People often ask this question with a quiet concern behind it.
If the Bible was written long ago in other languages, can we still trust what we read today?
That concern is understandable. Faith matters. Words matter. And Scripture matters most of all.
The simple answer is this: the Bible was not written in English. It was written in real human languages spoken by real people in real places. God chose those languages on purpose, and He has faithfully preserved His message through them.
Let me walk you through this gently, step by step.
What Is the Original Language According to the Bible?
The Bible does not come from one single language. It was written over more than a thousand years, across different regions, cultures, and moments in history. Because of that, God’s Word came to us through three primary languages:
- Hebrew
- Aramaic
- Greek
Each language fits the time and people God was speaking to. None of this is accidental.
Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the heart language of the Jewish people.
Small portions were written in Aramaic, a common language of daily life in the ancient Near East.
The New Testament was written in Greek, the shared language of the Roman world.
This tells us something important. God did not hide His Word in secret or sacred codes. He spoke in languages people understood.
Hebrew: The Foundation of the Old Testament
Hebrew is the oldest primary language of the Bible. When we open Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, or Isaiah, we are reading texts that were first written in Hebrew.
Biblical Hebrew is a rich, expressive language. It is concrete, vivid, and deeply connected to daily life. Instead of abstract ideas, Hebrew often uses pictures. Light and darkness. Shepherds and sheep. Paths and doors. Bread and water.
That is not accidental. God wanted His Word to be lived, not just studied.
The Law of Moses, the writings of the prophets, and the poetry of Israel all came through Hebrew. This language shaped how God’s people understood covenant, obedience, worship, and hope.
Even today, Hebrew helps scholars understand the depth of words like shalom (peace), which means much more than the absence of conflict. It speaks of wholeness, restoration, and right relationship with God.
Is the Original Bible in Aramaic or Hebrew?
This question comes up often, and it is a good one.
The answer is both, but in different ways.
While Hebrew is the main language of the Old Testament, Aramaic appears in certain sections. These include parts of:
- Daniel
- Ezra
- A single verse in Jeremiah
- A few words scattered elsewhere
Aramaic was the everyday language spoken across much of the ancient Near East. Over time, many Jewish people spoke Aramaic at home, even though Hebrew remained the sacred language of Scripture.
This means that when God’s people lived under foreign empires, God still spoke to them in a language they knew well.
By the time of Jesus Christ, Aramaic was widely spoken in daily life. That is why some of His spoken words appear in Aramaic in the Gospels. Words spoken to real people, in moments of pain, healing, and compassion.
God meets people where they are. Language is one of the ways He does that.
What Is the Oldest Language of the Bible?
When we ask about the oldest language of the Bible, we are really asking which language appears first in Scripture and has the earliest surviving manuscripts.
The answer is Hebrew.
Some of the oldest biblical manuscripts we have discovered are written in Hebrew, including texts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. These manuscripts date back more than two thousand years and closely match the Hebrew texts used today.
That matters. It shows careful preservation, not careless copying.
The words were copied by hand, slowly and reverently, by scribes who believed they were handling the Word of God. Their work was not perfect, but it was faithful.
The remarkable consistency between ancient Hebrew manuscripts and modern Old Testament translations gives strong confidence that the message has not been lost.
Why the New Testament Was Written in Greek
This often surprises people.
Jesus lived in a Jewish culture, surrounded by Hebrew Scripture and Aramaic speech. So why was the New Testament written in Greek?
Because Greek was the common language of the wider world.
By the first century, Koine Greek was spoken across the Roman Empire. It was the language of trade, travel, education, and public life. Writing the New Testament in Greek allowed the Gospel to spread far beyond one nation or group.
This fits perfectly with the mission of the early church. The message of Jesus was not meant for one people only. It was meant for the world.
Greek is also a precise language. It allowed the writers of the New Testament to explain theology, grace, faith, and salvation with clarity. Many important Christian doctrines are expressed through careful Greek wording.
This does not make Greek superior to Hebrew or Aramaic. It simply shows that God uses the right tool for the right moment.
Why Is Matthew 17:21 Missing From Some Bibles?
This question worries many readers, and it deserves a calm, honest answer.
Some modern Bible translations do not include Matthew 17:21, or they place it in a footnote. Older translations, like the King James Version, include it as a full verse.
Why the difference?
It comes down to manuscripts.
Early Bible translations were made using the best manuscripts available at the time. Over the years, scholars discovered even older Greek manuscripts. Some of those older copies do not contain Matthew 17:21 as a separate verse.
Because of this, modern translations often choose to reflect what appears in the earliest manuscripts.
This does not mean Scripture was changed or weakened. The teaching found in Matthew 17:21 also appears elsewhere in the Gospels. No Christian belief stands or falls on that single verse.
What this shows is transparency, not deception. Translators want readers to know exactly what the ancient texts contain.
Does Translation Change the Meaning of the Bible?
This is the heart of the matter.
If the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and we read it in English or another language today, can we trust it?
Yes. We can.
Translation is not about rewriting Scripture. It is about faithfully carrying meaning from one language into another. This work is done by teams of scholars who study ancient languages, history, grammar, and context.
No translation is perfect, but God’s message is clear across faithful translations.
When Scripture says God is love, that truth does not disappear in translation.
When Scripture calls people to repentance, mercy, forgiveness, and hope, that call remains.
God’s Word is not fragile. It does not depend on one language alone to survive.
Why Knowing the Original Bible Language Still Matters Today
You do not need to know Hebrew or Greek to follow Jesus or trust the Bible. God’s Word is accessible, clear, and living in every faithful translation.
But learning about the original languages can deepen understanding.
It helps explain why certain words are translated the way they are.
It helps readers see the richness behind familiar verses.
It helps remove fear when questions arise about manuscripts or missing verses.
Most of all, it reminds us that God entered human history in a real way. He spoke through real languages, to real people, facing real struggles.
That is not a weakness of Scripture. It is one of its greatest strengths.
What This Teaches Us About God’s Care for His Word
God did not drop the Bible from heaven in one language for one group of people. He walked with humanity across centuries, cultures, and tongues.
He spoke in Hebrew to shepherds and kings.
He spoke in Aramaic to families and villages.
He spoke in Greek to the wider world.
And today, He speaks through translations read in homes, churches, prisons, schools, and quiet moments of prayer.
The language may change.
The message does not.
God’s Word has been carried with care, preserved with purpose, and shared so that every generation can hear Him speak.
That includes you.
