Greek-English Translation
Read the New Testament with a unique, word-linked Greek-English translation.
Study the Greek New Testament
Greek-English Study Bible
No Greek Required!
- Explore the meaning of every Greek word
- See how meaning changes with context
- Search Scripture by meaning, not just words
Precise Meaning Search
Search Scripture by meanings, not just by words.
Trusted Lexicon
Unlock the meaning of words through the Greek-English Lexicon based on Semantic Domains.
Book Outline and Background
A clear outline and background for every book.
About ScriptureDirect
A First-of-Its-Kind Way to Study Scripture
ScriptureDirect combines decades of biblical scholarship, language research and software development in one online study environment. Developed under the leadership of Dr Bennie Wolvaardt, Founding President of Veritas College International (VCI), it has been trusted on mobile and desktop platforms for years and is now available on the web.
At its heart is a unique Greek-English interlinear translation, developed specifically for this project by Professor Johannes Louw and Dr Bennie Wolvaardt. Every Greek word is matched with its English equivalent, bridging the divide between the two languages and giving you direct access to the Greek text without first needing to learn Greek.
Every Greek and English word is linked to its possible meanings in the groundbreaking Louw–Nida Greek-English Lexicon, together with the meaning selected for its particular context. ScriptureDirect connects these lexical and semantic insights directly to the biblical text, helping you move beyond simple definitions to understand how meaning is shaped by context.
ScriptureDirect is offered free of charge. It was created by Dr Bennie Wolvaardt, who also founded Veritas College International — if you've found it valuable, we invite you to learn about and consider supporting the Veritas ministry.
The team
The People Behind ScriptureDirect
ScriptureDirect is the work of a small team who paired biblical-language scholarship with hands-on software development to bring this study tool to life.
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Professor Johannes P. Louw
Lead Translator
Professor Louw was one of the most prominent NT Greek scholars of the 20th century and the editor (with Dr Eugene Nida) of the Greek-English Lexicon of Semantic Domains, published by the United Bible Societies. This has become a standard reference work. He devoted his retirement to the ScriptureDirect interlinear translation as his final legacy, before his death in 2011.
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Dr Bennie Wolvaardt
Creator & Development Director
Co-translator & EditorBennie is the founding President of Veritas College International. He pioneered the Veritas model of Competency-Based Theological Education (CBTE), which provides a structured, practical method of hermeneutics. This educational model equips students with tools for exegesis and semantic discourse analysis, enabling them to interpret Scripture for themselves and apply it in ministry relevant to their own context.
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Mr Jan Holtzhausen
Original Software Developer
Continuing Technical AdviserJan joined Bennie and Professor Louw in the late 1990s as the programmer behind the interactive translation software and the original PC and Mac applications. He now serves full-time as Veritas College International's IT Director, while remaining hands-on with every new ScriptureDirect development. He holds a BSc in Computer Science and an Honours degree in Management of Technology.
What you'll gain
Study in Greater Depth
Whether you're preparing sermons, teaching, studying Greek, or seeking a richer devotional experience, ScriptureDirect helps you engage Scripture with greater clarity, confidence and depth.
- Unlock the meaning of biblical words through the semantic framework of the lexicon
- Access rich lexical and contextual notes linked directly to the Greek New Testament
- Strengthen your preaching, teaching and personal Bible study
- Make more informed exegetical and interpretive decisions
- Discover connections and insights often missed in translation
- Use advanced scholarly resources in an intuitive, accessible study environment
A connected ministry
Discover Veritas College International
ScriptureDirect is completely free to use. If you've found it valuable, we invite you to learn about the Veritas ministry — which depends almost entirely on donations — and consider supporting the work of Veritas.
ScriptureDirect was created by Dr Bennie Wolvaardt. This project is fully funded by him and his wife, Moira. They also founded Veritas College International in 1992. ScriptureDirect and Veritas remain independently run, but from the start ScriptureDirect's goal was to empower others to engage Scripture with greater depth and meaning — the same calling behind Veritas' mission of equipping churches worldwide to interpret, live and share the biblical message.
Where to read
The Study Bible Is Now on the Web
ScriptureDirect began years ago as a desktop program, then a mobile app. It has now grown into a full study Bible, available directly in your browser — no installation or licence key required.
ScriptureDirect Study Bible
Start reading immediately in your browser, on any device.
Continue on our original mobile and desktop apps
Before moving to the web, ScriptureDirect was released as mobile and desktop apps. These earlier versions remain available for existing users, and offer one advantage the Study Bible doesn't: they work fully offline, without an internet connection.
Back to the Source
Keys to Interpreting the Bible
This animated presentation explains foundational principles for interpreting the biblical text responsibly. Some visual references to the PC app are dated, but the principles of interpretation remain valuable.
Questions answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a question to reveal the answer.
I have no theological training. Will I benefit from ScriptureDirect?
Absolutely. ScriptureDirect enables any user, with or without knowledge of Greek, to interact directly with the Greek New Testament text.
Which translation is used for the English text?
A new interlinear translation was created specifically for ScriptureDirect. Professor Johannes Louw led the translation and was assisted by Dr Bennie Wolvaardt.
Professor Louw was co-editor with Dr Eugene Nida of the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, published by the United Bible Societies.
Which Greek text does ScriptureDirect use?
ScriptureDirect follows its own conventions for punctuation, casing and formatting so readers can engage with the source text as directly as possible.
- Punctuation: generally omitted, except for question marks where needed.
- Casing: capitals are used for proper names.
- Formatting: the text is divided into lines and coherent sections to support analysis.
- Greek wording: broadly comparable with Nestle-Aland 26/27 and UBS 3/4.
Will an Old Testament interlinear be added?
The New Testament interlinear is a completely new translation commissioned for ScriptureDirect. Producing an equivalent Old Testament translation would also be a very large project, and there are currently no plans to undertake it.
What do numbers such as 41.38 mean?
They identify entries in the Louw–Nida Greek-English Lexicon. The number before the decimal identifies one of 93 semantic domains; the number after it identifies the entry within that domain.
For example, world systems (41.38) is entry 38 in semantic domain 41, “Behaviour and Related States.”
Is ScriptureDirect available in other languages?
The user interface is currently only available in English.
Is ScriptureDirect available for PC or Mac?
The original desktop version is available free by request. It includes additional analysis and meaning-search facilities, but it is no longer actively developed and may have compatibility issues on newer Apple Mac computers. Technical support is not provided.
Is ScriptureDirect really free? How can I support this work?
ScriptureDirect was created by Dr Bennie Wolvaardt. This project is fully funded by him and his wife, Moira. They also founded Veritas College International in 1992. ScriptureDirect and Veritas remain independently run, but from the start ScriptureDirect's goal was to empower others to engage Scripture with greater depth and meaning — the same calling behind Veritas' mission of equipping churches worldwide to interpret, live and share the biblical message. ScriptureDirect is completely free to use. If you've found it valuable, we invite you to learn about the Veritas ministry — which depends almost entirely on donations — and consider supporting the work of Veritas.
Get in touch
Contact ScriptureDirect
Please check the FAQ first. For other questions, send us a message using this form.
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