Most Likely, You’ve Never Read the True Bible in English

[Moontan13]

There are many individuals who claim deep knowledge of biblical languages like Hebrew and Greek, yet often haven’t engaged with the Bible itself in a meaningful, personal way.

Debate around Scripture is widespread, but in reality, a significant portion of people rarely read it for themselves. While I’m not one to lean heavily on statistics, I wouldn’t be surprised if the percentage of those who actively study the Bible is relatively small—perhaps even less than 10% of the population.

As for me, I’ll be honest: it’s been a while since I’ve read the Bible consistently. But I still recognize the value of approaching it with humility, rather than relying solely on intellectual claims or theological posturing.



I can read any bible just fine in english. I have Youngs Literal Translation. NKJV, KJV, NIV, NASB, and NLT.


Resouces concerning words: Vines Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, Biblehub, BlueLetterBible, Concordance....

/////////////////////////// I can read just fine but can't spell.

I like Biblehub for different reasons, and one of them is the ability to switch rapidly between translations.

 

[MonoBiblical]

I like Biblehub for different reasons, and one of them is the ability to switch rapidly between translations.

Blue Letter Bible?

 

[Moontan13]

Blue Letter Bible?

I have that on my tablet but have not used it yet. What do you like about it?

 

[MonoBiblical]

I have that on my tablet but have not used it yet. What do you like about it?

It has awesome Greek and Hebrew tools. [I also now recommend the step bible.]

 

[MatthewG]

I like Biblehub for different reasons, and one of them is the ability to switch rapidly between translations.

I can respect that. I think people should seek resources. We might be able to have a chance to survive or succeed in Christ. Allow his fruit to come through the hearts and minds of those whom have been adopted by God.

 

[Moontan13]

It has awesome Greek and Hebrew tools. [I also now recommend the step bible.]

I loaded the Blue Letter Bible onto my laptop, but the top of the page is cut off and I don't know how to fix it. It's just the very top to where I can only read part of verse 1 of a chapter.

 

[Moontan13]

I can respect that. I think people should seek resources. We might be able to have a chance to survive or succeed in Christ. Allow his fruit to come through the hearts and minds of those whom have been adopted by God.

Most of the time I want to switch translations it's for clarity of a passage. There's a radio station I like, GraceFM, and one of the ministers was criticizing The Message. The following week, the same Minister admitted that the best "interpretation" of a verse was in fact The Message version. This is from a church that most commonly uses the NKJV.

 

[Rockerduck]

Most of the time I want to switch translations it's for clarity of a passage. There's a radio station I like, GraceFM, and one of the ministers was criticizing The Message. The following week, the same Minister admitted that the best "interpretation" of a verse was in fact The Message version. This is from a church that most commonly uses the NKJV.

The Message bible is a paraphrase written by one man, a Pastor. Not a scholar, he just reworded the KJV in new slang English. Interesting reading, but not in a bible study. I know because one man brought his message bible and we were reading scripture. Everybody looked at him wondering what bible he was reading. Like I said, ita a paraphrase, not a translation.

 

[MatthewG]

Most of the time I want to switch translations it's for clarity of a passage. There's a radio station I like, GraceFM, and one of the ministers was criticizing The Message. The following week, the same Minister admitted that the best "interpretation" of a verse was in fact The Message version. This is from a church that most commonly uses the NKJV.

Thank you for sharing. MT13.

 

[JLB]

Starting from Artaxerxes I’s decree in 458 BC (Ezra 7:11–26), the 7 + 62 weeks (483 years) end in 26/27 AD

‘The going forth of the command to begin the prophetic timeline began with Cyrus.

 

[MatthewG]

I got a Youngs Literal Translation. It's pretty baller.

 

[MonoBiblical]

I loaded the Blue Letter Bible onto my laptop, but the top of the page is cut off and I don't know how to fix it. It's just the very top to where I can only read part of verse 1 of a chapter.

Can you adjust the screen area with software?

 

[Brother Del]

Have you ever questioned the accuracy of your English Bible? Most popular translations of the Old Testament, like the King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), and English Standard Version (ESV), are based on the Masoretic Text (MT), a Hebrew version of the Tanakh (the Jewish Bible, equivalent to the Old Testament) standardized by Jewish scholars between the 7th and 10th centuries AD, but edited as early as the 1st–2nd centuries AD after the destruction of the Second Temple (70 AD). Evidence suggests these edits deliberately shortened the chronology of the patriarchs in Genesis 5 and 11, obscuring messianic prophecies like the 70 weeks in Daniel 9:24–27, which points to Jesus Christ. In contrast, the Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation from the 3rd–2nd centuries BC, aligns closely with His life and ministry.

