Which Bible translation is the best?

[historia]

Which English translation of the Bible do you like the best?

Why do you like it better than other translations?

And which one do you like second best?

[jgh7]

[Replying to post 20 by onewithhim]

It does bother me since it wasn't originally that way. I would prefer the tetragrammaton to be in those places, since we are at least sure of the consonants of The Name. I know they put "LORD" in all caps to reference God's Name, but I feel like I often don't pay attention to that so I don't always realize when they're saying Lord vs. God's Name in the scripture I read.

But on the other hand, since we don't know truly what God's name is, I do like it simply being referred to as LORD. If I read the tetragrammaton, I would probably insert my own preference for God's Name based on the available translations people have given, and I could very well be wrong in my preference. I'd rather not know God's name than be continually mispronouncing it for my life.

So I guess I'm torn on the matter.

[tigger2]

[Replying to post 21 by jgh7]

But you see no problem with using the equally mispronounced but traditional English name of 'Jesus'?

[jgh7]

[Replying to post 22 by tigger2]

I view it differently because "Jesus" as I understand it is the Greek form of His Hebrew name. It is not meant to be the original true name, and I understand that it is not attempting to be.

However, translations for God's (the Father's) name do seem to be attempting to be His literal true name. Correct me if I'm wrong on that though.

In any case, I view the Father's name as the Holiest Name, and I don't wish to mispronounce it or even use another language's translation of it. Since Jesus came down to this earth as a man, I feel more comfortable referring to Him as I would for the names of other humans who walk on this earth where they are translated and/or pronounced differently in other languages.

[tam]

Peace to you JGH,


Perhaps the following will help some:


Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; his name is JAH; and exult ye before him. Psalm 68:4


If you scroll down on this link, you can see the original word in that verse which is rendered JAH:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa ... onc_546004



People have rendered "YHWH" into "Jehovah", but this is incorrect, as I think most understand, including the WTS. Even in the JW reference bible, it is accepted that Yahweh is considered to be more grammatically correct by scholars.

(the 'w' in Yahweh should have a 'v' sound though; just as the "J" has the "Y" sound in JAH: JAHVEH - pronounced YAHVEH - the spirit in me bore witness to the truth of this the moment I heard it.)


So even if you are uncertain about how YHWH is rendered and pronounced (and I understand that concern COMPLETELY, since we are told to worship in spirit and in truth, and I would certainly not be able to use a name that I knew was incorrect - tradition or no tradition)... JAH is correct (and true). This is the name given in the above Psalm. This is also the name given when we praise God in the phrase,

"HalleluJAH".

Praise JAH!


God's name is also present in many of the prophet's names (spelled JAH or IAH, but with the same SOUND):

JeremIAH
ZecharIAH
IsaIAH
ObadIAH


Also,

EliJAH (meaning my God is JAH; where El = God) See the following link for support: https://www.behindthename.com/name/elijah


Even "Messiah" means Chosen One of JAH.



Hope that helps some!



May you be given ears to hear if you wish them, that you may know the truth of these things, and also hear as the Spirit (Christ) and the Bride say to you, "Come!" May anyone who wishes and anyone who thirsts, "Come! Take the free gift of the water of LIFE".



Peace to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[JehovahsWitness]

It is not meant to be the original true name, and I understand that it is not attempting to be.

However, translations for God's (the Father's) name do seem to be attempting to be His literal true name.

What do you mean by " original name"? And "literal true name"? Are you refering to the name of the Son in Hebrew ( יְהוֹש�וּעַ ) ?



JW

[JehovahsWitness]

I'd rather not know God's name than be continually mispronouncing it for my life.

So I guess I'm torn on the matter.

You certainly seem to be.

What about the fact that the name Jesus means "YHWH saves" so every single time you say the name Jesus you are actually "(mis)pronouncing" the Divine Name as "JEE"?

To illustrate If someone liked the name was DAVID so they named their baby "beautiful-David" but you pronounced it "Beautuful-Wavid" Every single time you said "Beautuful-Wavid" you would be mispronouncing the name the parent loved so much. That is in reality what you are doing whenever you say the name "YHWH-saves" otherwise known as JESUS.

Hope that helps,


JW

[tigger2]

[Replying to post 22 by tigger2]

I view it differently because "Jesus" as I understand it is the Greek form of His Hebrew name. It is not meant to be the original true name, and I understand that it is not attempting to be.

However, translations for God's (the Father's) name do seem to be attempting to be His literal true name. Correct me if I'm wrong on that though.

In any case, I view the Father's name as the Holiest Name, and I don't wish to mispronounce it or even use another language's translation of it. Since Jesus came down to this earth as a man, I feel more comfortable referring to Him as I would for the names of other humans who walk on this earth where they are translated and/or pronounced differently in other languages.

Jesus' name, as he and those who knew him used it, was something close to Yehoshua (sometimes shortened to Yeshua). When it was later transliterated into NT Greek it became Iesous (yay-soos). In either case 'Jesus' is not how it was pronounced!

