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Feb 20, 2024 · In 1604, King James I of England commissioned a new English translation of the Bible, which was completed by a team of translators in 1611. This became the standard English Bible until the last years of the 19th century, when new English translations began to proliferate.
- Interlinear Bible. To be honest with you, the Interlinear Bible is hardly a Bible translation – however it’s definitely still worth mentioning! The reason it’s amazing is because it’s simply a direct word-for-word translation of the original text of the Bible (whether Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic) into English.
- New American Standard Bible (NASB) The New American Standard Bible (NASB) holds the reputation for being the “most accurate” Bible translation in English.
- Amplified Bible (AMP) The Amplified Bible (AMP) is a word-for-word translation of the Bible that was designed to “amplify” the text by using explanatory alternate readings to assist the reader in understanding what the Scripture really says.
- English Standard Version (ESV) The English Standard Version (ESV) is a very popular word-for-word Bible translation choice, and the one I find most people gravitate towards when wanting to buy a literal translation of the Bible.
- Why Are There So Many Bible Translations?
- Which Bible Translation Is Closest to The Original?
- What Are The 5 Most Accurate Bible Translations?
- CSB – Christian Standard Bible
- ESV – English Standard Version
- KJV/NKJV - King James Version/New King James Version
- NASB – New American Standard Bible
- NIV – New International Version
- Why Are These Five The Most accurate?
To understand this question, we can compare it to Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s English is often called Old English, but in reality, it is early Modern English. In spite of this, it is often difficult for modern readers like us to understand. To get an idea, let’s take a look at this couplet which appears in Act I of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”: ...
Based on what we now know of how difficult translation is, this is also a difficult question to answer, and it leads to comparing two different translation philosophies. The first is formal equivalence, also called literal or “word-for-word” equivalence. Formal equivalence strives to stay as close as possible to the actual wording of the original l...
There are other versions that are worthy of attention, but these five are universally considered great for several reasons. First, they are all translated by respected and diverse groups of theologians. Second, they all stay fairly close to one another in attempting to give the best meaning to what the Scripture has to tell us today. My top 5 (in a...
The Christian Standard Bible is a 21st century translation (2017) that is a revision of the HCSB (2004). According to the CSB preface, it seeks “optimal equivalence” in “a commitment to both ‘formal equivalence’ (which recognizes the importance of the form of the original language text—that is, the words used and the grammatical and rhetorical stru...
The English Standard Version is also a 21st century version (2001), and is based on a revision of the 1950’s RSV. According to the ESV preface, it is “an ‘essentially literal’ translation that seeks as far as possible to reproduce the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer.” The ESV does not contain the the...
The King James Version, originally known as the Authorized Version, dates to 1611, is a formal/literal version, and has had just a few language tweaks since written. This version continues to be the version most people consider “The Bible,” and it has stood the test of time. Although not the first translation into English, the KJV was the first to ...
The New American Standard Bible (as the name suggests) is a 1971 revision of the American Standard Bible of 1901. The ASV was so literal that it was difficult to read and understand, and the NASB continues to be among the most literal “word-for-word” versions available. According to the preface, the “four-fold aim” is that “1. These publications sh...
The New International Version is regularly atop the charts of most popular versions, and has been for several decades. It views itself as a balance between the dynamic “thought-for-thought” and formal “word-for-word” translations. The NIV translators statethat their goal is to “ensure that it continues to offer readers an experience that mirrors th...
These five translations are considered to be accurate and readable, and present a clear picture of who God is, how we can know Him, and what it means for our lives. They are easily accessible and come in excellent study Bible versions. I highly recommend owning a Study Bible, as no matter which version you are reading, notes and commentary are help...
Almost all scholars agree that the New American Standard Bible (NASB) gets the crown for being the most accurate English Bible translation. But does it matter? And why?
The earliest translation of the Hebrew Bible is the Old Greek (OG), the translation made in Alexandria, Egypt, for the use of the Greek-speaking Jewish community there. At first, just the Torah was translated, in the third century B.C.E.; the rest of the biblical books were translated later.
Apr 8, 2022 · Still confused about what might be the best Bible translation for you? Let expert Bible scholar Leonard J. Greenspoon guide you through the content, text, style, and religious orientation of different Bible versions.
6 days ago · Codex Sinaiticus, the earliest known manuscript of the Christian Bible, compiled in the 4th century ce. In 1844, 43 leaves of a 4th-century biblical codex (a collection of single pages bound together along one side) were discovered at St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai (hence the
