God’s Word

This translation, which is the work of God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, fills the need to communicate clearly to contemporary Americans without compromising the Bible’s message. It employed full-time Bible scholars and full-time English editorial reviewers. It uses natural grammar, follows standard punctuation and capitalization rules, and is printed in a single column.

The theory followed by the Bible Society’s translators is closest natural equivalent translation. The first consideration was to find equivalent English ways of expressing the meaning of the original text. The second consideration was readability. The third consideration was to choose the natural equivalent that most clearly reflects the style of the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek text.

In prose, this translation looks like other works of literature. Poetry is instantly recognized by its format. It capitalizes the first letter in proper nouns and sentences and in all letters of the word LORD when it represents Yahweh. It does not capitalize any pronouns (except I and unless they begin sentences). In passages that apply to all people, it tries to use gender-neutral language so that all readers will apply these passages to themselves. If a passage focuses upon an individual, it does not use plural nouns and pronouns to avoid the gender-specific pronouns he, him, and his. It avoids using difficult theological terms, substituting words that carry the same meaning in common English. However, some traditional theological words are contained in footnotes the first time they occur in a chapter.

Genesis 1: 1, 2
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the water. The Spirit of God was hovering over the water.

John 1: 1 – 3
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was already with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.

The following comparative studies include this version:

1. Additions and Omissions in the Synoptic Gospels
2. Epistle of James
3. From Eternity or From Ancient Times?
4. Falsifying Scribes
5. Fringe on the Borders of a Garment
6. Gifts of the Spirit
7. God So Loved the World
8. Hebrew Synoptic Gospels
9. Horses from Egypt and Kue
10. Israelites and Baal-Peor
11. Letters of Paul
12. Lord Is My Shepherd: An Anthology
13. Offering Sacrifices to the He-Goat
14. Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread
15. Reference to the Trinity
16. Sabbaths and Sundown
17. Scripture Inspired by God
18. Seventy Weeks of Daniel 9
19. Sides of the Court of the Tabernacle
20. Some Variations in the Book of Acts
21. Song of Solomon
22. Speech Problem of Moses
23. Story of the Adultress
24. That Which Will Happen Before the End
25. Those Who Work Iniquity
26. Tragedy at Beth-Shemesh
27. Variations in the Pentateuch
28. Was Jesus Forsaken by God?
29. Words with Heathen Origins in the Scriptures