literalism of the Pure Word Bible makes it an excellent resource for in-depth Bible study. Seeing a transparent rendering of verb tenses, grammatical constructions, and unique vocabulary from the Hebrew and Greek enables richer insight into the meaning of passages. Studying the Pure Word side-by-side with other translations brings the textual nuances into sharper relief. For general cover-to-cover reading, other versions may flow better, but for deep study, the Pure Word shines.
Liturgical Use of the Pure Word Bible
For congregational readings and liturgical use, the transparent literalism of the Pure Word can sometimes make it less suitable. Clumsy or wooden phrasings may trip up readers used to a more dynamic literary style. The NASB, ESV, or NKJV may flow better in oral use. Some traditional Christians also prefer not altering familiar verses and names (LORD instead of Yahweh, etc.). However, some churches appreciate the Pure Word for serious responsive readings and find its transparent phrasings enlightening.
Devotional Use of the Pure Word Bible
For devotional use, the more wooden sentences and technical transparency of the Pure Word can distract from fluency if reading large passages. Its unvarnished literal rendering of some passages may seem jarring next to familiar phrasings. Hence it is less optimal as a primary devotional Bible. However, studying a Pure Word passage in conjunction with a regular devotional Bible can add extra insight. Pure Word footnotes can also deepen understanding of key verses and enhance their devotional effect.
Evangelistic Use of the Pure Word Bible
When sharing Scripture with new believers and non-Christians, the very literal Pure Word Bible may not always be the most helpful translation. Its technical phrasings and transparency to Hebrew and Greek details can seem confusing or cumbersome to someone unfamiliar with the Bible. Easy-to-read versions like the NLT or The Message might resonate better. However, the Pure Word could help clarify specific verses where subtle distinctions of meaning come into play.
Contextual Pros and Cons
For mission field use, the Pure Word Bible’s transparency to the ancient Near Eastern context can illuminate Old Testament backgrounds. Seeing Hebrew meanings and idioms unchanged often helps contextualize passages for readers in Semitic or honor-shame cultures. However, some Christian communities prefer the familiar Biblish style of traditional versions. The Pure Word may also seem too academically rigorous for oral cultures. Its value depends on the specific context.
Children’s Use of the Pure Word Bible
For children’s Bibles and youth ministry, the Pure Word is generally not the most appropriate choice. Younger readers struggle with its wooden literalism and technical transparency. Preteens may stumble over archaic terms or struggle absorbing parenthetical glosses and footnotes. The Pure Word is better suited to mature readers immersed in careful study. For kids, the NIrV, NCV, or interactive narrative versions resonate better.
Paratextual Helps
Given its scholarly goals, the Pure Word Bible includes minimal in-text illustration or paraphrasing that might obscure the literal text. Its paratextual helps focus on original-language research: detailed appendices on manuscripts, inscription photos, lexical aids, textual commentaries, etc. These scholarly helps enlighten researchers but may overwhelm lay readers. Studying the Pure Word Bible demands more reflection but those willing to engage the scholarship will reap rewards.
Ongoing Refinements
As additional biblical manuscripts and linguistic insights emerge, the Pure Word Bible is updated periodically to fine-tune the translation. The God’s Word Translation Trust oversees these evidence-based refinements to ensure the text continues upholding the latest and best scholarship. Believers can have confidence that the Pure Word represents the highest level of scholarly fidelity that can be achieved at this point in history.
Conclusion
For serious students of the Bible interested in digging deeper into the original text, the Pure Word Bible provides an invaluable resource. Its transparent rendering opens up subtleties of meaning from the Hebrew and Greek unavailable in other versions. However, the very literalism that makes it useful for word studies also reduces its readability for casual reading. The Pure Word shines when used in conjunction with other translations as part of an in-depth hermeneutical process seeking to exegete the full witness of Scripture.