Who Is This For?
Best For:
Bible translation projects, missionaries, organizations needing unrestricted Bible content.
Not Ideal For:
Those wanting polished English prose for regular reading or traditional church use.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the ULB
- Open license for unrestricted use
- Designed for translation projects
- Consistent literal approach
- Modern English
- Free supporting resources
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Optimized for translators not general readers
- Less literary polish
- Limited recognition outside translation circles
- Specialized purpose
- Not widely adopted for personal reading
Overview
The Unlocked Literal Bible is an open-license literal translation designed specifically to serve as a base text for translation into other languages. Produced by unfoldingWord, it's part of a larger project to provide unrestricted biblical resources for global translation work.
Want to read the ULB Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the ULB
- Open Creative Commons license
- Designed as base text for translation
- Works with Unlocked Dynamic Bible
- Part of unfoldingWord resources
- Unrestricted use and modification
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Unlocked Literal Bible?
The Unlocked Literal Bible is an open-license literal translation designed specifically to serve as a base text for translation into other languages. Produced by unfoldingWord, it's part of a larger project to provide unrestricted biblical resources for global translation work.
How can I read the ULB Bible online?
You can read and search the Unlocked Literal Bible online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the ULB translation.
When was the ULB Bible published?
The Unlocked Literal Bible was first published in 2017. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 9th Grade reading level.
Who should use the ULB Bible?
Bible translation projects, missionaries, organizations needing unrestricted Bible content.
How does the ULB compare to other Bible translations?
The Unlocked Literal Bible (ULB) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the ULB Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the ULB Translation
The unfoldingWord organization created the Unlocked Literal Bible as part of their mission to provide open-license biblical resources for Bible translation. Unlike copyrighted translations that restrict derivative works, the ULB uses a Creative Commons license allowing anyone to translate, modify, and redistribute it.
The ULB is designed to work alongside the Unlocked Dynamic Bible (UDB), providing both a literal reference text and a meaning-based version for translators to consult.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
unfoldingWord
Publishing organization
Organization dedicated to providing open-license biblical content to accelerate Bible translation into every language.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Based on standard critical texts for both Old and New Testaments.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"The ULT increases the translator's understanding of the lexical and grammatical composition of the underlying text by adhering closely to the word order and structure of the originals."
— unfoldingWord, Gateway Language Manual (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
The WEB generally uses a Byzantine text type for the Greek, but the ULT uses UBS 4 text type—which may create inconsistencies when comparing with other translations.
— Bible Support Forum, ULT & UST Discussion (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 1 Major Revisions and Updates
- 2017 Initial release as part of unfoldingWord resources.
Compare Translations
See how the ULB compares to other English Bible translations.
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