By: Joe Hawkins, Prophecy Recon

The Rise of a “Trendy” Bible

Every few years, someone releases a new Bible version that claims to “make Scripture more accessible.” Sometimes these efforts produce legitimate translations based on the Hebrew and Greek, like the NASB, NIV, or CSB, which aim for accuracy while maintaining readability. Other times, they result in paraphrases like The Message or The Living Bible—horrible translations and not reliable for study.

But now we’ve entered a new frontier. The Gen Z Bible has emerged, a so-called “translation” that takes the King James Bible and rephrases it with Gen Z slang. Its creators claim they are trying to connect with a younger generation. In reality, they’ve taken the holy, inspired Word of God and reduced it to little more than a TikTok meme.

Scripture as Slang

Consider how the Gen Z Bible opens the story of creation. Genesis 1:1-4 in the NKJV reads:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness."

But in the Gen Z Bible, this becomes:

“In the very start, God made the sky and the earth. So basically, at first, the earth was a hot mess. It didn't have any structure or anything, just emptiness and darkness all around. But then, the Spirit of God started doing its thing, cruising over the oceans. Then God was like, 'Yo, let there be light,' and boom, there was light. And God was like, 'Yo, this light is lit!' So, God separated the light from the darkness. Like, He made sure they don't mix, you know?"

The reverent majesty of God bringing order out of chaos is replaced with a phrase you’d expect to see in celebrity gossip.

Take John 1:1, one of the most profound theological statements in all of Scripture:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The Gen Z Bible renders it as:

“So like, when everything first started, there was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was actually God!”

This casual “so like” introduction drains the verse of its eternal weight, turning a cornerstone of Christian doctrine into a chatty aside.

More Examples of the Absurd

The Gen Z Bible continues in this fashion, scattering slang into sacred passages.

Leviticus 18:22-23

“Don't hook up with guys if you're a guy, it's totally not cool. It's considered like a major no-no. Don't hook up with animals, that's nasty. And no girl should be getting freaky with animals either. It's just all messed up, man."

Job 1:6-7

“So, like, one day the squad of heaven's fam came to chill with the big man upstairs, and even Satan showed up with them. (BTW, Satan means like 'the adversary' and he was, you know, hanging out right there in the mix.) And God was like, 'Yo Satan, where you been at?' And Satan was like, 'Bruh, I've been roaming the earth, just taking my casual strolls and stuff.'"

Matthew 5:1

“So, like, Jesus looked out and saw a bunch of people, and he was like, ‘Okay, time to get my zen on.’”

Matthew 6:33

“Yo, like, priorities, fam. Make seeking God's kingdom and doing what's right your main focus, and trust me, all the blessings will come your way. No cap."

Romans 8:28

“And, like, we totally know that everything, like, totally comes together for the best for those who, you know, love God and are like, totally meant to fulfill His purpose and all."

Titus 2:13

“Searching for that lit AF hope, and the epic arrival of the legendary God and our Savior Jesus Christ."

Matthew 27:46-52

“At around 3pm, Jesus shouted out loudly, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?' Yo, when certain peeps over there heard that, they were like, 'This dude is calling for Elias!' And like, immediately one of them was like, 'OMG gotta help!' So they grabbed a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to like, drink. The others were like, 'Chill, let's wait and see if Elias swoops in to rescue him.' Bruh, Jesus, like, shouted out once more in a mega loud voice, then straight up gave up his spirit. Yo, check it out, the chill temple curtain got split in two, from the top all the way to the bottom. Earth started shaking, rocks were like, 'Hiyah!' And like, dude, the graves were like, totally opened, and a bunch of dead saints like woke up and stuff, you know?"

I could go on and on, but you get the point. Go check it out for yourself. Ridiculous.

A Dangerous Pattern

At first glance, some may dismiss the Gen Z Bible as harmless—a quirky way to “reach the youth.” But make no mistake: this is not harmless. Scripture repeatedly warns us against tampering with God’s Word:

• “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it…” (Deut. 4:2)

• “Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.” (Prov. 30:6)

• “If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18)

The Gen Z Bible does all three. It adds slang, removes solemnity, and alters meaning. By doing so, it confuses readers about what God actually said.

Why This Matters

The Bible is not just another book. It is not a piece of literature to be updated with the latest slang. It is the living and active Word of God (Heb. 4:12), inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16), sharper than any two-edged sword.

To reduce it to phrases like “hot mess,” “get my zen on,” or “let the Holy Spirit cook” is not just silly—it is dangerous. It conditions people, especially young readers, to treat Scripture casually, as though God’s Word were no different than a social media caption.

And that is precisely the problem. When we strip away reverence, we strip away authority. If the Bible is treated as slang, it no longer commands obedience. It becomes optional entertainment.

The Bigger Picture

The Gen Z Bible is more than a bad paraphrase. It’s a symptom of a culture that trivializes everything, even the sacred. Nothing is too holy to escape parody, slang, or meme culture.

But the Bible isn’t just content to be rebranded. It is God’s revelation of Himself, His Son, and His plan of redemption. To mock it—even unintentionally—is to invite judgment.

Paul warned Timothy that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires” (2 Tim. 4:3). The Gen Z Bible is a textbook case of “tickled ears”—Scripture repackaged as slang for entertainment value.

Conclusion: Hold Fast to the True Word

We live in a day of deception and dilution. Satan doesn’t have to burn Bibles; he just has to twist them. And the Gen Z Bible shows how easy it is to turn the sacred into silliness.

Instead of embracing gimmicks, Christians must hold fast to the truth. God’s Word is eternal (Isa. 40:8). It doesn’t need slang to stay relevant. It doesn’t need AI to sound trendy. It needs only to be read, believed, and obeyed.

The Gen Z Bible may amuse some, but it should alarm all. If we allow the Word of God to be reduced to memes and catchphrases, we’ve lost sight of its authority and holiness.

As watchmen on the wall, our charge is clear: guard the Word. Defend its integrity. Refuse to let the sacred be mocked.

Because in the end, Scripture is not “lit.” It is light. “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).

SOURCE: Gen Z Bible

Stay Awake. Keep Watch.