Bible Facts
Translation and language discoveries
Translation-dependent observationJonah's fish is not called a whale in JonahThe book of Jonah says the LORD prepared a "huge fish" (or "great fish") to swallow Jonah; it does not say what kind of animal it…Translation-dependent observationJoseph's special robeJacob made Joseph "a tunic of many colours" (or a long robe with sleeves), which made his brothers jealous.Translation-dependent observationGoliath's heightFirst Samuel gives Goliath's height as "six cubits and a span", roughly three metres by common estimates.Text-derived calculation"Jesus wept" is the shortest verse in this editionIn the World English Bible on BibleKenya, John 11:35 "Jesus wept." is the shortest verse by number of letters.Text-derived calculationEsther 8:9 is the longest verse in this editionIn the World English Bible on BibleKenya, Esther 8:9 is the longest verse, with 86 words.Translation-dependent observation3 John: 14 verses in this editionIn the World English Bible, 3 John has 14 verses; some editions divide its last verse in two and count 15.Translation-dependent observationGod is not named in EstherThe book of Esther, as it appears in Protestant Bibles, never uses the word God or the LORD's name.Historical or external claimPart of Daniel was written in AramaicMost of the Old Testament is in Hebrew, but Daniel 2:4b–7:28 and parts of Ezra are in Aramaic.Direct biblical statementThe sign on the cross was in three languagesJohn says the title on Jesus' cross was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.Text-derived calculationThe word "Trinity" is not in the BibleThe English word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible, though passages such as Matthew 28:19 name the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together.Direct biblical statement"The love of money", not money, is a root of evilThe verse often quoted as "money is the root of all evil" says "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil".Direct biblical statementEve is named in Genesis 3The woman is first called "Eve" in Genesis 3:20, after the fall: "because she would be the mother of all the living".Translation-dependent observationAnna's age can be read two waysLuke 2:37 can mean that Anna was a widow of eighty-four years of age, or that she had been a widow for eighty-four years.Translation-dependent observationForgive "seventy times seven"When Peter asked if he should forgive seven times, Jesus said "until seventy times seven" (or "seventy-seven times").Translation-dependent observationThe Ten Commandments are called "ten words"Exodus and Deuteronomy call the commandments "the ten commandments", literally "ten words" in Hebrew.Direct biblical statementThe name "Christians" began in AntiochActs says the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.Direct biblical statementPeople heard in their own languagesAt Pentecost visitors from many lands heard the disciples speaking about God's mighty works in their own languages.Translation-dependent observationHosea's children had message namesHosea's children were named Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah ("not pitied") and Lo-Ammi ("not my people") as signs to Israel.Direct biblical statementThe Bible ends with graceThe last verse of the Bible is a blessing of grace: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen."