Anybody who has learned a foreign language knows there are certain idioms in each language. The information provided in this post is based on careful research of studies done by scholars and theologians. So, I want to give some clarity, explanation, and recommendations on Bible translations. Today, various versions are available, including the King James Version, the New International Version (NIV), the Revised Standard Version (RSV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the English Standard Version (ESV). So, lets jump in and see which are the best Bible versions and which one is best for you. The Contemporary English Version was more focused on how English was read and heard. The KJV was originally published in 1611 and revised in 1769. In short, closest natural equivalence concentrates on accurately translating the meaning of the original languages into . This can be very useful when used with a more literal translation to help you see Scripture in a different light. Related Content: How Many Versions of the Bible are There? It came out in 1611, and since then its editions changed a lot. A good comparison can be made by comparing a well-known The English language is written first with interlinear versions, while the Greek or Hebrew text is underneath. The long-established . Lets take a look at the spectrum where some of the most popular English versions fall. The goal of Bible translations is to reproduce the meaning of a text from the original language into a modern language most people can understand. Since Hebrew has so few words, many Hebrew words have multiple meanings. First, they are all translated by respected and diverse groups of theologians. Their purpose was to translate an existing Greek book into English that had been adapted from ancient Hebrew manuscripts. A brief synopsis of each version is given, followed by a list of the strengths and weaknesses of each translation. Thus we should read a more thought for through translation. Buy it here: New King James Version Bible. Wordreference. Updating the English of the King James Version of the Bible had significant changes in words, spelling, vocabulary, and, most importantly, grammar. While those who grew up with the KJV might enjoy that, for most of us it just adds to the confusion of what the Bible is trying to say. In the Greek language, there are many words for love. The emphasis in early Protestantism was on the direct reading of the Bible by common people. How Many Books Were Removed from the Bible? 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. That venerable old standard the King James Version (KJV) And these same scholars must be top experts in the target language as well. It may elaborate more on the context in a way designed to help the reader understand the passage better. One of the reasons for this popularity is because its a hybrid of sorts. Because he desired a Bible that his subjects could read, the existing versions were written in Latin, not the ordinary peoples vernacular. New King James Version (NKJV) 5. Ive owned a copy of Phillips for decades and I highly recommend it. Some scholars argue that Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts are more accurate than Greek translations because they were written in their native language. The left side is the more literal translations formal equivalence- and the right side the paraphrase- is fully into the dynamic equivalence realm. Word-for-Word (also called Literal Translation) is regarded as the most accurate. This version continues to be the version most people consider The Bible, and it has stood the test of time. But weve since discovered much older (in translating older is better) manuscripts that most modern translations use. Buy it here: New International Version Bible. Is your Faith is Founded on Fact? Textual critics will examine every manuscript they can discover in order to decide which were copied more properly than others. They shall give the Lord Jesus Christ His proper place, the place which the Word gives Him; therefore, no work will ever be personalized. The NASB was updated in 1995, and again in 2020, and retains its place as a wonderful Bible for deep study. Because of its numerous outstanding translations, the English Bible Translation is widely regarded as the most accurate Bible version. The NET is an original translation, with over 60,000 translators notes that describe how the English translation relates to the original languages. Regarding the words spoken by people in the Bible, Christians who ask for the best accurate Bible translation want to be sure that what they are reading has not lost its true meaning due to translation. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns-SWo0d77k). Heres why. You might assume that the more literal, word for word, translations are better. Thomas Nelson published the complete NKJV Bible in 1982. As you consider what the best Bible version you need to first look at where it falls on this spectrum. Its regarded as a very fresh, easy-to-read Bible, suitable for younger readers. The writers were certainly experts and were working with the best manuscripts they had. The reasons behind the proliferation of Bible translations are complex, but can be simplified to something very simple: audience and purpose. Its really interesting to learn what the translators were doing and how they decided to write various translations. Struggling to actually read the Bible? The Bible is known as the written word of God and the ultimate set of guiding principles governing all areas of life for the people of God. My top 5 (in alphabetical order) are: 1. giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording. You can gain a lot by watching Allen Parr discuss the source material for all of todays English translations of the Bible. The MSG doesnt convey the words from the original author but rather the main idea. If you love reading the KJV, keep at it. ESV On the surface that might seem simple. Alright now that we know where some of the most popular translations fall on the spectrum let me give you an example. Bible translation is currently happening in 2,846 languages in 157 countries. The translator evaluates a series of words in the original language that comprise a thought, and then expresses that thought in the target language which in this case is English. ESV (English Standard Version) Origin: The ESV translation was first published in 2001, derived from the 1971 Revised Standard Version, taking out archaic and obsolete words. NASB in it's forms is usually considered the most accurate word for word translation. More on that later. The entire Bible was published in 1978 and revised in 1984 and 2011. This combination of these two methods creates a unique literary style that many like, although some dont. Many of the Bible verses you remember best are still from the KJV. So, lets look at some of the best Bible translations and what uses they are suited for. King James Version (KJV) The King James Version is one of the most powerful and accurate bible translations and is also known as the Authorized Version. The important thing is that you find a translation that you like. The New American Standard Bible is a literal translation of the Bible. