Which Bible Translation Should You Use?

This week's episode is about Bible translations. Is there one you should use? How do you pick the right translation for you? The resources and app that I mention are below the transcript. I'd love to know, which Bible Translation do you use when you study the Bible? DM me on Instagram @deneamarable and let me know.

Transcript:

Hello. Hello. It's Denea, your host of the Faith Filled Mom Podcast. I hope that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I hope today you make it a mission to pause. Just pause.

Pause before you do the next task. Pause maybe while you were doing a task. And I think, especially as moms, when we hear this, we're like, okay. When am I supposed to have time to to pause? And I think here's the beautiful thing about a pause.

A pause can be ten seconds. A pause can be a minute. It can be ten minutes if you have it, but it's just a way for us to be able to just slow down, just just for a second, just for thirty seconds, just for a minute, however long you have, what this looks like for me. And know that your pause does not have to look like mine. This is just to kinda get the wheels turning for you in terms of some examples.

But what it looks like for me sometimes is I will be about to wash my face, and I'll just but before I I, you know, I get what I need, I'll just stop. Or, um, sometimes when I'm in the car, because, you know, the car sometimes is like a second office. Like like your office. Like an office, I should say. And, uh, sometimes I'll just be sitting there.

And before I'm about to go pick up or drop off or run-in the store or do whatever, I'll just sit there just just for a second. Sometimes I take a deep breath and a slow exhale. Sometimes I will say something really kind to myself. Um, sometimes I'll I'll acknowledge God and ask him, like, God, I really need you to help me, uh, be productive. Focus.

Please help me regulate my emotions and my nervous system while I run-in the store. Give me your wisdom and discernment to be able to go in here and get what I need and come out. Um, sometimes I'll the pause looks like before I'm about to say something, and I'll be like, oh, let me let let me reset real quick. Um, sometimes I'll pause and I'll just listen to, like, how the birds sound. The pause can can look like it can be whatever you need for that what however long you have that time frame.

But I think it's just good for us sometimes to just pause so that we're not always rushing to do something. So I really hope and pray that you you find a way to do that because you do deserve that. Today's episode can I say this again? I'm so excited for it. I feel like I say that every episode, but, yeah, I I really, really do get excited.

Like, when I when I plan these episodes and then when I hit record, like, I don't know. I just get giddy. I'm so excited to talk about it today, y'all. We are talking about the different types of bible translations. Is there one that you should use?

Is there one that you shouldn't use? Um, are all translations the same? Maybe you were like me at one point and had no idea that there was even a difference. We're gonna talk about it today. Let me pray a second.

God, thank you for your word. Thank you for the work of Bible translators that are translating your word into different languages so that Your Word can be known throughout this world. We thank You for those Bible translators, and we pray for them, that You would give them the wisdom and discernment to do what you've called them to do. Give them the endurance, God. We thank you for your word, that it is for us to know you, to know Jesus, uh, to know ourselves, the identity that you have given us, to know how you want us to live.

Help us, God, as we are trying to grow and studying your word for comprehension, with context in mind, with the original language in mind. Please help us as we do this. Holy Spirit, we acknowledge you. And, yes, while we are learning about different Bible translations, we do ask, Holy Spirit that you would come into this conversation and reveal things to us about God and Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen.

Okay. So like I said, at one point, I did not even know there was a difference between Bible translations, y'all. And then I found out that there were different types, and I was like, woah. Does everybody else know about this? Like, is this like?

I don't know. I felt like this was something that needed to be talked about. And then, um, this semester, we were talking about just the different translations. And I was like, okay. Like, I more people have to know about this.

Like, this cannot just be like a you know, you go to seminary and you know it. Like, this needs to be news. This this needs to be widespread. And so that is what today's episode is about. Now there are different groups of translations.

In general, they fall into three main categories. That would be literal, or sometimes you'll see this, um, called word for word, dynamic equivalence, or sometimes you will see this as thought for thought, or paraphrased. And you know I'm gonna give you examples of the different types of translations. So that literal or word for word. Oh, and I forgot to say this is one thing this is one reason too why I'm so excited.

It is because y'all we are going to look and, I mean, I know this is audio, but we are going to do this together. We're gonna look at, uh, at one Bible verse in different translations to kind of drive home the point that it actually does matter which translation you use. Okay. So back to what I was saying. Literal.

Word for word. What's gonna fall into your category, uh, this category, would be your, um, ASV, your American, uh, standard version, your, uh, new American standard version, the new King James version. And I say and there are more too. I'm just giving you a few examples. Um, and I said the new King James version over King James version because those are actually two different, uh, translations.

