The PlowShare Mission
The PlowShare Mission exists to allow a deep study of the actual Greek and Hebrew Bible texts (1550 Stephanus and 1525 Ben Chayyim) using an online Interlinear Bible. It does not exist to provide comparisons amongs hundreds of different and varied translations as this is contrary to its purpose. Its purpose is to act as a stepping stone to the Greek and Hebrew texts allowing the student to dig deep into the Word itself, thus "PlowShare". The intent is to "bring the English speaking person to the Word of God, and not the Word of God to the English speaking person."
Therefore, the priority is to enable the student to begin and continue the study of the Word of God itself, using the online interlinear bible or the print editions.
Concept for concept, Context for context, Word for word.™ Yes, all three!
The English translation used is a reference translation. This is not a mere literal translation where the Greek word for woman "γυνή - gune" (Strong's G1135) is translated as "woman" at every occurance, but rather as "woman" or "wife" based on the concept, context, and the given word choice of the scripture writer. While using "woman" is an overly simplified example, examine instead the word for law in Greek "νόμος - nomos" (Strong's G3551). By concept and context, it is clarified as "Torah Law," "Oral law," or as "law" while preserving the word choice of the scripture writer. Also, two Greek words are expressed as the word "good" in English. They are clarified in this translation as "beneficially good" (G0018: ἀγαθός - agathos) and "morally good" (G2570: καλός - kalos). The same occurs the English word "love," which is now clarified as "to love" (G0025: ἀγαπάω - agapao) and as "To be a friend to / to be fond of / to have affection for" (G5368: φιλέω phileo) with each shade of meaning being based on context and proper English expression.
The semantics of the words, with their shades and strengths of meaning, are preserved and expressed while bridging the cultural gaps of which many English speakers are unaware.
Many of the word choices used in the English translations today are derived from the historical word choices that were used to translate the Latin Vulgate into English from before the 1500s. For most words choices, translators have chosen to use one English word instead of combining two or more English words to fully convey a single Greek word with its various shades and strengths of meaning. With the cost of paper and scribes at a premium, it was necessary to use efficient one-word approximations even though it dilluted or diminished the fullness of a passage.
Having started in 2004, this is roughly a 25 year project to translate directly from the Greek and Hebrew into English using words that are current and stable in their meanings. This helps the reader to better see and understand how our ancient forbears actually discussed the precepts, truths, and Redemption which are presented in Scripture. Truth does not change, nor is subject to change by its very nature. However, it can be obscured by lack of attention on the part of reader or translator, or it can be clarified by the attentive care of both.
Once these two foundational texts are fully translated and made available, a secondary goal that is being considered is to duplicate this process for a couple of the other reputable and widely used Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts (in order to determine the level of conceptual and structural agreement among the texts - in order to set that matter to rest).