Translation Philosophy 

​Unique Features

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Small capital letters: The SSB honors God and Jesus Christ by spelling names in small capital letters. The main reason for small capitals rather than large capitals is that small capitals are easier to read. Large capitals tend to be more difficult for readers and can sometimes imply yelling or an elevated tone. Therefore, the SSB uses lowercase capital letters to ensure reading is fluid while maintaining an elevated level of honor.

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Names of God: The desire to know God and to study every line of the Bible led to many hours of study. Through this research, we discovered that in Scripture, God is called by many names. The more we researched, the more critical these specific names for God became. To help the reader feel a connection to God, the SSB makes a point of explicitly identifying the names of God throughout the KJV text. For example, in Genesis 1, God (Elohim) is used. In Genesis 2, the Lord (Yahweh) and God (Elohim) are used. In Genesis 4, the Lord (Yahweh) is used. In Genesis 15, the Lord (Yahweh) and God (Adonai) are used. Reading through the Bible is powerful as is, and identifying the different names used in the original Scripture within the KJV elevates the reader’s understanding of God and the importance of his names in Scripture. Therefore, the SSB repeatedly conveys the original names in parentheses to ensure the reader comprehends the gravity of each sentence by the name used. The SSB employs this method of identification to enhance the presence of God in the text, transforming the reading into a personal mentoring experience with God, thereby differentiating the Bible from a typical book.   

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Red text: The red-letter edition of the Bible was first published in 1899. The red text is intended to acknowledge the blood Jesus Christ shed for our sins, as Jesus states in Luke 22:20, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” These red-letter editions are extremely valuable to readers seeking the exact words Jesus spoke. In our research, however, we could not find an equivalent highlighting of the words God spoke, which was concerning. We researched extensively and were disappointed to find that few to no Bible translations color-coded the words God spoke. We wanted to know God on a personal level and therefore wanted to know exactly what he said, to whom he said it, when he said it, why he said it, and how he said it. However, we could not find a translation that presented the text in this way. Therefore, since we believe in the Trinity and want to ensure we did not miss an opportunity to honor the Lord (Yahweh) our God (Elohim), we wanted to make sure His spoken Word was highlighted in red text as well. Therefore, the SSB highlights in red text the spoken Words of both God and Jesus Christ. The SSB understands that red-letter edition loyalists may find this offensive, but the SSB believes this red text format will only honor God more. Honoring God is the purpose of the SSB.

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Limited page count: The SSB focuses on the reader and, therefore, aims to ensure that the book's size is not too intimidating when just looking at it. Thus, the SSB uses limited page counts to ensure each book is inviting to pick up and read. Furthermore, the reader feels accomplished and confident in completing each book, motivating them to start reading the next book of the Bible. Again, everything about the SSB focuses on the reader.

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The 11-point font and single-column: The SSB uses this standard-sized font because it is the size we have used since we were young. Unlike the standard 7- or 8-point font used in a two-column Bible, the SSB uses the standard 11-point font in a single-column outline format. The standard font size makes reading easier. The thicker paper also allows the use of highlighters and pins without concern for ink bleeding onto the next page. Additionally, if you are like us, you have torn your fair share of Bible pages and now have a Bible with many taped pages. Thankfully, those days are gone with the SSB. 

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Contents section: Everyone understands that the contents section is a valuable way to identify chapters in lengthy books. However, the SSB uses the contents as a learning tool for readers. Not only does the SSB include chapter references, but it also includes topical section references. To further enhance learning, the SSB includes story sections. Bible stories often begin in the middle of a chapter and end in the middle of another chapter. Therefore, relying only on chapters and topics is insufficient for the SSB. The SSB incorporates the contents into the stories, even when a story begins in the middle of a chapter. For example, the stories of Cain and Abel, Noah, and Abraham all begin at the start of a chapter. However, the story of Jacob and Esau begins in the middle of Genesis 25, specifically at Genesis 25:21. To ensure readers can easily locate stories that start in the middle of a chapter, the SSB incorporates this element into its contents. Sunday school teachers and Bible study participants will love this feature.  

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Double-space: The SSB uses double spacing between sentences to help the reader focus on one sentence at a time. This allows the reader to focus on the importance of understanding what each sentence says and to write notes between sentences. Underlining, circling, and highlighting words and phrases are now as easy as they were with your high school or college textbooks—maybe even easier than that.

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Speaker identification and indented quotes: The SSB separates all quoted text and clearly identifies who is speaking and to whom. This format change makes reading the Bible as easy as reading a movie script. Standard Bible translations lack clarity in this area. Often, sentences use pronouns (he, him) to indicate the participants in the conversation. However, this quickly becomes confusing without the appropriate individual names. To ensure clarity about who is speaking and to whom, the SSB replaces pronouns with the individual’s name. This format ensures clarity and understanding while enhancing the flow of each sentence. For example, unlike the standard Bible text, which may read “He said to him,” the SSB clarifies this by replacing it with “Joseph said to Jacob.” This minor but powerful difference keeps the reader engaged in the story without interrupting the reading pace to clarify who said what to whom. Fluid reading is a key part of the SSB.

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Outline format and lists: When reading the standard Bible, especially the KJV, you will encounter many commas and semicolons within each sentence. Many Bible versions have updated these sentences to modern English. However, the SSB attempts to retain the KJV sentence structure as much as possible to preserve the narrative's power. Therefore, the SSB separates each element listed between commas and semicolons into bulleted lists. These lists help readers categorize each element discussed and provide a way to classify them. Ultimately, readers flow easily through these lists rather than getting lost in lengthy sentences. Using an outline format helps readers move through the material more quickly and learn more effectively. 

 

Genealogy charts: Genealogies in the Bible are often overlooked or simply too complex to comprehend. Not only are the names difficult to say, but many names are repeated. This challenge is compounded because of the two-column format and small text. Even the most confident Bible-reading Christians admit to passing over genealogies because reading them is so complicated. Therefore, the SSB has solved this problem. Understanding that readers learn in different ways and learn best when multiple presentation methods are used, the SSB not only lists genealogies in a text format that is easy to understand and comprehend but also adds genealogy charts after each text section that visually restates, in a graphical format, what was just read. This method ensures that the reader does not get lost in the translation but instead learns the genealogy, allowing them to better understand the Bible. Unbeknownst to many people, genealogies in the Bible are critical, and most of those listed in these genealogies are referenced in future chapters or books of the Bible. ​​​​​