KJ3 Translation — The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

Q: What is the KJ3 translation?

The KJ3 (also known as the LITV — Literal Translation of the Holy Bible) is a literal, word-for-word English translation of the Bible created by Jay P. Green Sr. It prioritizes accuracy to the original Hebrew and Greek texts over readability, making it ideal for serious Bible study.

Q: Who was Jay P. Green Sr.?

Jay P. Green Sr. (1918-2008) was a Bible scholar, publisher, and translator. He dedicated his life to making accurate Scripture accessible to English readers. He founded the Trinitarian Bible Society and produced several important Bible study resources, including the KJ3/LITV translation and the interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible.

Q: How is KJ3 different from the KJV?

While the KJV is a beautiful literary translation from 1611, the KJ3 is a modern literal translation that adheres more strictly to word-for-word accuracy. The KJ3 uses modern English, translates ἐκκλησία as 'assembly' (not 'church'), preserves Hebrew verb tenses more precisely, and updates archaic language while maintaining theological precision.

Q: Why does KJ3 use 'assembly' instead of 'church'?

The Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) literally means 'called-out assembly' or 'congregation.' It was a common Greek word for any gathering or assembly. The word 'church' carries centuries of institutional and theological baggage that wasn't present in the original text. KJ3 translates it literally as 'assembly' to preserve the original meaning.

Q: Is KJ3 the same as LITV?

Yes! KJ3 and LITV (Literal Translation of the Holy Bible) are the same translation. 'KJ3' refers to it being the third in a series of literal translations by Jay P. Green Sr. (following his Modern King James Version). 'LITV' is the official published name. Both names refer to the same word-for-word literal translation.

Word-for-Word Accuracy

The KJ3 (also known as the LITV — Literal Translation of the Holy Bible) is Jay P. Green Sr.'s masterwork: a rigorous, word-for-word English translation of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Unlike paraphrases or dynamic equivalents, the KJ3 preserves the structure, grammar, and vocabulary of the original languages.

Jay P. Green Sr. (1918-2008) devoted his life to making accurate Scripture accessible to English readers. He founded the Trinitarian Bible Society, produced interlinear Bibles, and championed literal translation as the only faithful approach to God's Word.

BiblicalTools.org uses the KJ3 exclusively because we believe serious Bible study demands literal accuracy. When you read the KJ3, you're reading as close to the original Hebrew and Greek as English allows.

What Makes KJ3 Different

Word-for-Word Literal

The KJ3 translates each Hebrew and Greek word into its English equivalent, preserving the original word order and grammar wherever possible. This allows you to see the structure of the original text, not an interpreter's paraphrase.

Assembly, Not Church

The Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) means "called-out assembly." The KJ3 translates it literally as "assembly" rather than the institutionally-loaded word "church," restoring the original meaning of a gathered people.

Preserved Verb Tenses

Hebrew verb forms (perfect, imperfect, participles) carry theological meaning. The KJ3 preserves these tenses more precisely than most translations, allowing you to see ongoing action, completed action, and future certainty.

Modern English

Unlike the KJV's archaic "thee," "thou," and "hath," the KJ3 uses clear modern English. You get the accuracy of a literal translation without wrestling with 17th-century grammar.

KJ3 vs Other Translations

See how literal translation changes understanding

Matthew 16:18 — KJ3

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."

Literal translation of ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) as "assembly" — a called-out gathering of believers.

Matthew 16:18 — KJV

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Uses "church," which carries institutional connotations not present in the Greek.

Genesis 1:1 — KJ3

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Hebrew perfect tense — completed action. Creation is a finished work.

Genesis 1:2 — KJ3

"And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was moving on the face of the waters."

Hebrew participle — ongoing action. The Spirit was continuously hovering, not a one-time event.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the KJ3 translation?

The KJ3 (also known as the LITV — Literal Translation of the Holy Bible) is a literal, word-for-word English translation of the Bible created by Jay P. Green Sr. It prioritizes accuracy to the original Hebrew and Greek texts over readability, making it ideal for serious Bible study.

Who was Jay P. Green Sr.?

Jay P. Green Sr. (1918-2008) was a Bible scholar, publisher, and translator. He dedicated his life to making accurate Scripture accessible to English readers. He founded the Trinitarian Bible Society and produced several important Bible study resources, including the KJ3/LITV translation and the interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible.

How is KJ3 different from the KJV?

While the KJV is a beautiful literary translation from 1611, the KJ3 is a modern literal translation that adheres more strictly to word-for-word accuracy. The KJ3 uses modern English, translates ἐκκλησία as "assembly" (not "church"), preserves Hebrew verb tenses more precisely, and updates archaic language while maintaining theological precision.

Why does KJ3 use "assembly" instead of "church"?

The Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) literally means "called-out assembly" or "congregation." It was a common Greek word for any gathering or assembly. The word "church" carries centuries of institutional and theological baggage that wasn't present in the original text. KJ3 translates it literally as "assembly" to preserve the original meaning.

Is KJ3 the same as LITV?

Yes! KJ3 and LITV (Literal Translation of the Holy Bible) are the same translation. "KJ3" refers to it being the third in a series of literal translations by Jay P. Green Sr. (following his Modern King James Version). "LITV" is the official published name. Both names refer to the same word-for-word literal translation.

The KJ3 Translation