There has been a lot of, uh, hubbub controversy over over the King James version. Some translation decisions were made that it doesn't exactly translate direct because that's that's kind of the thing with these literal word for word translations. They have a reputation for being the closest, like, English trans translation to the original language. And a couple years ago, it was found out that that's not exactly true with the King James version throughout that bible, um, and that's why they have the new King James version. So and I guess maybe I should I should back up.

So the bible, it was written, um, not in English in in different in different languages. And so in order to spread God's word, there are Bible translators who, I mean, do do the work. And I and, like, go through interpretation and and hermeneutics and all through that process to get the Bible to match up in a certain language as best as they can. And so with these are the ones that we have in English. So that literal word for word, um, some pros of these, if you will.

I told you, I'm like, when I was prepping for this episode, maybe it's just I don't know. The thought of doing research. I don't know. But I was I was really excited. I was like, oh, I'm gonna make a pros and cons list, and we're gonna go through it together.

Okay. So the pros list for literal word for word, These have a reputation, like I said, for being, like, the closest English in the English language, um, the closest that we can get in our language in English to what was originally written. And remember, that is the goal with our with Bible study. God gave his message to human authors. We know that the Bible is God breathed.

These authors were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is God's message. He gave it to human authors. So we wanna get as close to the original language that they were using when they wrote it so that we can understand and comprehend god's word as he intended for us to comprehend it and so that we can apply it as god intended for us to originally apply his word. So that is the that's the goal, right, when we're studying the Bible.

So we have to keep that in mind when we're trying to figure out which translation is gonna be best for our study. So these, literal word for word, they happen to be the closest. Now, a con is that they are typically, honestly, truly, very hard to read. Because because the fact that they it kinda sounds like old English. Um, and so that can be distracting.

Like, the readability level on these, I think, is pretty low. Um, it can be distracting, and it's it's just hard to get into it. Like, if you have ever, like, if you have ever read one of these, you know that they use vow and yay and thus and, um, what is abideth and words like that. And so sometimes when you are trying to study, it don't it almost gets distracting because you're like, what? Wait a minute.

Now say what now? Like, what what's happening? Who is talking? What language is this in? And so we have to keep that in mind.

Right? But, again, it is really close to that original language, which is our goal. The next category would be dynamic equivalence or thought for thought. These would be your, um, these are also sometimes called, like, uh, mediating mediating, uh, translations. Uh, your NLT, NIV, CSB.

These are kind of they fall somewhere in the middle. They're some they're able to capture the meaning and intention behind what was originally written. Um, so they're able to do that. They are another pro is that they are more readable. They're more more readable.

They are, yeah, they are more readable, um, than the literal. Now a con is that these are a little bit further away from the original language. Therefore, some of the meaning is lost. And that is something that we have to be aware of. Because, again, you know what our original goal is.

We're trying to we're trying to get as close as we can to that original language. And then the last group that paraphrased, this would be the message or the good news translations. These tend to be, um, very readable. They also tend to another pro, I think, is that they tend to include, um, a lot of language that is culturally relevant. Like, you most likely will not see yay, thus, abideth.

You most likely will not see that in in the message or the good news translation. Uh, con is that these are the furthest away from the original language. And because they are paraphrased, there is a lot of the meaning that is lost. Say, for example, if I say to you, oh, man. I am so hungry, and I have to go to the store, and then I have to do laundry when I get back home.

The message or the good news translation would probably say something like, Danae, is very hungry and very busy today. Now is that wrong? No. I mean, that is that is accurate. However, you see that some of the specifics get lost.

And when we're talking about, like, my earthly errands, no. Like, it it's it's not a big deal. Right? But when we're talking about God's word that he gave us, when we lose some of that meaning, it does become a big deal. And we're we're gonna go over an example of how how that gets lost.

So just to recap real quick, we've got our literal, uh, new American standard bible, uh, uh, American Standard Version, um, the New King James Version, that we have our I'm pretty sure it's mediating mediating dynamic equivalence, thought for thought. That would be your CSB, NLT, um, new international version. Then you're paraphrased, which which tends to be, uh, incredibly easy to read, culturally relevant as far as language goes, but it loses a lot of the original meaning. And that would be, like, your message or your good news translations. So what then because I still haven't said, like, what what is the best is there a best translation?

Is there one that we shouldn't use? Please know that what I'm about to say is commentary. It is not in the Bible. So I I want to I want to make that distinction right here. When you are thinking trying to figure out which translation to use, please go to God in prayer.

My words, honestly, this this is just commentary. I personally think that it depends on the type of study that you want. Paraphrased, the message, uh, the good news translation, I personally think it's a good practice to maybe stay away from those because of the fact that you do lose so much of what was originally written, the intention there. I understand that they're a lot easier to read, but, again, when we're studying for context, like, I just feel like so much of that gets lost. And there are other things, which we're gonna talk about, like, some tools that we can use to kinda help us, like, get to that original language because I keep saying that.

