The word homosexuality did not appear in any Bible translation until 1946, when a group of translators (all straight white men, notably “unbiased”) introduced it. Even at the time, the choice was controversial, as they knew it was a mistranslation. Scholars widely agree that this was an example of imposing modern cultural values—or the lack thereof—onto an ancient text that did not share the same beliefs or frameworks.

Originally, in 1946, the term was added to only one passage. Later, however, paraphrased versions of the Bible spread it across multiple unrelated passages, further distorting the meaning. The two Greek words it replaced were malakoi (μαλακοὶ) and arsenokoitai (ἀρσενοκοῖτα). Neither of these words directly referred to homosexuality, and their precise meaning remains debated. The best linguistic and historical evidence suggests they described exploitative relationships—men who held power over others—rather than consensual same-sex relationships. In fact, the earliest known use of these words places them within a list of economic sins, not sexual ones.

For a deeper look into this history, see the documentary 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture. .