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is a word-for-word translation that was first published in 1971 and revised in 1995. Because the NASB uses modern English, it will be easier to grasp than other literal versions. The English Standard Version comes to mind when you think of bible Bible written in modern English and published by Crossway. Theres more great information after this. All rights reserved. Anyone and everyone? Its because of its amazing literary qualities, its memorability, and the fact that many of the Study Bible cross references originated with the KJV. Many people grew up with the King James Version and still love the style and beauty of the translation. New English Translation (NET) 6. As a result, it opens up Gods Word to many younger native English speakers who might be intimidated by the deep, rich content of the original KJV. Thats because the NASB focuses on finding the closest word to translate and not what flows in the English language. also shows up very high on the list of most accurate Bibles. Through these writings, God communicates his will, his laws, his nature, and his saving purpose to humanity. While considered one of the most accurate Bible translations that comes at the sacrifice of readability and comprehension. They want to stay true to the wording of original-language manuscripts, while also providing an understandable reading experience. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Some prominent word for word Bible translations include: American Standard Version. What are the different Bible translations? Besides the NASB, the King James Version (KJV), the English Other name for this version of Bible is Authorized Version. NASB is also the most literal world-for-word translation. What is your favorite translation? used in America in 2014: Another thing I should mention is that its a great idea to get a Study Bible. (see this thorough post about each book of the New Testament with many faith-building detail. We should always read it with a grain a salt knowing its not a literal translation and its possible the author has placed their own agenda (knowingly or unknowingly) into the text. If you are interested in deep study, you can get this highly-recommended Interlinear on Amazon. The NIV is one of the most popular translations theres a good chance the church you go to uses the NIV on Sundays. The grammar of the source language is conserved, so it is awkward to read in the target language. There are, however, other translations available today that are based on the same original Greek text as the KJV and employ modern English. This is a great option for someone that wants the Bible in a readable format, but still maintaining the integrity of the authors original meaning. The New King James Version (NKJV) Bible Translation project was started in 1975 by 130 Biblical scholars and was completed in 1982 by Thomas Nelson to update the vocabulary and grammar of the original King James Version (KJV) while preserving the classic style and literary beauty of the original 1611 version. The King James Version is the world's most widely known Bible translation, using early seventeenth-century English. It was designed to be easy-to-read-and-understand for the international reader of English who might have learned English in a different country than the US or UK. very popular and highly-rated NKJV Study Bible on Amazon. This is at no cost to you and helps keep Rethink up and running. Below are some of the most prominent and best translations: The King James Version is the most important book in the English language, having shaped the way English was spoken for hundreds of years. Originally published in 2004 as the Holman Christian Standard I have the old 1978 version. In order to create our list of the top bible . The KJV is currently the most popular Bible translation in the world. While it is far from a literal, word for word translation, it does a great job communicating the main thought of the original author. Many of the phrases and words are no longer in use today, thus making it very hard for most to understand. of Word-for-Word translations. It is a derivative of the Second Revised Standard Version (RSV), created by a group of over 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors. preferences. Top 5 Most Accurate Bible Translations These five are widely regarded as the best for a variety of reasons, though there are other versions that deserve attention. The Targums were utilized by the early church and apostles in the Aramaic language. If you've ever walked into a Christian bookstore or shopped online for a Bible, you may have realized rather quickly that there are a lot of options. Is this Bible suited for a seminary professor? Now, much of the New Testament was written in Greek. New International Version (NIV) 7. William Tyndales translation from Greek and Hebrew sources came before the King James Version. This text forms the bases of most modern Bible translations; However, modern bible translations deviate from the critical text to one degree or another. This means that every word in the original text was translated into English as accurately as possible. Check out: How To Start Reading The Bible (the 8 best tips). It follows the style of the King James Version but uses modern English for words that have fallen out of the use or changed their meanings. You need to choose from the Bible translation you understand the most. Church Planter. Trying to be more like Jesus each day. That personal expression, that word, was King James Version (KJV), Amplified(AMP), New American Standard Bible (NASB), English Standard Version ( ESV), Dynamic Equivalent or Thought to Thought Translations, New King James Version(NKJV), New International Version (NIV), Christian Standard Bible (CSB), New English Translation (NET), New Living Translation ( NLT), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), The Message Bible ( MSG), The Living Bible (TLB), Good News Translation (GNT), Contemporary English Version (CEV). I have found the Message to stay relatively close to the original meaning of scripture, albeit with different wording. We have copies of copies of copies, and in some situations, these copies have many variances. What do you think is the best Bible translation? The best Bible translation is the one you actually read. Is it possible that both interpretations are correct? The English is 400 years old, dating to the original publishing date of 1611. We can tell, because after hundreds of years of Bible translating, all the major translations are in agreement about the major meanings they are conveying in English. The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the oldest of Old Testament texts. Theres two reasons I think you should avoid the KJV. The early Bible translations were written in several languages. Since the NKJV was completed in 1975, the translators had access to the most accurate texts texts that werent available to the translators of the original KJV. The New English Translation (NET Bible) is a totally new and free online translation of the Bible in the English language, published by Biblical Studies Press and sponsored by the Biblical Studies Foundation with over 60,000 translators. What is the easiest Bible version to understand? And as we saw in the first part of this series, 5 Bible Translations You Should Avoid, not all options are good. Another thing that makes it so accurate is the NASBs use of the text from the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum critical text. Read a few and figure out which one you enjoy reading. They shall be grammatically correct. passage like John 1:1 in the King James Version (KJV) and the Phillips version: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and However, the CEV sometimes goes astray, doing more interpreting rather than translating. The New King James Version is a revised version of the 1769 version of the King James Version (KJV). The ESV is my favorite translation, although I also enjoy reading the NLT. It was designed as a free online version of the Bible for worldwide ministry so that people who do not have access to the Bible could have a high-quality resource for Bible study. The Message is not a Bible translation. Faith Founded on Fact is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Jason Soroskiis a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. People might purchase a number of different Bibles, but which one do they actually read? In fact, its not even a single book; rather its a compilation of multiple books. King James Version (KJV) The Most Popular Version of the Bible. A paraphrase aims to capture the literary style and elegance of the original languages by utilizing contemporary English expressions and words that people reading it today will understand. It just helps make it more understandable. These publications shall be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. However it can be difficult to read. The difficulty for readers with Bible Translation is that the Bible was not originally written in English. "And Peter said to them, Repent and be Hello. The translators wanted to stick to the structure of the source language as closely as possible. It took 47 students, all of whom were Church of England members, to complete it in 1611. You may like a translation because it is more memorable because you like to memorize verses or even whole chapters of text. GNT was designed specifically for native- and non-native English speakers in Africa. If you want a more detailed look on the KJV read this: 7 Things To Know About The King James Version Of The Bible. Its regarded as somewhat colloquial, and It has been highly criticized for straying too far from the original text. It is also one of the most accurate Bible translations as it was translated from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. God's Word Translation (GWT) 9. When coming across words that rhyme in the original languages, do translators strive to find similar rhymes in English to keep the poetry, or do they ignore the rhyme to keep the meaning? 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 Large-Print version has nothing but 5-star reviews! Phillips had a gift for bringing Gods living word to a new generation. The majority of the Old Testament was translated by Tyndale, who was burned at the stake for his work. Is the English Version the Most Accurate Bible Translation? for the Study of Religion and American Culture, 101 Most Powerful Bible Scriptures on Faith, What Heaven Looks Like: Unveiling the Secrets of God. This makes it suitable for reading for Catholic believers. As for us, the best advice that can be given is to own a couple of translations, maybe a dynamic version and a formal version to compare. These idioms do not always translate accurately from a source language to the target language, so translators must be very careful to make sure the meaning is accurately transmitted. The simplest answer is the New King James Versions (NKJV). The NET was first published in 2005, and it is a completely new version. This version of the English bible was translated by the English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England. There is ample evidence in today's world that the Christian faith rests on Solid Ground. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. A new edition was published in 2009 including the deuterocanonical or apocryphal- books. King James Version. The reason I say in theory is because no one knows what the original autographs of Scripture said. Why is there a funny accent mark over blessed? And It is impossible for man to look upon the face of God and live. Scholars regard the NET as a first-rate translation and one of the most accurate Bible Translations; it is a completely new translation of the Bible, not an update or revision of an older version. 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 thees and thous of the KJV, but considers itself to be in the stream of translations descended from the KJV.