What is the Berean Study Bible (BSB)?

The Berean Study Bible (BSB) is a Bible translation published in 2016 by the Bible Hub. The translation team was comprised by scholars from the Bible Hub and the Discover Bible.

The Berean Study Bible seeks to connect readers with the Greek and Hebrew root words and meanings in an easy-to-read format. The study Bible merges two previous translations, the Berean Literal Bible and the Berean Interlinear Bible. The Berean Study Bible was created to offer an accurate translation of the Greek and Hebrew texts in a reader-friendly format. The publishers believe that the Scriptures are meant to be studied and shared freely, as Paul urged in Colossians 4:16: “After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.” To promote sharing, the BSB is offered free online and through downloads. Other free digital resources that will aid in Bible study are being developed.

The name Berean comes from Acts 17:11: “Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” After encountering resistance and persecution in Thessalonica, Paul and Silas went to Berea to preach the gospel. There, the God-fearing Bereans listened with interest to what Paul and Silas said about Jesus, and then they compared what they heard with the Old Testament Scriptures. Verse 12 says, “As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.” The name Berean has come to symbolize people who are careful in their theology and doctrine and accept teaching only if it is supported by Scripture.

According to the Berean Study Bible website, Berean Bibles consist of four components or “translation tiers”:

1. An interlinear Bible to directly follow the Greek and Hebrew texts.

2. A literal translation to take the reader to the core of the Greek and Hebrew meanings.

3. A modern English translation, effective for public reading, memorization, and evangelism.

4. An annotated translation to bring out the full meaning and intensity of the original texts.

The Berean Bible Translation Committee considers the translation process open and subject to change as language evolves and meanings change. Various Bible translators use different methods for translating the Bible into English and other languages. Those methods fall on a continuum of dynamic translation (“thought for thought”) and literal translation (“word for word”). The Berean Study Bible utilizes both “word for word” and “thought for thought” approaches in the translation process. It maintains the original gender designations in Scripture and strives to be as consistent as possible to the core meanings of the original sources.

The Berean Study Bible includes all the links to Greek and Hebrew words that are part of the Berean Literal Bible. It also makes generous use of section headings and paragraph formatting to help ensure a smooth reading experience. In all, the Berean Study Bible is a good option for those wanting deeper study, cross-references, and a reader-friendly format.

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