So for those Trinitarians and 'binitarians' who complain about the use of 'Jehovah,' how is it you don't make as big a fuss about 'Jesus' since he is supposedly equally God with Jehovah?

[jgh7]

[Replying to post 22 by tigger2]

I view it differently because "Jesus" as I understand it is the Greek form of His Hebrew name. It is not meant to be the original true name, and I understand that it is not attempting to be.

However, translations for God's (the Father's) name do seem to be attempting to be His literal true name. Correct me if I'm wrong on that though.

In any case, I view the Father's name as the Holiest Name, and I don't wish to mispronounce it or even use another language's translation of it. Since Jesus came down to this earth as a man, I feel more comfortable referring to Him as I would for the names of other humans who walk on this earth where they are translated and/or pronounced differently in other languages.

Jesus' name, as he and those who knew him used it, was something close to Yehoshua (sometimes shortened to Yeshua). When it was later transliterated into NT Greek it became Iesous (yay-soos). In either case 'Jesus' is not how it was pronounced!

So for those Trinitarians and 'binitarians' who complain about the use of 'Jehovah,' how is it you don't make as big a fuss about 'Jesus' since he is supposedly equally God with Jehovah?

I did not mean to bring the Trinity debate into this. And I did not mean to call into question how others address God and Jesus. I just wanted to give my personal opinion on a question onewithhim asked. But I'm sorry because I should have made it clear from the start. This is only my personal opinion on what I feel, and this thread seemed more casual and opinion-based than others. And I don't judge whatsoever those who call God Jehovah or Yahweh. Because I know they mean to do so with utmost respect and reverence in their faith, and it is not my place to judge that. You are more than welcome to debate that stuff with others though, but I won't be getting into it.

[historia]

My opinion:

First, I prefer a more literal (or formal equivalent) translation to more paraphrastic (or dynamic equivalent) translations. While I appreciate the fact that any translation necessarily entails some level of interpretation, I prefer to keep the translators' interpretations (and biases) to a minimum. That rules out the NIV and NLT for me.

At the same time, the more literal a translation becomes the more wooden it sounds. The NASB at times veers into this too-literal category for me, so I also have to rule it out. I'm also not a fan of some of the NASB's conventions like capitalizing divine pronouns.

Third, the translation needs to utilize the modern, critical (NA/UBS) Greek text for the New Testament, as well as take into account the LXX, Dead Sea scrolls, and other ancient versions when translating the Old Testament, so as to get us closer to the original text. That rules out the KJV and NKJV.

That leaves my two favorite translations: the NRSV and ESV. They are sister translations, both being revisions of the the RSV. I like the NRSV better for a variety of reasons, including: (a) you can easily get it with the full Apocrypha, including texts like 3 and 4 Maccabees and Psalm 151, which are only part of the Eastern Orthodox canon; (b) it's widely used in academia, and (c) the NRSV translators did a better job revising some of the RSV's clunkier phrasing than the ESV translators, producing a text with better literary quality.

The only downside to the NRSV, from my point of view, is that it has not been widely adopted by Evangelicals. That's not a problem in and of itself, except that Evangelicals drive the Bible marketplace. And so, if I want a Bible with, say, a premium goatskin cover, or wide margins, or in a smaller travel size, or even in an audio version or a study Bible, etc., there are numerous editions and formats available for the ESV (as well as KJV, NKJV, and NASB, which are also favored by Evangelicals), but a paucity of choices for the NRSV.

The only translation from the OP I didn't touch on in my analysis here is the (Holman) Christian Standard Bible. I haven't spent a lot of time looking at this translation, to be honest, but it's indicative of a class of translations that I think are frankly unnecessary. There are more than enough English translations of the Bible today to satisfy pretty much everyone's preferences. Translations like the HCSB (and even more so its successor, the CSB) don't really do anything particularly different. They seem to exist solely so the publisher doesn't have to pay royalties for an existing translation.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 20 by onewithhim]

It does bother me since it wasn't originally that way. I would prefer the tetragrammaton to be in those places, since we are at least sure of the consonants of The Name. I know they put "LORD" in all caps to reference God's Name, but I feel like I often don't pay attention to that so I don't always realize when they're saying Lord vs. God's Name in the scripture I read.

But on the other hand, since we don't know truly what God's name is, I do like it simply being referred to as LORD. If I read the tetragrammaton, I would probably insert my own preference for God's Name based on the available translations people have given, and I could very well be wrong in my preference. I'd rather not know God's name than be continually mispronouncing it for my life.

So I guess I'm torn on the matter.

It has been said that even if you just say the Hebrew letters YHWH (Yohd-Heh-VaV-Heh) that that is fine.

It has also been said that there are dozens of ways to pronounce God's name, depending on a person's language, and this is perfectly acceptable. As long as we are trying to pronounce "Yohd-Heh-Vav-Heh."

So, saying the letters of his name OR pronouncing his name according to our own language----either is acceptable. What is important is that we use his name.

To Moses: "Yes, tell them 'Jehovah. the God of your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my eternal name, to be used throughout all generations." (Exodus 3:15, The Living Bible)