How To Choose A Bible Translation  

ADAPTED FROM AN ARTICLE BY 

Shanté Grossett

https://dailyshepursues.com 

Choosing a Bible translation can feel very overwhelming. This ​is especially true if you are a new Christian and you don’t yet ​know much about the faith. It’s dif cult to know which of the ​many Bible versions you should use. Perhaps, you are ​wondering why there are so many translations out there to ​begin with. Or, how each version gets its name. Is there a ​“most accurate” translation? And are there any you should ​avoid? I know that all of this can get confusing so I’d like to ​offer some clari cation and guidance for you. Keep reading ​because in this article I will share some important information ​that can help you to make an informed decision when ​choosing a Bible translation. 

Why Are There So Many Translations? 

There are many different translations because we live in a ​global world with many languages, cultures, and dialects! ​Even among English speakers, there are many different ways ​of using the language. For example, a person living in the ​United States will speak a slightly different version of English ​than someone living in the United Kingdom. So, we have ​different Bible translations to accommodate for the various ​cultures that exist in our world.

Additionally, we have many translations because of the ​varying ways the Bible can be used. It can be used for ​personal study, devotional purposes, teaching, academic ​study, and reading aloud. A Bible version that may be ​excellent for reading aloud may not be as

great for personal study.  Next, there are a wide range of ​Christian traditions, and one denomination may prefer a ​certain style of translation than another. Here’s an example: a ​Messianic community (Jewish people who believe in Christ as ​the Messiah) may want a version that keeps the name of God ​in Hebrew characters because of their belief that the name of ​God should not be spoken (or read). A Non-Messianic ​community may not need this. 

Finally, scholars are always learning and gaining new ​understanding of the Biblical languages. So, sometimes ​translations need to be updated or revised. Ever heard of a ​translation called the Revised Standard Version? This just ​means that it was a revision of the previous translation. ​Now, just because a translation is revised does not mean ​the previous one is automatically useless. Some will ​purchase the new version while others will continue to use ​the previous one. 

What Are The Types of Bible Translations?

Maybe you’ve heard people say that there are three ​categories of translations: word-for-word, thought-for- ​thought, and paraphrase. If so, you’re on the right track. ​However, I’d like to simplify that a bit and explain Bible ​translations in a slightly different way. 

Think of it as a continuum. At one end, we have formal

equivalence translations and on the other end we have

functional (dynamic)equivalence. Formal equivalence

translations stick more closely to the Biblical languages

while functional translations will present the text in an

idiomatic way so that it is most understandable for

English speakers today. These do not oppose each

other, they are simply different types of translations. 

Formal Equivalence 

As I mentioned earlier, formal translations will attempt to ​closely follow the Greek and Hebrew text when translating ​into English. It is a literal and word-for-word approach. ​However, the issue with formal translations is that the ​original languages are just as idiomatic as our language is. ​This means that sometimes an idiom that made sense in ​Hebrew will be lost on English readers when we read it ​word for word in English. 

For example,  knew

Unless you have a Christian background, you may be ​wondering how Adam’s knowledge of his wife could ​possibly lead to conception! However, in Hebrew, “to ​know” someone can mean that you had a sexual ​relationship with that person. Here’s the same verse in a ​functional translation: Sexual relations

Functional Equivalence

Next, instead of focusing on the literal reading of the text, ​functional translations try to present the text in a way that ​remains true to the language and makes sense to modern ​day readers. In the example above, the text does not ​literally say that Adam had sexual relations with his wife. It ​literally says that Adam knew his wife. However, since we ​don’t use the same idioms as the Ancient Israelites, the ​phrase “sexual relations” can help us better understand ​what is really taking place in the text. 

Now, there is a potential drawback with functional

translations. Translating often involves interpreting –

it’s inevitable. However, the more functional a

translation, the more interpreting scholars will need to

do. Instead of allowing readers to study and

understand the meaning on their own, very functional

translations can end up including the translator’s own

interpretive biases in the text. This is why each Bible

version has a committee of multiple translators from

different backgrounds working on it.

Which Bible Translation is Most Accurate?

None! No translation can fully capture the nuance of the ​Biblical languages. This does not mean that our English ​translations are “bad,” it’s just that we cannot perfectly ​translate between two languages. However, translators work ​hard to produce the best versions of the Bible in our ​language so that we can still know what scripture says even ​without understanding the original languages. 

Instead of trying to find the best translation, choose

one that aligns with how you plan to use it. If you need

a Study Bible, choose a translation that is good for

study. If you would like to read devotionally, then

choose a translation for devotional reading.