Y’all Version Distinctives
The Name of God (YHWH)
YALL renders the divine name of God as YHWH, representing the four consonants of the Hebrew word (יהוה). In addition, YALL renders pronouns for God with small caps (Hᴇ, ʜᴇ, ʜɪᴍ, ʜɪꜱ) and pronouns for Jesus with masculine pronouns (he, him, his).
The People of God (y’all)
YALL uses “you” and “y’all” to represent the distinction between singular and plural forms in Hebrew and Greek. Most languages can preserve this clarity, but modern English cannot indicate when a passage addresses an individual or a community, which allows for an individualistic reading of scripture.
The Word of God
YALL translates Greek and Hebrew using a balance of a dynamic, readable English word order with a word-for-word approach that works to highlight patterns in the underlying vocabulary as much as possible.
Examples
So God created humankind in ʜɪꜱ own image. In the image of God ʜᴇ created them; male and female ʜᴇ created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Y’all are to be fruitful and multiply. Y’all are to fill the earth and subdue it. Y’all are to have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the land. (Gen 1:26–27 YALL)
“May YHWH show y’all the same kindness that y’all have shown to your dead husbands and to me.” (Ruth 1:8 YALL)
The voice of one who calls out, “Y’all prepare the way of YHWH in the wilderness! Y’all make a straight highway in the desert for our God. (Isaiah 40:3 YALL)
For I know the plans I have for y’all,” declares YHWH, “plans for prosperity not disaster, to give y’all hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 YALL)
“Therefore, y’all go and make disciples of all ethnic groups, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19 YALL)
Don’t y’all know that y’all are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in y’all? (1 Cor 3:16 YALL)
Y’all pay attention, my beloved siblings, every human should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. (James 1:19 YALL)
But y’all are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy ethnic group, a people of God’s own possession, that y’all may proclaim the virtues of ʜɪᴍ who called y’all out of darkness into ʜɪꜱ marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 YALL)
Usage
Endorsements
Ted A. Campbell
Albert C. Outler Professor of Wesley Studies and Church History
Southern Methodist University | Perkins School of Theology
English translations of the Bible are seriously limited by the lack of a second-personal plural pronoun—something the biblical languages have and English had at one time (“ye”) but that has not been common for a century or more. The second-personal plural pronoun “y’all” is not used just by ignorant Southern country bumpkins: it’s used by scholars and computer coders and business executives and by Black Americans throughout the US. It’s about time we had the more accurate English translation of the holy scriptures that the Y’all Bible affords. Thank you!
Translation Status
YALL began from the American Standard Version (ASV) with some global changes and punctuation from the World English Bible (WEB). 55.6% of OT verses in YALL differ from the WEB, and 96.4% differ in the NT.
The Greek New Testament has progressed into a unique translation following the guidelines above, especially regarding second person plurals. The Hebrew Old Testament has has a smaller percentage of edits and some books have been more thoroughly edited.