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List of English Bible translations. The Bible has been translated into many languages from the biblical languages of Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew. The Latin Vulgate translation was dominant in Western Christianity through the Middle Ages. Since then, the Bible has been translated into many more languages. English Bible translations also have a ...
Jul 15, 2024 · Among these, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) stands out, in my opinion, as the most accurate Bible translation. However, it remains crucial for scholars and readers alike to reference the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper understanding and to ensure the most precise interpretation.
- The Translation of The Old and New Testaments
- Introduction to Bible Translations
- Samaritan Pentateuch – About 430 BC
- Septuagint Or LXX – About 240-150 BC
- Aquila’s Version – 130 Ad
- Symmachus’S Revision – 170 Ad
- Theodotion’S Revision – 180-190 Ad
- Origen’s Hexapla – Sometime After 200 Ad
- Masoretic Text – Between 100 and 1,000 Ad
- Vulgate (Latin Form) – 383-405 Ad
Old Testament – Hebrew and Aramaic
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The Hebrew form of the Bible was arranged in three sections – The Law (Torah), the Prophets (Neviim), and the Writings (Kethuvim). Ancient and complete copies of the Old Testament have been found. The oldest Old Testament copy is from about 900 AD, over a thousand years old. There are many discrepancies in the various biblical translations, but overall, Old Testament translations are believed to be highly accurate. The scribes operated unde...
New Testament – Greek
The New Testamentwas written in Greek. Copies from shortly after Jesus’ life have been discovered. Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is believed to be accurate but comes with its own set of translation concerns.
In general, the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The Hebrew and Aramaic parts were translated into Greek, then later translated into Latin. These four forms, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, became the basis for modern-day English translations. Below is a brief history of biblical translations. It is important to note that this is...
The Samaritan Pentateuch contains the five books of Moses. It was written in paleo-Hebrew script (a variant of the Phoenician alphabet). The origin of the Samaritan Pentateuch is not clear, but it is theorized that Samaritans took a copy of the Torah to Samariaand used it as the basis for their religion. They made changes and additions to the text ...
As Jews changed their language to Greek, the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew and Aramaic into Greek. The Septuaginttranslation was created in Alexandria, Egypt, around 250-150 BC. Legend says seventy men from the twelve tribes of Israel came to Alexandria to translate the Bible (the name “Septuagint” means seventy). Their translation was k...
Aquila’s version of the Bible was a translation of the Old Testament to Greek. It became the official Greek translation used by non-Christian Jews. Aquila’s version was a very literal translation. Greek words word used in the text but the use of Hebrew sentence structure made the translation difficult to read. However, because it was so literal, it...
Aquila’s version was very literal, placing great emphasis on the translation of individual words while keeping the sentence structure intact. Symmachus’s revision placed more emphasis on the meaning and structure of the original sentences. Scholars regard Symmachus’s revision as a highly accurate translation. About 250 years later, Jerome(see below...
Theodotion’s revision is believed to be a revision of either the Septuagint or Aquila’s version. It was much easier to read than Aquila’s version and thus, became a popular translation in its day.
Origen’s translation was an attempt to correct differences between the Septuagint, Aquila’s version, Symmachus’s revision, and Theodotion’s revision. Origen wanted to unify the old Greek translation and create an accurate-as-possible translation using original Hebrew manuscripts. To do this, he created a sort of parallel-bible with several columns ...
The creation of the Masoretic Textbegan around 100 AD, but translation efforts solidified around 500 AD. The Masoretic Text is mostly written in Aramaic, but parts are written in Hebrew. Masoretes copied it from a presumably accurate master copy. It is considered the authoritative text of the Hebrew Scriptures. Its accuracy was later supported by t...
The Vulgate, or Latin form of the Bible, was commissioned by the Bishop of Rome during a time when Latin was becoming the official language of the church. Latin translations existed, but they had been translated from the Geek Septuagint instead of earlier Hebrew translations. Church leaders felt the bible should be translated to Latin from its orig...
When comparing translations for a Bible verse, users can read the well-known translations including New International Version, King James Bible, The Message, Revised Standard Version, and English Standard Version, as well as more than 30 additional translations. When reading Bible verses in different translations, users can compare word for ...
Feb 23, 2021 · The Common English Bible is an English translation of the Bible that was first published in 2011. It is a blend translation that aims to find a happy medium somewhere between strict formal equivalence (word-for-word) and liberal dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought), utilizing the strengths of both methods while minimizing their weaknesses.
Sep 23, 2024 · With numerous versions available, each with its unique approach, style, and translation, it’s essential to understand their differences. In this article, we will compare various Bible translations to help inform your choice. They will be compared in these seven categories: (1) translation philosophy, (2) reading level, (3) notable features ...
Jun 12, 2024 · The Geneva Bible: Published in 1560 by English refugees in Geneva, Switzerland, this was the first English Bible to include both verse numbers and extensive commentary. Its readability and comprehensive annotations made it the Bible of choice for English-speaking Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries — including the Mayflower pilgrims in America.