In Genesis 11, the Masoretic Text records Arphaxad fathering Shelah at age 35, while the Septuagint says 135—a 100-year difference. This pattern repeats across patriarchs, making the timeline from Adam to Abraham 1,948 years in the MT versus ~3,312 years in the LXX, a gap of 1,300–1,500 years. Why does this matter? The Septuagint’s longer timeline better matches archaeological evidence, such as the dating of Egypt’s pyramids (2600 BC) or Sumerian civilization (4000–3500 BC), lending credibility to the biblical narrative. More crucially, it supports the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 weeks. Starting from Artaxerxes I’s decree in 458 BC (Ezra 7:11–26), the 7 + 62 weeks (483 years) end in 26/27 AD, coinciding with Jesus’ baptism. The final week (7 years) covers His ministry and crucifixion (30–33 AD). The Masoretic Text’s shorter timeline and less explicit wording (“anointed one” vs. “Christ” in the LXX) make this prophecy less clear, potentially leading readers to doubt its connection to Jesus.

Why did Jewish scholars alter the Masoretic Text? Likely to weaken messianic interpretations after Christianity’s rise, as the Septuagint’s chronology clearly points to Jesus. So why did English translators, following the Catholic Vulgate (4th century), use the Masoretic Text instead of the Septuagint, which was quoted in the New Testament and used by early Christians? Jerome, who translated the Vulgate, prioritized Hebrew manuscripts (Hebraica veritas), possibly to align with Jewish communities or standardize the text. Yet, the Dead Sea Scrolls show the Septuagint often reflects older Hebrew texts, suggesting it’s more reliable. Most English Bibles inherit this choice, obscuring the prophecy’s clarity.

Fortunately, a few English translations do justice to the Septuagint’s chronology and wording, preserving its alignment with Jesus as the Messiah. These include:
Brenton’s Septuagint (1844)
New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS) (2007)
Orthodox Study Bible (2008)

Sadly, these translations are rare, and most English-speaking Christians are unaware of them, relying instead on Masoretic-based Bibles that obscure the full clarity of prophecies like Daniel’s 70 weeks. This raises a critical question: if the Septuagint offers a more accurate timeline pointing to Jesus, why do we continue using translations that muddy the waters?

I have the Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition.
Which English translation would you recommend?

 

[Brother Del]

I got a Youngs Literal Translation. It's pretty baller.

Its been one of my go to resources for many years. But I seldom just sit down and read from it. Maybe I should give it a go.

If you have not read the New Matthew Bible, its very well done.
Sadly, only the Pentateuch and the New Testament have been published to date.

And of course, everyone should have the 1560 Geneva.

 

[MatthewG]

Its been one of my go to resources for many years. But I seldom just sit down and read from it. Maybe I should give it a go.

If you have not read the New Matthew Bible, its very well done.
Sadly, only the Pentateuch and the New Testament have been published to date.

And of course, everyone should have the 1560 Geneva.

Thank you for the mention, Del.

Shawn Mcranny, is supposedly making a New Testament, I can’t remember the title something like the TVAR. Ar = Apostolic Record.

I read the Young’s Literal Translation on a series for TikTok when I had my channel before I lost the phone number to it. It was a read through series of Revelarion.

 

[MonoBiblical]

I have the Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition.
Which English translation would you recommend?

None of them.

 

[Chrysostomos]

I have the Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition.
Which English translation would you recommend?

Besides the translations I’ve already recommended, I also strongly suggest using a Greek-English interlinear of the Septuagint.
I personally use biblezoom.info for the interlinear, but it’s mainly for Russian speakers.
There are definitely similar tools in the English segment

Interlinear + Brenton is the most reliable combination if you want to be 100 % sure you’re reading the actual Septuagint text.

 

[Chrysostomos]

‘The going forth of the command to begin the prophetic timeline began with Cyrus.

No, the 70-weeks prophecy in Daniel 9:25 explicitly says:
“from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem … shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (69 weeks / 483 years) until Messiah the Prince.

The decree that actually restored Jerusalem (walls, gates, city, and the right to self-government) was Artaxerxes I’s decree in his 20th year (458/457 BC), given to Ezra and later confirmed to Nehemiah (Ezra 7:11–26; Nehemiah 2).

