Split-off thread: Bible translations for study

[Zymologist]

That's a good version for reading. Not for study.

I hope this isn't too off-topic, but what would you say is a good version for study? I don't have an ESV, but I'm curious what you think.

[Cow Poke]

I hope this isn't too off-topic, but what would you say is a good version for study? I don't have an ESV, but I'm curious what you think.

If it gets to be a lengthy discussion, we'll move it to its own thread - I like the KJV because that's from whence all my scripture is memorized. For study, I like the Holman Christian Standard Bible. For deeper study, I have the very expensive LOGOS library, but generally (because it's so much quicker and FREE) use blueletterbible.org 's free resources. I'll often look at the Young's Literal Translation, and Darby.

One of the biggest mistakes people make (Mickiel is infamous for this) is to take a King James (or other English version) word, and do a study on that TRANSLATED word, rather than the word from which it was translated. It's VERY easy these days to drill down to the Greek and Hebrew - BlueLetter lets you do that for free.

[Zymologist]

If it gets to be a lengthy discussion, we'll move it to its own thread - I like the KJV because that's from whence all my scripture is memorized. For study, I like the Holman Christian Standard Bible. For deeper study, I have the very expensive LOGOS library, but generally (because it's so much quicker and FREE) use blueletterbible.org 's free resources. I'll often look at the Young's Literal Translation, and Darby.

One of the biggest mistakes people make (Mickiel is infamous for this) is to take a King James (or other English version) word, and do a study on that TRANSLATED word, rather than the word from which it was translated. It's VERY easy these days to drill down to the Greek and Hebrew - BlueLetter lets you do that for free.

Cool, thanks. I've heard good things about the HCSB before, and I hope to get a copy soon. I've always stuck with my NASB largely because I grew up with it and am familiar with it, but I'm also familiar with the KJV. I was just curious.

[Cow Poke]

Cool, thanks. I've heard good things about the HCSB before, and I hope to get a copy soon. I've always stuck with my NASB largely because I grew up with it and am familiar with it, but I'm also familiar with the KJV. I was just curious.

No prob - I created a user account on BlueLetterBible, and defaulted my view to HCSB -- It's really handy for cut/paste scriptures into my powerpoints for my sermons. (I believe they allow you freedom to copy as long as it's not HUGE sections of text)

[Paprika]

Cool, thanks. I've heard good things about the HCSB before, and I hope to get a copy soon. I've always stuck with my NASB largely because I grew up with it and am familiar with it, but I'm also familiar with the KJV. I was just curious.

I find the online NET Bible invaluable. You can compare the translated text with the original languages, the English text being scrollable from chapter to chapter and the original text following the chapter you're focusing on. What is also very useful are the copious translators' notes that discuss details ranging from textual variants, reasoning behind choices of interpretation and rendering, suggested meaning of ambiguous phrases, connotations of the original languages that are unable to be rendered in translation and many more.

[Cow Poke]

I find the online NET Bible invaluable. You can compare the translated text with the original languages, the English text being scrollable from chapter to chapter and the original text following the chapter you're focusing on. What is also very useful are the copious translators' notes that discuss details ranging from textual variants, reasoning behind choices of interpretation and rendering, suggested meaning of ambiguous phrases, connotations of the original languages that are unable to be rendered in translation and many more.

That too!

[Littlejoe]

Cool, thanks. I've heard good things about the HCSB before, and I hope to get a copy soon. I've always stuck with my NASB largely because I grew up with it and am familiar with it, but I'm also familiar with the KJV. I was just curious.

I'm going to disagree with CP on this a little bit...(I have a GREAT deal of respect for CP, and we are friends on and off the site)

But HCSB IMO is less literal than either NASB or ESV...and I think that's backed up by scholarship. NASB is a pretty literal translation as is the ESV, but though I have both translations (as well as an NIV, an HCSB and a KJV) My favorite is the ESV. I think it reads as well as the HCSB or the NIV but leans a little more literal to the original text. I too grew up on and memorized a lot of KJV scripture, but it's proven to be a fairly flawed version given it's translation method as well as it's outdated language issues. The NASB was the first Bible I ever bought on my own, and I chose it because of it's scholastic chops (at the time), but I always found it's reading a bit stilted and awkward...that's my opinion. I second CP's advice on Blue Letter Bible and going back to the Greek and Hebrew. It's much easier now days than ever before... and Robercht and John Reese as well as others are a great asset. they have helped me several times immensely!

[Cow Poke]

I'm going to disagree with CP on this a little bit...(I have a GREAT deal of respect for CP, and we are friends on and off the site)

But HCSB IMO is less literal than either NASB or ESV...and I think that's backed up by scholarship. NASB is a pretty literal translation as is the ESV, but though I have both translations (as well as an NIV, an HCSB and a KJV) My favorite is the ESV. I think it reads as well as the HCSB or the NIV but leans a little more literal to the original text. I too grew up on and memorized a lot of KJV scripture, but it's proven to be a fairly flawed version given it's translation method as well as it's outdated language issues. The NASB was the first Bible I ever bought on my own, and I chose it because of it's scholastic chops (at the time), but I always found it's reading a bit stilted and awkward...that's my opinion. I second CP's advice on Blue Letter Bible and going back to the Greek and Hebrew. It's much easier now days than ever before... and Robercht and John Reese as well as others are a great asset. they have helped me several times immensely!

Bottom line - select a variety of trustworthy sources and compare them -- I still like my big leather "parallel bible", but you can simulate that online with a lot of the bible study programs.

[Zymologist]

Good comments, everyone. Paprika, I'll check out the NET Bible--I've heard good things about it too but had forgotten about it. Littlejoe, I agree that the NASB is a little stilted at times; I guess I've just gotten used to it.

I'm also rather fond of my 1599 Geneva Bible, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that to anyone. It's more of a novelty anymore.

[Cow Poke]

Here's a good source where you can see whole chapters "side by side" in different versions. Online Parallel Bible by Chapters.

[Jesse]

I also find NET Bible to be a really good resource. I use it often. I would tell anyone though, stay away from The Message.

[Cow Poke]

I also find NET Bible to be a really good resource. I use it often. I would tell anyone though, stay away from The Message.

I read The Message occasionally just for "reading" - not for study. But, yeah, I don't put much stock in it at all.

[KingsGambit]

Ever heard of the Street Bible? (To be fair, they changed its name to The Word on the Street). It makes The Message seem like the KJV in comparison.

[Zymologist]

Ever heard of the Street Bible? (To be fair, they changed its name to The Word on the Street). It makes The Message seem like the KJV in comparison.

[Jesse]

Ever heard of the Street Bible? (To be fair, they changed its name to The Word on the Street). It makes The Message seem like the KJV in comparison.

That is indeed a new one for me. Never heard of it.