Whether youre grappling with a challenging bible passage, or are just curious to see how different translators approach the same scriptural text, youll find it a useful part of your bible reading. A comparison of over 30 english translations of the bible. With these, you can compare between different versions nearly instantaneously. Its loss was an enormous blow to jewish scholarship. Bible verses by comparison, read verses using all translations. The first translation of the complete bible into english was completed by john wycliff in 82, and now there are more different versions of english translations available than in any other language. This is the product that is regurgitated when a person as a fascination for paleohebrew and confuses it with canaanite and assyrian script, not only that but when an individual who doesnt speak or read hebrew decides to write a translation of the bible. When you want to study the bible in depth, comparing different bible translations helps you discover the different nuances of meaning in the text. Comparison chart of english bible translations showing style or type of translation and readibility or grade level. Many bible versions are now available as part of bible software packages or for free viewing on various internet sites. We have provided a chart to provide information on some of the most common translations. In doing so, i ref er to these two do zen t ran slati ons and thei r notes and thei r addit ional mater ial i rar ely, how ever, make any rea l use out of moff att s t ran slati on o r the je hov ah w itne ss b ible. Many find it helpful to consult more than one translationor to use different translations in different settings. It is published by holman bible publishers, the oldest bible publisher in america.
There are a lot of bibles out there to choose from there are over 50 english bibles on bible gateway, for example. A few of the above bible versions are translations of translations and not directly from an original greek text. Use bible verses by comparison to read all translations side by side. A study bible includes opening information for each book of the bible. Parallel translations of the king james, modern language, living bible and revised standard.
In this book, douglas moo, wayne grudem, ray clendenen, and philip comfort make a case for the bible translation he represents. Written at an elementaryschool reading level, the cev is readable and understandable for the modern reader. We will only brag about the work that god has sent us to do, and you are part of that work. If you are really wanting to stay as close and as accurate to. Many strong christians have stood their ground and continued to believe, read, and study only the authorized king james bible. For example, can you guess which difference between the kjv and esv at matthew 1. A parallel bible contains two or more translations for easy comparison.
This bible, in turn, became the basis of the first french catholic bible, published at leuven in 1550. When reading bible verses in different translations, users can compare word for. Of the 5,200 greek manuscripts that exist today, 99% of the text agrees wordforword with the 1611 king james bible. The bible has been translated into many languages from the biblical languages of hebrew. Over the past few decades, new bible translations have been popping up all over the country. How to use to compare different translations of the same passage of scripture. Whats the difference between various bible versions. As stated earlier, most translations arise out of methodological or practical concerns. New american standard bible nasb the new american standard bible. When two bible translations disagree, which one is right. Here at we carry over 30 different english translations.
Comparing bible translations is a good way to try different bible versions and identify the bible that speaks most clearly to you. While its not my primary study bible, it is always one of the translations i use for comparing multiple versions. Listed with each version is the text basis used for both the old and new testaments, the techniques translators utilized to convert words into english, and background information about each translation. The below list gives detail information about thirteen bible translations. Partial bible translations into languages of the english people can be traced back to the late 7th century, including translations into old and middle english. Comparing translations 31st sunday in ot welcome to the eleventh in a series of posts comparing the jerusalem bible, the new jerusalem bible and the revised new jerusalem bible for one of the readings at each sundays mass. Additionally, the church has made clear in the 1981 and the 20 editions of the book of mormon in footnote a for 2 nephi 12. See a comparison chart of english bible translations, each placed along a continuum from wordforword to thoughtforthought to paraphrased.
There are more than 50 english bible translations in circulation by some estimates. Most differences between greek and hebrew texts are excessively minor. Bible translations in a spectrum from thought for thought, to word for word and paraphrase. How do other bible versions compare to the king james av 1611. For instance, when the king james version is compared with what was found in the dead.
King james bible kjv and they heard the voice of the lord god walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Because of the popularity in the esv translation, an edition was published in 2009 with the apocryphal books included as well. Zondervan bible publishers, grand rapids, mi, 1973. It is nice to read a book that shows that the nw is the. To search by word or phrase, enter your query in the search box and choose the two translations you wish to view comparisons for. Welcome to bible book club, helping you read the bible with your friends. For anyone wondering which bible version to use, this is the book for you. The hcs is a highly readable, accurate translation written in modern english. Parallel bible versereference search to display a verse or a range of verses, enter the reference into the search box and choose the two translations in which you wish to view comparisons for. To be truly responsible when comparing two english translations, you simply have to know whats. This chart attempts to show the degree to which a translation conforms to the original languages and the source and pedigree of the given translation.
