Translation Guide — How The Living Sword Translation Works

A plain-language guide to the translation philosophy behind The Living Sword — formal equivalence, word-for-word fidelity, and what it means to translate the Bible literally.

Formal Equivalence — Word for Word

The Living Sword translation uses formal equivalence: every word in the original Hebrew or Greek is rendered by a corresponding English word, preserving the precise structure of the inspired text. This contrasts with dynamic equivalence translations that prioritise readability by paraphrasing the meaning of whole clauses.

Source Manuscripts

Old Testament: Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex, AD 1008), confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls. New Testament: primarily the Textus Receptus, the received text underlying the KJV, Geneva Bible, and Darby Translation.

What Literal Translation Preserves

Original word order and sentence rhythm where English allows
Concrete images rather than abstract paraphrases
Hebrew and Greek idioms rendered in English rather than replaced
Verb tenses and aspects faithful to the original
Theological weight-bearing words (propitiation, sanctification, righteousness) kept rather than softened

Read the Full Translation Guide

Open the full Translation Guide in the app to read the complete style-sheet with examples from Scripture.

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