What is a Greek interlinear Bible?
An interlinear Bible is a side-by-side presentation of the original language text and a word-for-word English translation. In a Greek interlinear New Testament, the Greek text appears in one column (or above each word), and directly beneath each Greek word is its literal English equivalent.
The result is something between a translation and a raw text — you can see exactly which English word corresponds to which Greek word, and what the Greek literally says beneath the translated version you're used to reading.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." — John 1:1 (BSB)
Greek interlinear shows: En archē ēn ho Logos, kai ho Logos ēn pros ton Theon, kai Theos ēn ho Logos.
Even without knowing Greek, you can immediately see that "Word" corresponds to Logos — a term with centuries of philosophical and theological weight that "Word" alone doesn't fully convey. That's the value of the interlinear.
What you actually need to know (and what you don't)
You do not need to: know the Greek alphabet, conjugate Greek verbs, parse Greek grammar, or take a seminary course. Useful but completely optional.
You do need to: know how to look up a Strong's number, understand what a lexicon is, and be willing to read slowly. That's it.
How to read an interlinear — the anatomy of a line
A standard interlinear entry for each word contains three to four pieces of information:
The Greek word (in Greek script)
Example: πιστεύων — You don't need to read this fluently. You just need to see it's there and that it corresponds to the next item.
The transliteration (Greek in English letters)
Example: pisteuōn — This lets you pronounce the word and helps you recognize the same root elsewhere. This is where most beginners should focus.
The literal English gloss
Example: "believing" — The most literal English equivalent of the Greek word in this position. Note that this is often more wooden than your regular translation.
The Strong's number
Example: G4100 — A reference number from James Strong's concordance. Look this up in any lexicon (online or print) to get the full definition, etymology, and usage across the entire New Testament.
The five most important Greek roots for New Testament study
You don't need to memorize a lexicon. But five root families carry an enormous percentage of New Testament theological content. Recognizing these — even just the transliterations — will transform your interlinear study:
Faith / trust / believe
Pistis (faith), pisteuō (to believe), pistos (faithful). The root of everything related to faith in the NT. Appears over 500 times.
Righteous / just / justify
Dikaiosynē (righteousness), dikaioō (to justify), dikaios (righteous). The root of justification — central to Paul, especially Romans and Galatians.
Love (sacrificial, unconditional)
Agapē (love), agapaō (to love). Distinct from philia (friendship love) and erōs (romantic love). When John writes "God is love," this is the word.
Spirit / wind / breath
Pneuma (spirit), pneumatikos (spiritual). Every reference to the Holy Spirit in the NT uses this root. Helps you track Spirit references even across translation differences.
Life (eternal, spiritual life)
Zōē (life), distinct from bios (physical life, biography). When Jesus says "I came that they may have life" — zōē. When John writes "eternal life" — zōē aiōnios. Every time.
How to use Ask the Word for original language study
Formation's Ask the Word feature was designed in part for exactly this kind of word study. When you encounter a key Greek term during your interlinear study, ask:
"What does the Greek word dikaiosynē mean in Romans 3:21 — and how have the Church Fathers interpreted it?"
Ask the Word surfaces what the orthodox scholarly tradition has concluded about that word in that passage — drawing from patristic commentaries, Reformation scholarship, and modern evangelical biblical theology. You get the depth of a seminary library without the tuition.
Where to find a free Greek interlinear
Several excellent free interlinear resources are available online. The most widely used:
- BibleHub.com — Click any passage, then select "Interlinear" in the navigation. Shows Greek with Strong's numbers inline. Free.
- Biblehub.com/interlinear — Full chapter interlinear view. One of the best free tools available.
- StudyLight.org — Interlinear with lexicon integration. Useful for looking up word usage across the NT.
For print resources, the best beginner interlinear is The Interlinear Bible by Jay P. Green — word-for-word, Strong's numbers included, covering both Testaments.
The key mindset shift: you're not learning Greek, you're reading a map
The most freeing thing you can understand about interlinear study is that you are not trying to learn Greek. You're using a map. The interlinear is a map that shows you what the Greek says — and you're using it to inform your study of the passage in your own language.
You don't need to learn how to drive in Greece to use a Greek road map. You just need to know how to read maps.
The same is true here. Read the interlinear the same way you'd read a commentary — as a reference tool that deepens your understanding of the English text you're already studying. That's the right scope, and that's what makes it sustainable for a lifetime of study.