Ep 3 - Original Languages of the Bible

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To understand the original languages the Bible was written in, you have to take into account what time period each book was written in, and the language of the land from where it came. 

The Old Testament was written starting from around 1400 BC to about 400 BC. The majority of the books were written in the ancient Semitic language Hebrew because that was the language of the Israelites at that time, and the historical root of Hebrew still used today. Adding to that, there are thousands of Hebrew manuscripts and fragments that show consistent script, grammar, and vocabulary, with one of the most significant discoveries being the Dead Sea Scrolls. It's really marvelous that we have this consistency for texts written over a thousand year period.

In a couple of books namely Daniel and Ezra, some portions are written in Aramaic (also a Semitic language), and you can actually see the language shift on the page. This is where you need to take into account the audience. During the exile, Israel was displaced into Babylonian and Persian-controlled regions, where Aramaic was the common language of government and daily communication across the Near East. In Daniel, the Aramaic sections are narratives and prophecies focused on Gentile kings and world empires, which is why the text shifts to the common imperial language of that time. In Ezra, the Aramaic portions are mainly official decrees, letters, and administrative documents, since Aramaic was the language of government in the Persian Empire and the intended audience would have understood it.

Coming to the New Testament, it consists of books written in the first century - from around 50-90 AD. The language used for this was Koine Greek. Post the exile, Hebrew was still the language of the scripture, but Aramaic was dominant in speech and that continued with the Jews even when Jesus Christ came into the world - It is widely recognized that Aramaic was the language Jesus used in daily life. But by the first century, we have to understand that Koine Greek was the shared language that was used for commerce, education, and literature across Judea, Asia Minor, Greece, the Roman empire, and beyond.

We have over five thousand Greek manuscripts of the New Testament books, along with early translations that all trace back to the Greek originals. Greek allowed the message to move beyond Judea into the wider world.

Today, the complete Bible is available in over 750 languages, with portions available in thousands more. But the original languages it was written in are Hebrew, which is rooted in Israel; Aramaic, shaped by the exile; and Greek, suited for an empire that spans across multiple cultures and regions. Even today, many Bible readers look at these original languages to better understand the context and meaning of the text as it was first written.



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