Today we are announcing the beta release of NLTinterlinear.com, a new website dedicated to helping people study the Bible in the original languages alongside the NLT text.

The website is based on a detailed morphological matchup between the Greek New Testament and the NLT text. The matchup is produced by James Swanson, an author and editor who has devoted his career to writing and editing concordances, and lexicography based on semantic domains. This matchup allows us to produce an interlinear that includes an exhaustive Greek-English Concordance of the New Testament.

One of the benefits of using the NLT for this kind of study is that the NLT translates the meaning of each Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic word in context. So, for instance, in the above screenshot of the concordance for χαρις ("grace, favor"), the NLT text on the right highlights all of the different ways that this word is translated into English. This enables us to see very easily the full range of meanings that is possible for a given Greek word, a benefit that is not available when using more "woodenly literal" translations.

I am personally very excited about this release. As one of the men who attends our Wednesday evening Bible study said, "This tool will help average people like me to understand the language of the Bible so much better." And as Jim Swanson said to me in an email, "The site is just beautiful. I could go on and on about the various features. . . . Thanks for making my vision and long work come to harvest time."

So visit the site (NLTinterlinear.com), sign up for free, and take it for a spin. And then please let me know your thoughts and suggestions here in the comments or using the on-site feedback link.