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The Languages of the Bible

Daniel 2:4

The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The OT is in Hebrew except for Daniel 2:4—7:28; Ezra 4:8—6:18; 7:12–26; and Jeremiah 10:11, which are Aramaic. The NT was written in Greek with a sprinkling of Aramaic words. Because Aramaic was the common language of the Mesopotamian Gentile nations, the Jews learned it during their 70 years of captivity in Babylon. The returning exiles brought it back to Israel, and it became their common language. Many scholars believe Jesus spoke Aramaic instead of Hebrew. Special note is made in Acts when Paul spoke to the Jews in Hebrew, their formal language (Acts 21:40; 22:2).

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