![]() Translations are divided into those based on “formal equivalence” (or “word-for-word”), and those that use “dynamic equivalence” (or “thought-for-thought”). Generally, Bible versions are classified by their language and text. All of these versions differ in their phrasing and wording of passages, as well as their emphasis, tone and overall interpretation. Other popular versions of the Bible include the King James Version, the New International Version and the Douay-Rheims Bible. Many of these translations are based on the Common English Bible (CEB), which is a translation of the original Biblical texts into modern English. However, it is estimated that there are currently between 7 versions of the Bible in existence. Additionally, there are different editions of the same version, with varying numbers of books, chapters or verses. The exact number of versions of the Bible that exist is difficult to determine, as they are continually being revised and updated. ![]() The number of versions can be confusing, so this article will explore how many different versions of the Bible exist and the differences between them. There are countless versions, translations and interpretations of the Bible, all of which are based on the same source text. This means there is less emphasis on using the actual words of the Hebrew and Greek and is often not considered an official translation of the Bible (example: The Message).The Bible is one of the most influential sources of information in the world and its influence can be found in many aspects of culture and life. Paraphrased - A paraphrased version of the Bible focuses more on capturing the thought-for-thought behind the text instead of word-for-word. Readable/Dynamic Translations - Attempts to convey the original meaning and to be readable in contemporary English, using language and idioms that would be understood by modern readers (examples: NIV and NLT). Readability and understandability are not the primary focus (examples: KJV and NASB). Literal/Formal Translations - Attempts to keep the form and meaning of the original language in words, grammar and structure as close as possible to the author’s original intent. Bible translators can focus on either a literal or readable translation and many fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. So when a person is translating the Greek biblical text from the original manuscripts into English, there may be many words to choose from to communicate the author’s intended message. For example, there are often multiple English words for just one word in Greek. Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic languages have different complexities compared to the English language. confirming the reliability of the ancient texts. Remarkably the scrolls were found to be practically identical with the Masoretic text–most variants being minor spelling differences and none that impacted the meaning. In fact, since then, New Testament transcripts have been found dating as far back as the 2nd century A.D. The Dead Sea Scrolls helped translators get much closer to the date the text was originally written. In 1947, caves were discovered that held 900 ancient scrolls–the Dead Sea Scrolls–which dated back to the 2nd century B.C., well before Jesus was born. Until the mid-twentieth century, the oldest copies of the Old Testament were known as the Masoretic text, which were manuscripts translated between 500 and 950 A.D. Because of the multiple languages of the original text, all English versions we read today are a translation. Translations exist because the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, with some Aramaic (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament). Translations exist because (1) most people are not fluent in the original languages in which the Bible was written, and (2) the English language has evolved and changed over time. ![]() Below are some insights that will help as you choose a Bible version for yourself. When starting to study on your own, we recommend using a study Bible in a translation/version* that you can easily read and understand.
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