I frequently get asked about what Bible translation I recommend. In fact, I get asked so frequently that I thought I’d briefly post on it.
The first thing I usually say is that the best Bible translation is the one you’ll read faithfully. I am far more concerned with that than staking a position on translation philosophy. I’m even willing to make allowance for paraphrases in this regard, though I really dislike them. You ought to be reading some version with consistency, though.
Second, I always point out that there is no one Bible translation that is consistently superior to all others. (Though paraphrases are consistently unfaithful to the text, but see my caveat above). All translations have problems; they all take liberties; they all have strengths. If you are interested in comparing and analyzing Bible translations, I recommend the Better Bibles blog.
Third, I recommend that everyone read from more than one translation. It’s a good idea to become acquainted with the basic differences in approaches to translating the Bible. I speak here of “dynamic equivalence” and “formal equivalence” (usually referred to as “literal translation”). I prefer formal equivalence, but I recommend reading from at least one translation that follows each approach. The above link contains a listing of how the versions stack up (at least for the writer of that article).
Fourth, you should pick a translation that is textually up-to-date. For example, I want a Bible that adopts readings in its running text from the Dead Sea Scrolls where they are demonstrably superior to the Masoretic Text. My test case for this is Deuteronomy 32:8 and Deuteronomy 32:43. The former should read “sons of God” (ESV; cp. “gods” in NRSV), or something like “heavenly beings” (NET Bible) or “heavenly court” (NLT) instead of “sons of Israel.” Verse 43 should read “bow down to Him, all you gods” (ESV, NRSV) or something akin to it like NLT’s “let all God’s angels worship him.” The preface of the particular version will alert you to such textual issues.
Hope this was informative in some way.
The 1611 King James Version is the only inspired bible…
just kidding, thanks Mike
Are most versions of the Tanakh based on Moseretic , LXX , Dead Sea Scrolls ? Or do they vary as well ?
nearly all are based on the MT; that the ESV departs from it at times is why I prefer it. But many versions at least note alternate manuscript readings in footnotes.
Is it true that in the Second Temple period some sort of overlap developed between the “gods/sons of God” and “angels” (in terms of terminology)? After all, Jude 1:6 calls the sexually immoral sons of God “angels” but a distinction is still made, especially in Paul’s writings. Either way, though, as you’ve said, they are heavenly beings not humans.
the NT conflates the terminology to some extent.
How about taking Hebrew with Heiser and read the Masoretic text. marketing opportunity missed. Is that still going ?
off topic but any advice on maintaining and expanding the Hebrew vocabulary ? any tips advice appreciated.
Vocab is maintained by regular reading and practice translation. You can also use resources like this:
Building Your Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary – http://www.logos.com/product/2672/building-your-biblical-hebrew-vocabulary
This blog seems to like the NLT, is that a version you can recommend?
I’ve never used it. Not sure why you’d say that. The *revised* NLT is to be preferred over the first edition.
Sorry Dr, I didn’t mean you but the Better Bible blog seems to like the NLT. I’ve never read it before now and it seems very understandable. Thanks
Lastly on the topic- while I like the ESV it doesn’t read easily for me where the NIV does. Where does the NLT compare to the NIV, which would you chose. Thanks
I’d probably go with the NLT, but I have basically no passion for such questions. I really don’t care beyond discouraging paraphrases.
ah – understood
You had recommended the ESV to me a few years back. I do enjoy it. The page from wikipedia discussed different translations and ESV was there under word for word and listed some criticisms of it. What criticisms, if any, do you have?
I don’t waste time going through translations to catalog what I don’t like about them. From time to time I come across something irritating, but I’d have that experience with any translation. I would only say don’t use paraphrases.
Sorry, I’m a bit off-topic but I can’t seem to find the right information.
Does the name Jesus (Yeshua) mean “He saves” or “YHWH saves”? I know it’s a contracted form of Yehoshua which means “YHWH saves/is salvation” but what does Yeshua itself mean? I have a Bible here that says it means “Saviour”.
“Yeshua” is a noun; it means “deliverance” or “salvation” (mostly of the physical type in the OT, but also spiritual).
Thanks! I’ve been looking for this a long time!
Dr. Heiser, compare these two verses of the ESV and KJV ( KJV ISAIAH 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven,[[ O Lucifer]], son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! NOW ( ESV ISAIAH 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, [[O Day Star,]] son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! NOW ( KJV 2 PETER 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the[[ day star]] arise in your hearts: NOW ( ESV 2 PETER 1:19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the [[morning star]] rises in your hearts, {{{ Now in the ESV ISAIAH 14:12 lucifer is called the Day Star }}} NOW in the KJV 2 PETER 1:19 THE DAY STAR IS JESUS CHRIST. [[[[ Now my question to You is how can the DAY STAR be lucifer and JESUS CHRIST ??? Do You see what I am trying to say ????????????? The BIBLE translation that some people are using is saying that THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is also the devil. A lot of babes in CHRIST get confused with the ESV and other bad translations.THIS IS WHY I SAY THE KJV BIBLE IS THE BEST ONE OUT THERE.
