|
|
 |
 |
Sponsored By:  Bible Basics Videos
Learn about the differences in the various Bible translations.
Find the Bible to fit your needs.
Jump to section:
Introduction
Translations
Categories
Characteristics
Common Bible Terms
- Translation: “Translations” take the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts and put them into today’s language.
- Version: The term “Version” is often used interchangeably for translation.
- Word For Word: Biblical scholars took each word from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek text and substituted an English word in its place. (ex. King James Version)
- Thought For Thought: Translators looked at the meaning of the original thoughts and phrases of the original texts of the Bible and sought to convey those thoughts in a meaning and style that would have the same impact and understandability for modern readers as the original text had for its audience. (ex. New International Version)
- Paraphrase: A Bible that embraces a moderate degree of interpretation by restating biblical text from either existing English translations or original manuscripts. This restatement simplifies the text and expands it when necessary so that it is easier to understand. (ex. The Message)
by John Kohlenberger III, Biblical Scholar
Differences Between The Three Textual Interpretation Philosophies: Word for Word, Thought for Thought & Paraphrase
- Today’s best-selling translation
- Highly accurate
- Smooth and easy to read
- Thought for thought philosophy, while keeping the integrity and meaning of the original words
- 7th grade reading level (matches the reading ability of an average adult in the United States today)
- Buy a NIV Bible Now
2 Corinthians 10:13: “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.”
- Second most popular translation
- First published in 1611
- Word for word translation
- 12th grade reading level
- Buy a KJV Bible Now
2 Corinthians 10:13: “But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.”
- Modern language revision of the original King James Version
- Using the original as a benchmark, translators produced an accurate, modern, word for word translation that updates much of the difficult wording of the original KJV while preserving its basic literary structure.
- 9th grade reading level
- Buy a NKJV Bible Now
2 Corinthians 10:13: “We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us – a sphere which especially includes you.”
- A true thought for thought Bible translation
- The translators created a meticulously accurate text that possesses the same impact and understandability for modern readers as the original biblical text provided for its audience.
- 6th grade reading level
- Buy a NLT Bible Now
2 Corinthians 10:13: “But we will not boast of authority we do not have. Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us, and this plan includes our working there with you.”
- The original New American Standard was a highly respected, literal, word for word translation, but its language was considered to be quite formal.
- Bible scholars reviewed the text and updated it in 1995. The resulting New American Standard Bible remains true to its word for word scholarship, while providing readers with a smoother and easier to read translation.
- 11th grade reading level
- Buy a NASB Bible Now
2 Corinthians 10:13: “But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.”
- Translated by Eugene Peterson, The Message is a contemporary paraphrase of the New Testament, Job, Psalms, Proverbs and the Prophets.
- It was not designed as a true “word for word” or “thought for thought” translation.
- Instead, it is a flowing paraphrase that communicates the tone, rhythm, events and ideas of the Bible in the idiom of American English.
- Buy The Message Bible Now
2 Corinthians 10:13: “We aren’t making outrageous claims here. We’re sticking to the limits of what God has set for us. But there can be no question that those limits reach to and include you.”
Examples: The NIV Study Bible, The Life Application Bible
For readers who want to know more about:
- Biblical people, places, and times
- Specific Bible passages
A study Bible has…
- Notes and articles to enhance understanding
- Maps, charts, book introductions, outlines, and a concordance
- Buy Study Bibles Now
Examples: The NIV Women’s Devotional Bible, The NIV Men’s Devotional Bible, The One Year Bible
- Most devotional Bibles contain inspirational thoughts interspersed with Scripture passages in an easy-to-follow format. These devotional Bibles are often “daily-reading” Bibles that help a reader read through the entire Bible in a given time frame.
- May be written for specific audiences like: women, men, couples, or teens.
- Other Bibles without separate inspirational thoughts, may be classified devotional because of the overtones of their text or translation. The Message is an example of this unique style of devotional Bible.