Cyrus’s decree (538 BC) only allowed the Temple to be rebuilt (Ezra 1). It never mentions restoring the city or its walls. Jerusalem remained “in ruins” and without walls for another 90+ years until Nehemiah (Neh 1:3; 2:17). The Jews themselves distinguished between the two decrees: Cyrus = Temple only; Artaxerxes = city and walls.

So the math is straightforward and exact only with Artaxerxes:
458 BC + 483 years (no year zero) = 26/27 AD → the exact year Jesus was baptized and began His ministry (“Messiah the Prince”).

Using Cyrus (538 BC) gives you 55–56 AD, which is almost 30 years too late and lands in the middle of Nero’s reign. No messianic event happened then.

The text, the historical decrees, and the timeline all point to Artaxerxes I in 458/457 BC. That’s why the overwhelming majority of both ancient and modern scholars (Christian and even many Jewish) who accept a messianic reading of Daniel 9 use the 20th year of Artaxerxes, not Cyrus.

 

[JLB]

No, the 70-weeks prophecy in Daniel 9:25 explicitly says:
“from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem … shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (69 weeks / 483 years) until Messiah the Prince.

The decree that actually restored Jerusalem (walls, gates, city, and the right to self-government) was Artaxerxes I’s decree in his 20th year (458/457 BC), given to Ezra and later confirmed to Nehemiah (Ezra 7:11–26; Nehemiah 2).

Sorry but it was Cyrus.

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-4

The decree of Cyrus was the going forth of the command.
The work ceased, which is why the 490 years were divided into three distinct sections.

7 weeks
62 weeks
1 week


Artaxerxes actually stopped the work by decree what began with Cyrus.


Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?
Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:22-24

This was the pause between the seven weeks and the 62 weeks.


Here is the reason why Artaxerxes issued his decree to stop the work.

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth:
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. Ezra 4:11-12

 

[Chrysostomos]

Sorry but it was Cyrus.

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-4

The decree of Cyrus was the going forth of the command.
The work ceased, which is why the 490 years were divided into three distinct sections.

7 weeks
62 weeks
1 week


Artaxerxes actually stopped the work by decree what began with Cyrus.


Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?
Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:22-24

This was the pause between the seven weeks and the 62 weeks.


Here is the reason why Artaxerxes issued his decree to stop the work.

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth:
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. Ezra 4:11-12

You’re mixing up three completely different decrees and three different historical moments. Let’s just look at the facts and the actual text:

1. In the Old Testament there is a prophet named Daniel. Around 600 years before Jesus, he received a prophecy that exactly 483 years (69 × 7) after a certain royal decree, the Messiah would appear (Daniel 9:25-26).

2. The prophecy says the countdown begins from
“the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” — meaning the city itself and its walls, not just the temple building.

3. Three different Persian kings gave decrees about Jerusalem, so people argue which one starts the clock.
- King Cyrus (538 BC) He said: “The Jews can go home and rebuild the Temple.”
He never mentioned rebuilding the city walls or making Jerusalem a real city again.
Result: the Temple got built, but for the next 80–90 years the city itself stayed broken-down and without walls.

- About 15–20 years later some enemies complained, and for a short time work on the Temple was stopped (Ezra chapter 4). That stop lasted only a few years and had nothing to do with city walls.

- King Artaxerxes I, in his 20th year (457 BC)
This is the first king who actually said:
“Rebuild the city, rebuild the walls and gates, set up your own judges and government again.”
(You can read it yourself in Ezra 7 and Nehemiah 2.)

4. So only Artaxerxes’ decree in 457 BC matches what Daniel described: “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” (the city and walls).

5. Now the simple math (everyone can do this on their fingers):Start in 457 BC → add 483 years → you arrive exactly in the year AD 27.
That is the exact year Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River and began preaching “The kingdom of God is at hand” — the moment He was revealed as the Messiah (see Luke 3:1-3, 21-23).If you start with Cyrus in 538 BC → add 483 years → you end up around AD 55-56. Nothing special happened that year.

6. That’s why almost every Christian who ever studied this prophecy (from the earliest church fathers 1800 years ago until today) says the countdown begins in 457 BC with Artaxerxes, not with Cyrus.

So Cyrus was a great king and he did start the Temple, but the prophecy in Daniel is talking about rebuilding the whole city and its walls.
Daniel 9:25 itself
“From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.”
→ It has to be a decree about the city and walls, not just the Temple. Cyrus’s decree simply does not qualify.

Only one decree actually did that — Artaxerxes’ decree in 457 BC. That’s why the math lands exactly on Jesus.Hope that makes it crystal clear.