Bible Translation

[Lauri]

I am looking for a new bible and I need some help from y'all. I would like to buy a literal translation bible and I am particularly interested in one that has the words for Satan and Hell correctly translated as Adversary and Gehenna. I almost got a Greens Literal but noticed he still translates those words as Satan and Hell. Youngs literal translates it correctly but the versions I saw online used the old language of thou's and saith's. I'm not even sure if you can buy a copy of Youngs. Any way if anyone knows of a good accurate translation and where I could buy one please let me know.

Thanks,
Lauri

[Amie]

Lauri,

"The Complete Jewish Bible" has an interesting approach. An example for their usage in the Old Testament:

1 Chronicles 21
The Adversary [Hebrew: Satan] now rose up against Isra'el and incited David to take a census of Isra'el.

And the New Testament:

Rev 12
9 The great dragon was thrown out, that ancient serpent, also known as the Devil and Satan [the Adversary], the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.

Although he leaves the brackets out many times in the New Testament, and translates "satan", "adversary" many times in the Old Testament.

That bible is popular amongst Messianic Jews. Many words that have been "Christianized" are translated in Hebraic terms. For example, rather than "Jesus", they have "Yeshua". They translate "Adonai" rather than switching from caps to lower cases. You won't find "Christ", it will read "Messiah" and rather than "Easter", you'll read "Passover". Oh, and he translates "hades", "grave" etc... no generic "hell"... and stuff like that.

Young's literal is great for translating the word "satan", as you know.

I don't know of any other. I like Green's literal because most of the time when there is a New Testament fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy, he notates it, ie:

John 1
51 And He says to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, From now on you will see Heaven opened, and "the angels of God ascending and descending" on the Son of Man. Gen. 28:12

It helps me in studying fulfillment. In studying though, I use online bibles. I have two family bibles that are King James Versions that I really don't use anymore. My children are getting interested in reading though, so I'll need to remedy that myself quickly.

Maybe someone else will have some ideas as well :)

Amie

[ozark]

The Rotherham Emphasized Bible is also a very good literal translation. It has all kinds of cool study aids to help you understand the original languages. However, it still uses the old King James English.

[Lauri]

Amie & Doug,
Thanks for your help! Amie The complete Jewish Bible sounds intriguing. I went on Crosswalk and looked it over some, it is really interesting. I like that it uses the Jewish names for people and God and Jesus. I think it will be refreshing to read the bible as translated from the Jewish perspective. I think that is the one I will go with. I found it on Amazon.com so I will be ordering it soon. Thanks again.

Lauri

[Barry]

If I were buying a new Bible it would be JP Green's literal translation (the latest edition whatever that is)
Barry

[jlv]

There are no good translations. Tim and I are having to jump from one to another because none are consistant.

One says scoffers on place and mockers the next. Another has them reversed.

One says land one place and earth the next. Another has them reversed.

To get consistency requires taking verses out of several different versions.

JL

[Paige]

Yeah, our little fellowship group is greatly blessed by one member's palm pilot. He gets several versions pulled up within seconds, so we can instantly compare...

Dave just downloaded some free software on my computer and I was able to choose from lots of different translations. I went with Young's literal and with Rotherham's Emphasized.

Paige

[davo]

To get consistency requires taking verses out of several different versions.Jeff I think you are right about that. Even so-called 'literal' translations don't allow for the wide use of linguistic style etc, like metaphor and prose and the like. I have recently purchased a hard copy of 'The Apostolic Bible - Polygot' -- it is the whole OT and NT texts in the Greek and coded to Strong's Concorance and is very good. You can access the pdf files of this translation for download HERE (http://septuagint-interlinear-greek-bible.com/downbook.htm).

[lynn]

Hi all, :biggrinbounce:
The Rotherham Emphasized Bible is also a very good literal translation. It has all kinds of cool study aids to help you understand the original languages. However, it still uses the old King James English.Thank you, Ozark. That was very helpful. I've placed the above Bible on my wishlist! I like it because it doesn't have all the eternal hell's in it. :9_cool:

I'm looking forward to the day when versions like NASB are revised so that words like Satan, eternal, and hell are removed. (Hey, I'm an optimist.) Have you ever looked at the copyright page of your Bible? My 1999 NASB Bible lists 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995. Why are there so many copyright dates? I think it's because there are so many errors, and editors are correcting them.

