Simplified Koine Greek texts
We create simplified versions of Greek texts for you!
A text can be simplified according to one or more parameters. Potential parameters include:
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Vocabulary frequency
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Verb restrictions (present only, present/aorist only, etc.)
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Syntactic restrictions (no participles, etc.)
Why Simplify a text?
The primary reason for creating simplified versions of texts is to create reading material that can be read with high comprehension and at a speed that approaches the normal reading of texts in any language.
To begin to process Greek on its own terms, one needs to be able to read the language rather than translate the language.
Having many different texts that are written at the same basic level and that use the same range of vocabulary is the most effective textual way to improve your reading ability. I say textual way, because the best overall way to improve one’s reading ability is to gain a functional fluency in the language by using it in oral communication.
An Example: Matthew 2:13-15
Level 1: ~300 most frequent words, present tense only
13 καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀπέρχονται. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται τῷ Ἰωσὴφ καὶ λέγει· λάβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐλθέ εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ μένε ἐκεῖ ἕως λέγω σοι· ὅτι Ἡρῴδης θέλει ἀποκτείνειν τὸ παιδίον.
14 ὁ δὲ Ἰωσὴφ ἐγείρεται καὶ λαμβάνει τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπέρχεται εἰς Αἴγυπτον
15 καὶ μένει ἐκεῖ ἕως ὁ Ἡρῴδης ἀποθνῄσκει· τοῦτο ἐστιν κατὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ προφήτου· ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καλῶ τὸν υἱόν μου.
Level 2: 500 most frequent words, present/aorist only
13 οἱ δὲ μάγοι ἀπῆλθον. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐφάνη κατ' ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ καὶ εἶπεν·
ἐγέρθητι καὶ παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ μένε ἐκεῖ ἕως εἴπω σοι· Ἡρῴδης γὰρ μέλλει ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον ἵνα ἀπολέσῃ αὐτό.
14 ὁ δὲ ἠγέρθη καὶ παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον
15 καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως Ἡρῴδης ἀπέθανεν· οὕτως ἐπληρώθη ὃ ὁ κύριος εἶπεν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου· ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου.
Level 3: Original Text (from the SBLGNT)
13 Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατʼ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ λέγων· Ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι· μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό.
14 ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον
15 καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρῴδου· ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· Ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου.
Comparison Chart
Explanation of Adjustments
We will walk through the adjustments made in the first 3 verses to illustrate the different ways that a text can be simplified
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Text simplifications start at $20. The price varies on whether you want 2 or 3 levels and on what kind of aspects you would like simplified. Fill out the form below to get a quote on the simplification that you're looking for and I will get back with you quickly.