I would like to warn people that these translations of the BIBLE have removed GOD”s HOLY WORD from HIS BOOK. Examples: MATT:17:21,MATT:18:11,MATT:23:14,MARK 7:16,MARK 9:44,MARK 9:46,MARK 11:26,MARK 15:28,LUKE 17:36,LUKE 23:17,JOHN 5:4,ACTS 8:37,ACTS 15:34,ACTS 24:7,ACTS 28:29,ROMANS 16:24,1 JOHN 5:7 THEY CHANGED IT FROM ( For there are three that bear record in HEAVEN, THE FATHER, THE WORD, AND THE HOLY GHOST.) To (and these three are one) This is found in these translations NIV,NLT,ESV,BSB,BLB,NASB,HCSB,ISV,AND OTHERS. I think We as Christians should not buy or use any translations that remove GOD”s WORD out of the BIBLE.. These bad translations have removed more than 16 verses from the NEW TESTAMENT ALONE. And when they remove verses out of the HOLY BIBLE they are removing THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. (John 1:14
And the( Word was made flesh,)and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. REVELATION 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
When people continue to use these horrible translations, they are truly hurting the babes in CHRIST. These new translations remove more than 16 verses from the NEW TESTAMENT alone. And when people remove verses from THE HOLY BIBLE ( GOD”S WORD ) Then they are really removing THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
LINKS TO SHOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHfE3nzx5p0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSM0sclQTTg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Vqy9teDyY
connecting Jesus and Lucifer via this language reflects a misunderstanding of the context of “day star” — something I address in The Unseen Realm.
What I am trying to say is that the KJV is the best translation out there, and most of the others leave out entire verse of GOD”s WORD. If you get the time check out the links that I posted with my email. One is by Chuck Missler, and he also thinks the KJV is the best translation out there. Face Like The Son YouTube Channel always uses the ESV, and that is one of the translations that leaves out more than 16 verses of GOD”s HOLY WORD. Most people just don’t realize that these bad translations are confusing many new believers, and this is NOT GOOD FOR THEM. Do you see what I am trying to say??
The KJV isn’t the best translation, nor is it the exclusive word of God for English readers (i.e., “the” inspired English translation vs. all the others). I’m actually in a unique position to evaluate it, as I’m likely the only person in the world who has ever examined each word of the KJV and aligned it by hand to the Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek from which it derived. That was my job for a year where I work (Logos Bible Software – I was the guy who produced the KJV Reverse Interlinear. I really like the KJV, as I was weaned on it, but it has flaws (I’ll never really trust it in Job again). Translations like ESV are nice because it incorporates Dead Sea Scroll readings into the running text in places. But ESV has its problems, too. ALL translations have strengths and weaknesses, which is why Bible students dependent on English should compare translations in their study.
Thank You Brother for your imput.
FYI – the link to the Better Bibles blog just goes to a weight loss page.
thanks — this post is quite old, so that sort of thing happens.
I use an ESV but would really like one that uses YHVH or Yahweh instead of Lord. Any recommendations? The only one I could find was a Catholic one and a KJV restored name that uses Yahushua for Jesus which kind of drives me crazy.
Yes – the LEB, Lexham English Bible. This translation was done in house at my employer (Logos Bible Software). We decided to use “Yahweh” for the divine name.
There is no translation that uses Yahushua for Jesus, in part because that isn’t the correct spelling of his Hebrew/Aramaic name (Yeshua or Yehoshua — like Joshua in the Hebrew Bible) would be the options.
Any comments on translations that have the updates in the footnotes, instead of the running text? The newly updated CSB (formerly Holman Christian Standard Bible) has all of the LXX and DSS passages footnoted. Kind of disappointing.
One ‘dynamic’ translation though I’ve seen that is up to date is actually the CEB (Common English Bible).
When God Most High divided up the nations— when he divided up humankind— he decided the people’s boundaries based on the number of the gods. (Deuteronomy 32:8, CEB)
Heavens: Rejoice with God! All you gods: bow down to the Lord! Because he will avenge his children’s blood; he will pay back his enemies; he will punish in kind those who hate him; he will cleanse his people’s land. (Deuteronomy 32:43, CEB)
They even render the ‘sin offering’ in Leviticus as ‘purification’ offering, which is similar to the ‘decontamination’ offering translation you offer in the series on Leviticus. Have you considered checking this translation out as an alternate text alongside a formal?
This is why I like ESV, even though it’s awful in places (Deut 32:17 — I wrote a whole journal article on why the ESV messes this up).
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1325&context=lts_fac_pubs
I wish more translations would incorporate scrolls material (and other versional data where the likelihood of the true reading is demonstrably high – like Gen 4:8. Here’s what most Bible versions will read:
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Notice the problem? There’s no conversation. In terms of the Hebrew text, there is a very clear explanation as to how the missing material dropped out by accident. ESV has this footnote:
Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field
That line ought to be in our Bibles. There are of course other examples.