Biography
Jay Patrick Green Sr. (December 1, 1918 – May 20, 2008) was an American Bible translator, publisher, and linguist whose life's work was devoted to helping English readers encounter the Scriptures in their original form. Working outside major denominational committees, he pursued his translation work independently through Sovereign Grace Publishers, which he founded in Lafayette, Indiana.
Early Life and Conversion
Green was converted to Christ in 1949 at age 30. In his own words, his past before conversion was "dissolute" and "in no way was I prepared to do Christian work." Yet being moved to read the Bible through and through, he was placed under the tutelage of a sound, godly preacher who introduced him to the Puritans, and was then accepted as a student-by-mail by A. W. Pink — all within two years of his conversion.
Publishing Ministry
Green's first effort was publishing a bi-monthly magazine reprinting Puritan works and Pink's writings by permission. In 1955, the Lord moved him to start reprinting Puritan works (including Prayer by Bunyan and Keeping the Heart by Flavel) when the U.S.A. had very little access to such literature.
Notable Achievement: In 1957, he suggested to Iain Murray that he do the same in England, which led to the establishment of the Banner of Truth Trust, aided by Dr. Lloyd-Jones. Between 1955 and 1973, Green published over 150 titles of Puritan and Reformed works.
Until 1959, he worked 40 hours per week selling typewriters for Remington while spending another 40+ hours on the fledgling publishing effort. His dedication was extraordinary — maintaining full-time secular employment while building a ministry that would influence countless believers.
Bible Translation Journey
Green's journey into Bible translation began with a simple question from his 4-year-old daughter. As he nightly read the King James Version to his children, she kept asking, "Daddy, what means that?" When she first began to read, she challenged him: "Daddy, if that is what it means, then why doesn't they put out the Bible that way?"
For his children, he began producing what would become the Modern King James Version.
Turning Point: In 1970, Christians began asking him why his Modern King James didn't correct certain errors in the KJV. This prompted him to work directly from the Greek and Hebrew texts. He went back to school to learn the biblical languages and engaged the efforts of Dr. Maurice Robinson, a world-renowned Biblical language scholar, to assist him.
Final Years
Throughout his career, Green emphasized that the Scriptures should be translated with exactness rather than ease. His work was accomplished largely through faith — pre-selling projects to raise funds, with some supporters waiting up to five years for Interlinear volumes.
There are advantages in working hand to mouth, so to speak, for it forces one to lean upon the breast of the Lord day by day.
Jay P. Green Sr. passed away on May 20, 2008, just two weeks after completing the KJ3 Bible. Upon its completion, he stated "it is finished" — echoing the words of Christ. His editions continue to be used by students, pastors, and linguists who desire a transparent window into the Hebrew and Greek text.
Major Works
The Interlinear Hebrew–Greek–English Bible (1977–1981)
The first-ever complete four-volume interlinear Bible, displaying Hebrew or Greek text above a literal English rendering. Built by pasting individual Hebrew and Greek lines on pages, with English words underneath and assembled sentences in the side margins. Over 4,000 sets were delivered.
The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (LITV)
An English Bible preserving original word order and grammar wherever possible, developed from the side margins of the Interlinear Bible. This translation represents meticulous attention to every grammatical form as God wrote them.
The KJ3 Literal Translation (King James III) (2008)
Completed just two weeks before his death in 2008, Green stated "it is finished" upon its completion. This translation represents the culmination of his life's work: rendering every Hebrew and Greek word with grammatical precision while restoring the divine name as Jehovah.
Pioneering Contributions
Green's innovations transformed Bible study tools:
- First Complete Interlinear Bible: Created the first-ever comprehensive interlinear Bible with Hebrew, Greek, and English
- Strong's Numbering System: First to add Strong's Concordance numbers to the Bible text, concordances, and lexicons
- Computer Bible Foundation: First to number all Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words in the Bible itself — the foundation for all modern computer Bibles
- Bilingual Lexicon: First lexicon containing both Hebrew and Greek entries with grammatical helps
- Enhanced Reference Works: Published the New Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, New Thayer's Greek Lexicon, and other reference works with Strong's numbers
Translation Philosophy
Translate what the text says — not what we wish it said.
Green believed every translator bears moral responsibility to preserve the words and structure of the inspired originals, even if the result challenges modern style. His approach was revolutionary in its commitment to absolute fidelity to the source texts.
Core Distinctives
- Literal Equivalence: Each Hebrew and Greek term rendered as consistently as English allows, favoring accuracy over smoothness. Green insisted on translating every word — never adding words not in the original, never deleting words that are present.
- Divine Name Restored: The Tetragrammaton (יהוה) translated as Jehovah instead of the traditional "LORD." Green noted that God's name was mistranslated more than 6,000 times in other versions, and that "every nation had their lords, but only Israel had Jehovah as their God."
- Grammatical Transparency: Preservation of verb tenses, articles, and connective particles to reflect the nuance of the source languages. The KJ3 is the first English version to strictly preserve grammatical forms as God wrote them — verbs as verbs, nouns as nouns, adjectives as adjectives.
- Doctrinal Neutrality: Avoiding interpretive paraphrase or denominational bias; letting readers draw conclusions from the literal wording itself.
Rejection of Dynamic Equivalence
Green was deeply concerned about modern translation methods that prioritize readability over accuracy. He noted that Dynamic Equivalence is essentially a "short commentary" where translators read a passage, perceive the meaning, and write in their own words what they believe the Bible is saying — with no effort to translate each word of the Hebrew or Greek.
Warning: Green warned that such methods place modern translators in the position of the Pharisees and Scribes — claiming only they may interpret what the Word of God truly states, then telling us in their own words. This reverses the work of Martin Luther and the Reformers who fought to bring God's Word directly into the hands of Christ's flock.
Grammatical Precision
The KJ3 represents unprecedented grammatical faithfulness:
- Double Verbs: Where two verbs appear (e.g., "dying you shall die"), other versions falsely add an adverb ("you shall surely die"), but the KJ3 translates both verbs literally
- Double Negatives: Properly rendered using both negatives (e.g., "will not still shine in you, not ever") rather than substituting phrases like "by all means" or "not at all"
- Plural vs. Singular: Consistently distinguishes "sons of Israel" from the false rendering "children of Israel" (occurring more than 500 times in some versions)
- No Added Adverbs: Hundreds of adverbs inserted by other versions are absent from the KJ3 because they don't exist in the original Hebrew or Greek
Following God's Commands
Green emphasized that God himself commanded faithful translation without addition or subtraction:
You shall not add to the Word which I command you, nor take from it, to keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you.
He believed the KJ3 is the first English version to contain all of God's words as He wrote them, with no words added and no words deleted. Where many modern versions smooth over difficult syntax, the KJ3 retains the underlying rhythm of the Hebrew and Greek text. This approach invites careful study, rewarding readers who wish to see Scripture in its unembellished form.
The purpose of a literal translation is not to make the Bible easier, but to make it more accurate.
If I glory, it is in the Cross of Christ that I glory, that He might be magnified.