Here's an example of a correction in the study note listed for Luke 19:43-44:
“For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
“Fulfilled when the Romans took Jerusalem in A.D. 70, using an embankment to besiege the city.” Isn't that great! :clap2: In previous editions, that note wasn't there.

Here's a note on Matthew 10:23, that the disciples did "not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man" came.

“Jesus’ saying here is probably best understood as referring to His coming in judgment on the Jews when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in A.D. 70. :D FYI, here are the stats on this Bible: Zondervan NASB Study Bible, General Editor Kenneth Barker, 1999, Zondervan.

Does anyone know if a modern Bible is coming out that we'd like even better?

Enjoying you all,
Lynn

[Lauri]

I just wanted to share something from my new bible, "The Complete Jewish Bible". I really like the wording of Exodus 34:6&7
The Complete Jewish Bible

Exodus (Sh'mot) 34
34:6
ADONAI passed before him and proclaimed: "YUD-HEH-VAV-HEH!!! Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [ADONAI] is God, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and truth;
34:7
showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins; yet not exonerating the guilty, but causing the negative effects of the parents' offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren, and even by the third and fourth generations."

as complared to the NIV
New International Version

Exodus 34
34:6
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
34:7
maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

I think that says it a lot better. Instead of God punishing us for our sins to the third and fourth generations we live with the consequenses of our sins to the third and fourth generations.

Lauri

[Amie]

Lauri,

How do you not see "causing the negative effects of the parents' offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren, and even by the third and fourth generations." not as punishment?

Thanks :)

Amie

[Lauri]

Amie,
I don't think it's not punishment but I like the wording because it places the responsiblity back on me. If I think the consequenses of my actions might be felt for the next generations it might make me think twice about what I do as opposed to feeling helpless that I am being punished for something my mother or grandmother did. Your mother carried on the consequenses of the abuse she recieved as a child on to you. You could have carried those consequenses on to your children but you chose to stop that cycle and I admire you so much for that! I think when we say that God is punishing me or Satan is tempting me then that takes the responsiblity away from me and makes me feel like a vicitim instead of someone who can change my circumstance.

Lauri

[Amie]

Lauri,

I'm so glad that I asked because the answer is so educational! You're right!

My children still feel some of the repercussion of my parent's choices. I make mistakes that I know I would never have made had I known better.

I do work to stop the cycle, and come to think of it, I may be able to rest in my heart knowing that in about three generations, it will have finally been alleviated. Do you think?

Amie

[Lauri]

Amie,
Not only do I think it will finally be allieviated but I don't think it will take three generations. You don't give yourself enough credit, just watching you with your kids and hearing how you've handled some situations with them, I think your an incredible mom! Believe me even people like me who had wonderful role models for parents have made big mistakes parenting, but mistakes are certainly not the same thing as abuse.

Lauri

[Amie]

Amie,
Not only do I think it will finally be allieviated but I don't think it will take three generations. You don't give yourself enough credit, just watching you with your kids and hearing how you've handled some situations with them, I think your an incredible mom! Believe me even people like me who had wonderful role models for parents have made big mistakes parenting, but mistakes are certainly not the same thing as abuse.

Lauri

You are kind Lauri, and very encouraging, and I refuse to believe that you made mistakes ;) . Seriously, you are very kind and encouraging and it means a great deal to me. Thank you, it is warm on the ears and warming in the heart.

Amie

[Amie]

I just discovered this great software! If you go to http://www.e-sword.net/index.html, you can download it for free (or a donation). After you download the initial program, over 20 versions of the bible are available (most free also) to download onto that program, along with concordances, dictionaries, etc. So far it has been fantastic for me.

Recently, my favorite bible (LITV) disappeared from online and is quite elusive per finding a CD - haven't found it! It IS on this program. If you're interested in that one as well, perhaps you should hurry just in case it disappears there also!

Amie