- Buy Devotional Bibles Now
Examples: NIV Classic Reference Bible, Holman Ultrathin Bible, KJV Giant Print Personal Size Edition
- Text Bibles are typically the text of Scripture with no additional notes.
- Reference Bibles typically contain the text of Scripture plus a cross-reference system, so the reader can refer to a related passage.
- Buy Text & Reference Bibles Now
Both text and reference Bibles have limited study features.
Examples: NIrV Kids’ Study Bible (Ages 6 to 10), Adventure Bible for Young Readers (Ages 6 to 10), New Adventure Bible (Ages 8 to 12)
Children’s & Youth Bibles: Since these bibles are designed for specific age groups, you will need to consider the reader’s age when helping you find the right Bible.
Typically:
- May be used alone
- Used with a parent
- Used in a classroom
- Non-gender specific except for: God’s Word for Boys & God’s Word for Girls
Typically Have:
- Entire text of Scripture with a few colored pictures
- Bible study notes and/or applications
- Drawings
- Devotions
- Buy Children's Bibles Now
In Children’s Bibles, these features are designed just for kids!
Examples: Extreme Teen Study Bible (Ages 12 to 15), Teen Study Bible (Ages 12 to 15), Student’s Life Application Bible (Ages 12 to 15), The Student Bible (high schoolers & beyond)
Designed specifically for teens and young adults.
- Clear, honest, practical answers
- Cool graphics
- Straight forward approach to tough issues young people face everyday
- Buy Youth Bibles Now
- Parallel Bibles: Bibles that contain more than one translation
- Brides’ Bibles: Specially made for weddings
- Family Bibles: Large, decorative Bibles for family history and to display
- Electronic Bibles: Customized for computers
- Buy Specialty Bibles Now
Basic Terminology
- Hardcover: Material over stiff boards. Also known as clothbound.
- Softcover: Flexible cover glued to the spine of the Bible. Also known as paperback.
- Bonded Leather: Genuine leather pieces “bonded” with latex. Nice, durable material that’s less expensive than genuine leather. Bonded leather lasts about 10 years.
- Top-Grain Leather:
- This leather cover comes from the outside of the hide of an animal. Usually made of cowhide or pigskin.
- Is a superior binding material that gives longer wear and consistent quality. Top grain leather lasts for a lifetime, and will be a better value in the long run.
- Imitation Leather: Is an inexpensive material coated and embossed to look like leather. This type of binding is not very durable, and won’t last as long as the other leather bindings just discussed.
Basic Terminology
- Indexing: Also known as thumb-indexing
- This process refers to the putting of tabs on the fore-edge of a Bible to help readers locate each book of the Bible more quickly and easily.
- Indexing costs a little extra because each step must be done by hand. In a process that takes 10-15 minutes per Bible, 19 cuts are hand punched into each Bible, and tabs are hand applied to each index cut. No machines can do this!
- Imprinting: This process involves the stamping of a name in gold or silver foil, typically placed on the front, lower right-hand corner of the Bible.
- Concordance: A concordance is an alphabetical index of Bible words and names. Each item is followed by a list of verses containing that word or name.
- Dictionary/Concordance: This combination pairs an abbreviated Bible dictionary with a shortened concordance. The combined dictionary/concordance is most often used in gift and award Bibles and children’s Bibles.
- Red Letter Edition: This is a Bible that indicates all of the words of Christ in the New Testament in red print.
Additional Terminology
- Textual Interpretation Philosophy: The general approach used in translating the Bible’s original languages into current day language – namely word for word, thought for thought, and paraphrase.
- Translation: Taking the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts and putting them into today’s language. The 5 main translations are: The New International Version, King James Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, and New American Standard Bible.
- Category: A group of Bibles similar in terms of how they are used and/or their material or content. The five major categories include study, devotional, children’s and youth, text and reference, and specialty.
- Characteristic: Physical features and resources or helps of the Bible, aside from its translation or category. This includes its type of binding and, possibly, indexing, imprinting, a concordance or dictionary, and other similar features.
- Edition: An alteration or updating of a Bible, usually without modifying its style of translation or category.
|
|
|
