Our Story
It all started with Psalm 29
about the Thunder of God
I was listening to the Bible Project Podcast when they explained something called wordplay - the poetic use of a word with multiple meanings. Understanding this single poetic device unlocked the poem for me in a way I had never experienced before.
Meet Toby
Founder at BiblePoetry
Hi, my name is Toby - founder of BiblePoetry. I was born in Hong Kong, lived in Thailand, and grew up in Vancouver, Canada. For years I explored the world searching for my own definition of happiness, running from God and falling into self-destructive paths. When Jesus saved me from my pit, I knew that I owed him all my life - He is the Son of God, who died for my sins that I might live. Soon after, I discovered my true purpose: to explore His scripture, search its mysteries, and fall on my knees beholding His wonderful beauty.
I began my career as an ICU nurse, but gradually stepped away to employ myself towards this vision - that Christians around the world would come to explore the poetic beauty of the Hebrew Scriptures for themselves. I have no formal seminary training (yet). I was shaped by mentors who held a high view of scripture. They taught me how to exegete the Bible in English, then in Hebrew. My heart’s deepest motivation is that God’s Poetry is a masterpiece, and it’s craftsmanship deserves to be seen, studied, and admired by believers around the world.
וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלּוֹ אֹמֵר כָּבוֹד
“And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” - Psalm 29:9
Our Journey into Bible Poetry
-
![]()
2018
Exploring Bible Poetry for myself
Growing up in church, I had never heard the words Bible and Poetry together. After experiencing Psalm 29, I had a great thirst to experience more of the poetic impact from scripture for myself. So I set out on a journey to learn the language and to read the Bible again in Hebrew.
-
![People seated at a wooden table during a meeting, taking notes, with notebooks and pens, in bright natural light.]()
2020
Sharing the wonderful discoveries
When you experience something so beautiful, it is hard to keep it to yourself. What began as sharing poetic gems among close friends unexpectedly grew from small groups, to open Zoom sessions, and eventually to multiple local churches in Vancouver, BC.
-
![Hikers walking along a mountain trail in a lush green landscape with rolling hills and ridges under a partly cloudy sky.]()
2022
Building a vision and a web app
Bible Poetry seems to be a world sparse with footprints and inaccessible without the Hebrew language, yet it is brimming with color and richness. I had a vision where everyone could explore Bible Poetry, without learning Hebrew. That’s why we built our Bible study Web App!
-
![Nighttime photo of a house with lit window, chimney emitting smoke, and bare trees in background, under a starry sky.]()
2023
Officially a Not-For-Profit organization
One by one, people joined into the vision. What started as a passion project became formal, finding an official home with a small team. On Saturday mornings, we started gathering over coffee and meals, working side by side on the Sela Project together.
-
![Silhouette of a person sitting on rocks during sunset with a large yellow icon of a hammer and a monument in the center.]()
2025
Sela Web App officially launched
After two years of hard work and many sweet memories, what once felt like just an idea became a working tool. In my heart, there is a quiet, sweet disbelief. It feels like one small step closer to the hope that people might venture out and discover for themselves the poetic beauty of God’s word.
-
![2026-Present]()
Present
Our work is not done!
Our work is not done. Sela began with basic features, but there are more tools we hope to build. Engaging the Hebrew text carries real complexities and challenges. We are excited to put more poetic gems in the spotlight, inspiring a culture of studying and admiring them together - God’s Word is a masterpiece.
