Why Study the Bible’s Original Languages?

Original language studies can be useful?

When we open our King James Bible, we are holding a faithful translation that was carefully rendered from the original tongues of Scripture—Hebrew (with some portions in Aramaic) for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament. The translators labored with great care, seeking to convey God’s words into English with accuracy and reverence.

Studying the original languages does not mean the English text is lacking. On the contrary, it highlights the precision and depth of meaning that the KJV translators faithfully preserved. Studying the Bible's original languages also enriches our understanding of textual nuances, cultural context, and literary beauty. We can better see the artistry of God’s Word—the metaphors, parallelisms, and shades of meaning that illuminate truth for those who love Him. Let me show you what I mean.

A Case Study: John 15:2

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2)

At first glance, the phrase “taketh away” seems straightforward. But the Greek word behind it, αἴρω (airo), carries several nuances: “to lift, take up, or remove.” Could it mean:

• Lifting up a branch to help it grow, or

• Removing it to promote fruitfulness? Some people may even go so far as to say that this passage is

• A warning that one may lose their salvation.

What is the answer? Your theology will depend upon your understanding of this passage.

To further emphasize this point, note that the following verse emphasizes the seriousness of failing to abide in Christ.

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6)

This sounds like a serious matter if branches are being cast into the fire!

So what is this passage teaching us?

Think with me for a moment about two truths that are revealed here.

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1. The Vine and Branches in the Jewish Context - Old Testament Context

• The vine imagery has deep Old Testament roots. Israel was often pictured as God’s vine, typically unfruitful and under judgment.

• Isaiah 5:1–7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:1–8 illustrate God’s expectation of fruitfulness and His judgment on unfaithfulness.

One element of this passage, which has Jesus as the vine, is a reference to Israel’s rejection – Jesus’ words echo Matthew 21:43: “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Israel was set aside for unfruitfulness; Jesus is setting Himself as the True Vine, and the individual believers (branches) are called to fruitfulness and faithfulness.

Gerald Borchert notes:

“But what is totally different in John 15 is the role of Jesus and the disciples. The Father is the Gardener, Jesus is the Vine, and the disciples are the branches.”

—Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, NAC 25B

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This is a radical shift: Since Jesus is the True Vine, and His Father is the Vinedresser, the emphasis of this passage is on the branches (believers) abiding in Him and bearing fruit as a demonstration of genuine union with Him and life in Him.

But also in this context (as in many of Jesus' teachings), there is

2. The Element of False Profession

In this passage, we see that branches not truly abiding in the Vine will be removed and cast into the fire. Are believers here losing their salvation and going to Hell? Nothing could be further from the truth! Branches that never bear fruit prove they were never truly part of the Vine. The issue is not loss of salvation, but lack of life from the start. As John later wrote: “They went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2:19).

J. Dwight Pentecost emphasizes that in the Upper Room discourse, Jesus prepares His disciples for life after His departure. The key issue in this passage is not the loss of salvation, but abiding in fellowship with Christ and producing fruit (J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981, pp. 440–442).

The Value of Studying the Bible's Original Languages

The Greek behind the KJV illuminates these truths even further. Daniel Wallace discussing the matter of whether a true believer can lose their salvation, reveals an interesting point about the grammar of the passage:

“The NT authors’ distinctions between second and third person are not to be overlooked … In many texts which on the surface seem to suggest that a believer can lose his/her salvation, the ‘insecure’ part of the text is in the third person (cf. John 15:1–11 [note especially the change of persons between vv. 5 and 6]; Heb 6:4–6, 9).”—Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 393

In John 15, the shift from second person (“ye are the branches … he that abideth in me” - v.5) to third person (“if a man abide not in me, he is cast forth”) is deliberate. The third-person warning points to false professors, not true disciples (i.e., not true branches). The King James Bible communicates this accurately, and a look at the Greek deepens our appreciation for its clarity and precision.

Conclusion

The King James Bible is clear, trustworthy, and faithful in English. Studying the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek is not required to understand Scripture, but it confirms the care of the translators and deepens our appreciation of the text.

Through careful study, we see how God’s Word communicates truth with precision, beauty, and life-transforming power. In John 15, we discover the profound imagery of the Vine and branches, the call to fruitfulness, and the assurance that Christ is the True Vine in whom all true believers abide.

Reader’s Note

The following resources provide deeper insight for those who wish to study God’s Word alongside the KJV and its original-language foundations.

• Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21 (The New American Commentary, vol. 25B. Nashville: B&H, 2002), pp. 139–141 – Analysis of vine imagery in Old and New Testaments.

• J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), pp. 440–442 – Context of John 15 within the Upper Room discourse.

• Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), p. 393 – Insights on Greek grammar and second vs. third-person distinctions in interpretation.