Which Bible translation is best?
By Steve Singleton
The short answer would be, it depends on what you are trying to
do. Are you wanting to read rapidly to get an overview of the Bible?
Then a modern-speech translation would be a must. Are you wanting to
make a careful study of a difficult passage? Then you should choose one
of the more literal versions. Are you seeking to be inspired by the
poetic beauty and refined literary style of Scripture? The King James
Version would suit you best for that purpose.
Readers of Bible translations in English are blessed beyond reckoning
with the multitude of Bible translations available to us. Seasoned
Bible students know the value of consulting several translations when
studying a passage. Nevertheless, one of the main purposes of a Bible
translation ought to be to help the reader shift the focus from the
translation itself to
the message”and an undistorted message at that”you need a translation that strikes a balance between accuracy and readability.
Another blessing of our times is that the wording of several of the
most recent translations is converging: they are virtually identical in
verse after verse! This is because they have general agreement on both
the underlying Hebrew and Greek text to translate and on the translation
principles they apply to that text. This is true with regard to the New
International Version, the New Revised Standard Version, and the newly
revised New American Standard Version. Check out the many Bible translations in DeeperStudy Bookstore.
Want to go deeper? The following are useful resources for pursuing your study of Bible translations and translation principles:
Recommended for purchase:
Check out the Bible translations section in
our DeeperStudy Bookstore. We have discussions of many of the
translations available and have worked hard to provide the best edition
at the best value for each.
David Dewey. A User’s Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions. (2005).
Online resources: DeeperStudy’s Study-links section provides links to the on-line editions of many Bible translations in English and in other languages.
The Bible Translator, a journal for translators around the world and for the rest of us interested in the principles of translation.
Many thanks to brother Steve Singleton for allowing me to post from his website, deeperstudy.com.
Many thanks to brother Steve Singleton for allowing me to post from his website, deeperstudy.com.
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