This of course presents a considerable challenge when choosing a bible. Analysis theological orientation for what stated theological purpose was the translation or revision made, if any. Usually, a book on a bible translation will only compare or contrast versions based on trying to promote the version being written about. Also notes if apocrypha is available or if using gender neutral language.
It is based on the clementine vulgate, which is actually newer than the textus receptus. Take a look at one bible verse in each of these versions. Which bible translation should i use a comparison of 4. Due to the large number of translations available online for free it is very easy to. My 5 favorite bible translations with reading levels for. When comparing translations for a bible verse, users can read the wellknown 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. Reasoning from the scriptures by the watchtower society. Online parallel bible compare bible verse versions. I have had a deep interest in bible translations and issues for a while now. Until it was damaged and partially lost, the aleppo codex was considered to be the crown of ancient biblical manuscripts, and was the version of the hebrew bible that was ultimately considered the most authoritative text in judaism. Comparison with the king james bible in english shows that there are differences in more than half of the 433 verses of isaiah quoted in the book of mormon, while about 200 verses have the same wording as the. There is disagreement about whether the word paresis means remission, forgiveness or passing over, leaving unpunished. When reading bible verses in different translations, users can compare word for word translations and thought for thought translations that offer a parallel idiom for contemporary language. The oldest form of the bible discovered to date are the 92 papyra, dated 180ad and 220ad and 85% of the text agrees wordforword with the 1611 king james bible.
Interesting to see the niv agree with the kjv against the nasb and esvs treatment of the phrase in his blood. Many others, however, have forsaken the book that god has been using for centuries. The disadvantage of literal translations is that they are harder to read because more hebrew and greek style intrudes into the english text. The parallel bible feature on bible gateway lets you read a bible passage in several different versions sidebyside. Life after death experience nde with steve gardipee, vietnam war story one of the best ndes duration. A translation of revelation, book of revelation, middle english, early 14th century, a french translation.
Types of bible translations there are three main types of bible translations. To display a verse or a range of verses, enter the reference into the search box and choose the two translations in which you wish to view comparisons for. We wont brag about something we dont have a right to brag about. Njab comparison chart of bible translations showing. Reading and comparing the charts should give you a good idea of how different versions compare to each other by translation type. Some opinions may vary about the exact placement of the versions. Like most things that should go without saying, it really cant.
More than 450 translations into english have been written. In this way, we hope that we have provided our readers with a valuable tool for comparing these 4 translations. The new living translation is a dynamic equivalence translation based on the work of 90 bible scholars and a smaller team of english stylists. The book started out as a symposium at liberty university, with wayne grudem, douglas moo, and ray clendenen representing the esv, the niv, and the hcsb. I like this book because it compares several translations and makes objective comments on the scriptures. These all contain only the books in the standard protestant canon, without the apocrypha included in the catholic canon. Comparing bible translations by faith we understand. This is also the translation i recommend for those who want an english translation, but english is not their first language. This explains the difference between the kjv and all cited modern versions. Quick comparison of bible versions it is often said that all bible versions are basically the same, that their differences are just minor wording changes. Which bible translation should i use a comparison of 4 major. When comparing translations for a bible verse, users can read the. Read the following comparison between the king james version and the bestselling modern bible translation, the new international version, and then decide for yourself whether or not this is true. Comparing english bible translations responsibly is very hard work.
This information includes a few paragraphs of the major concepts and themes of each book, who wrote the book, why the book was written, the time and setting in history the events occurred, maps with modern names and boundaries to show where. Comparing bible translations requires a knowledge of greek and hebrew. Bible translations comparison pamphlet by rose publishing, 97815963631, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The new revised standard version is the version most commonly preferred by biblical scholars. There is no reason for catholics not to own several versions of the bible to get a better sense of what is said in a particular passage by comparing several different translations together.
Obviously those types of books, while helpful, can be a little unbalanced. While a more literal translation may be preferred for study, a less literal translation may be desired for devotional or casual reading. These illustrate the changes from the hcsb to the csb in the context of other leading bible translations and are made with gratitude for each translation. Compare 20 popular versions of the bible compare 20 bible translations. Catholic book publishing sells many of our bibles to the philippines, and there is room for another catholic translation in all englishspeaking countries.