THB
The Translator's Hebrew Bible (THB) is an interactive digital hexapla that presents biblical texts across six major traditions in parallel columns with word-level morphological analysis. This platform enables scholars, translators, and students to compare textual variants and linguistic features across the Hebrew Masoretic Text, Greek Septuagint, Latin Vulgate, Samaritan Pentateuch, English translations, and Qumran manuscripts.
Built for the digital age, THB combines traditional textual criticism methodologies with modern web technologies to create an accessible, comprehensive tool for biblical scholarship that runs entirely in the browser without requiring specialized software or subscriptions.
Core Features
Six-Column Comparison
Side-by-side viewing of Hebrew (MT), Greek (LXX), Latin (Vulgate), Samaritan (SP), English (ESV), and Qumran (DSS) texts.
Interactive Morphology
Hover over any word to see lemma, morphological parsing, and linguistic analysis in a dedicated panel.
Customizable Layout
Drag columns to reorder, adjust font sizes independently, and toggle visibility of traditions as needed.
Persistent Settings
Your column preferences, font sizes, and layout choices are saved automatically across sessions.
Responsive Design
Optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices with adaptive column layouts for any screen size.
No Dependencies
Runs entirely in the browser with no plugins, downloads, or server-side processing required.
Textual Foundations
Hebrew (Masoretic Text): Based on the Leningrad Codex as digitized by the Westminster Hebrew Morphology database, representing the standard Hebrew text used in modern biblical scholarship.
Greek (Septuagint): Derived from critical editions of the LXX, providing access to the ancient Greek translation that served as the Old Testament for early Christianity.
Latin (Vulgate): Jerome's influential Latin translation that dominated Western Christianity for over a millennium, essential for understanding medieval and Renaissance biblical interpretation.
Samaritan Pentateuch: The Hebrew text preserved by the Samaritan community, offering crucial textual variants and insights into pre-Masoretic Hebrew traditions.
English (ESV): A contemporary English translation that balances accuracy with readability, serving as a reference point for modern biblical interpretation.
Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls): Hebrew fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls, representing some of the oldest biblical manuscripts and providing unparalleled insight into textual development.
Technical Innovation
THB represents a new approach to digital biblical scholarship that prioritizes accessibility and sustainability. Rather than requiring expensive software packages or institutional subscriptions, the platform delivers professional-grade textual criticism tools through standard web technologies.
The hexapla format, pioneered by Origen in the 3rd century CE, has been reimagined for the digital age with interactive features that enhance rather than replace traditional scholarly methods. Word-level hover analysis, customizable layouts, and real-time comparison capabilities extend the hexapla concept beyond what was possible in print.
All data processing occurs client-side, ensuring privacy while eliminating server costs that have limited the sustainability of previous digital humanities projects. The platform can be hosted anywhere and accessed through any modern browser, creating a truly distributed and resilient resource.
Scholarly Applications
THB serves multiple academic and practical purposes in biblical scholarship:
- Textual Criticism: Compare variants across traditions to trace textual development and identify scribal changes
- Translation Work: Examine how different versions handle difficult passages and theological concepts
- Linguistic Analysis: Study morphological patterns and lexical choices across Hebrew, Greek, and Latin
- Historical Research: Investigate how textual differences reflect different religious communities and historical periods
- Pedagogical Use: Teach textual criticism and biblical languages through interactive comparison
Development Philosophy
THB was designed with three core principles: accessibility, sustainability, and scholarly rigor. Too many digital humanities projects have failed due to technical complexity, ongoing costs, or academic inaccessibility. THB addresses these challenges through:
Open Access: No subscriptions, accounts, or institutional access required. The platform is freely available to anyone with a web browser.
Technical Simplicity: Built with standard web technologies that ensure long-term compatibility and easy maintenance.
Scholarly Standards: Based on established critical editions and morphological databases used in academic biblical scholarship.
Future Development
The platform will continue to evolve based on user feedback and scholarly needs. Planned enhancements include expanded manuscript coverage, additional linguistic features, and enhanced export capabilities for research workflows.
THB represents a commitment to making the tools of biblical scholarship accessible to scholars, students, and interested readers worldwide, regardless of institutional affiliation or economic resources.