Bible Question: I want to buy a new Bible. I am very conflicted whether I should go with the ESV or the NASB. I want the most accurate translation available from the original languages. I have been using the Old King James for many years and find unacceptable the mis-translation in Isaiah 14:12 and references to the Passover as "Easter." Please help.... |
Bible Answer: Greetings SAnsel, Wow, I can indeed sympathize with your plight as there is rife number of paramount Bible translations to choose from these days.. The most accurate translation of the Bible is the New American Standard Bible (NASB) with an approximate 11th grade reading level. The so-called "Bible Spectrum" from most accurate translations (standard formal equivalence) to most paraphrasing translations is as follows: Most Formal Equivalent ---------------------- NASB KJV Douay-Rheims NKJV ASV RSV ESV NRSV NIV HCSB NLT JB NJB NAB NEB REB CEV TEV LB Amplified Phillips Cotton Patch The Message -------------------- Most Paraphrasing While the ESV (English Standard Version) is an excellent modern English translation and is arguably the most 'precise' translation, it is essentially a conservative update of the older RSV that retains much of the traditional, ecclesiastical terms such as 'justification' (Example: Romans 4:25). The ESV (unlike the NRSV) retains the 'male' meaning in passages where the male meaning component is part of the original Greek or Hebrew. The ESV uses second to none modern English which many contrast to the NASB, which at times, could be seen as 'wooden' or pondering. The NASB and ESV are essentially cousins - both based on the same family of textual manuscripts, they both come from the same KJV/RV/ASV/RSV family line - the NASB a child of the ASV and ESV a child of the RSV. But the NASB places critical renderings (such as Acts 8:37) within the overall text (although in brackets) while the ESV puts them on the bottom of the page like the NIV. The most literal translation of the Bible is the NASB. The best overall and arguably most literal translation of the Bible that uses the Textus Receptus as its manuscript base is the New King James Version (NKJV). If you are Catholic, then it would be hard to argue against one of the following: JB, NJB, the NAB or NRSV. The JB or, better yet, the NJB, are more 'free' or idiomatic. The NAB is precise but is the Official Catholic Bible with undeniable Catholic tendencies. The NRSV is ideal for you if you are looking for RSV like precision but with a 'gender neutral' emphasis. One of the best translations that claims word-for-word precision while taking advantage of the most current spoken English is the English Standard Version (ESV). "The Reformed Study Bible" is one recent Study Bible that utilizes the ESV text. If you are looking for more dynamic equivalence in a translation without losing much of the word-for-word precision, then I suggest the NIV, HCSB or NLT (in that order). If you are looking for a more 'free' translation than any of these (free from word for word, verse by verse structure), then there is the Good News Bible (or TEV - has pictures), Living Bible (uses more current events/issues to describe Biblical events), The Message (paraphrase) or even The Amplified Bible which actually places scripture references at times within the text itself. Either the ESV or NASB would be a great enhancement over the old KJV, especially in such passages like Isaiah 14:12 and Acts 12:4: Isaiah 14:12 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" (KJV) Isaiah 14:12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!" (ESV) Isaiah 14:12 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!" (NASB) Acts 12:4 "And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." (KJV) Acts 12:4 "And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people." (ESV) Acts 12:4 "When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people." (NASB) Many Bible students have awarded the NASB with great commendation and respect for being such a literal and studious translation that even at times carries the very same sentence structure in some places as the original Greek and Hebrew, where that is possible. But you would be well served with either the ESV or NASB, depending on your preference. I pray that this helps, Nolan Keck |