What exactly what does that mean? How do we do that? We're gonna talk about that too in this episode. But I just feel like it's so much harder to do that when you when you're dealing with these paraphrasing translations. Again, I I am thankful for all Bible translators.

I wanna say that because it gets people to read the Bible, you know, in in their language. And I think that's beautiful. I think when you have an awareness of, okay, I need to really start reading the Bible for context here. I think there are a lot of changes that we have to make with that. And I think picking a translation, a Bible translation is one of those changes.

I personally I have said this, find the ASV, uh, New King James version. I find them very hard to read. So what what I do is I tend to read, um, New Living Translation or the CSB, and I like to compare what they say against what the ASV or the King James version says. I like to compare them. Is that more time consuming?

It is. But those versions are just they're just easier for me to read because I do want to I wanna get the context behind it. So that is that's just that's just my personal commentary. Um, if you can if the literal translations are readable for you, you better go ahead, girl. Like, please please please read those.

I'm not discouraging you from doing that at all. If you're listening to this and you're like, Danae, right about now, like, paraphrasing pair the paraphrase translations, that's all I can that's where I am right now. Then girl, you better do what you need to do to read the Bible. And when you're ready, maybe pick another translation or do one of these tips that we're going to talk about at the end that can kind of help you get closer to that original language. Okay.

So now that we know there are different types of translations, Let's look at an example. Let's look at an example of one verse. Now I have said this before. Whenever you are trying out, um, uh, interpretation or hermeneutic uh, method or, uh, looking into a different translation, I always think it is a really good practice to do that with a group of scripture that you are already familiar with. So it's not like that big of a stretch.

Big of a stretch for you. To me, that feels a lot easier. When I am looking at something, when I'm trying to learn how to do something in a new way, I need to have some something that I'm familiar with to help me in that process. So that's what we're doing here. So we are going to look at we're not gonna look at the whole Psalm for time's sake, but we're going to look at Psalm 23 verse one.

Y'all know I've talked about this before. Y'all know that's my favorite. This is my favorite group of scripture in every season. It is it is just so comforting and refreshing that our God is the Good Shepherd and how he intimately takes care of us and tends to us. I just think that it is it is just a beautiful illustration.

Um, and so that's the one that we're gonna look at, Psalm twenty three one. So I am going to go to an app that is called the Blue Letter Bible app. I've talked about this app before as well. Um, it is I think it's a great digital accessory to have in your bible study. It also gives you access to looking at what that scripture says in the original language.

So we're gonna do that too while we're here. Again, it's called Blue Letter Bible App. So when you first open it, when you first download it, you're gonna see a lot of you're gonna see scripture and then you're gonna see a lot of icons and you're you might feel like me. And when I opened this, I was like, I feel I immediately felt overwhelmed. So I'm going to hopefully decrease some of that overwhelm.

What you are going to do, what you're looking at on my phone, that first icon in the top left corner, if you click on that, you will be able to select two different, uh, translations that you want to compare, which I think is is pretty cool. So I have selected the new King James version and, um, new living translation. And then when you click on the scripture, you can either do old testament, new testament. You'll see the names there. We are going to go to Psalm twenty three one.

And then I also have open, um, Psalm twenty three one in the message, uh, in my in my, um, Bible app. Okay. So we're gonna read it first in the New King James version. Psalm 20 three:one. The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want. And I'm sorry, we're actually we're actually going to read Psalm 23, uh, verse three. I'm sorry. Um, and New King James version, it says, he restores my soul. He leads me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23 verse three in New Living translation says, he renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Not much of a variance, but you can you know that there are some some differences. You just heard it. And then we're going to look at Psalm 23 and, uh, verse three in the message.

True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Okay. Let's talk about it. Starting with the message, is that false that God is true to his word and he he does let us catch our breath and he wants to send us in the right direction? Is that false?

No. However, that is not what David wrote. And so I think the thing here is that we we miss the fact that we miss the for for his name's sake. And then and I'll read it again in the new in, uh, New King James version, And then I'm gonna read it again in the original language, how it's written. He restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. This is what it looks like in the in Hebrew. My soul, he restoreth. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, forsake his names. Now that last part for his namesake, I feel like that is so important, that context, because David, he was a shepherd, so he knows that a shepherd is really can only call themselves good if that's what their reputation is.

Right? And their reputation is based on how they care for their sheep, how they tend to their sheep, the appearance of their sheep, how they care for their sheep. And so, I feel like it is so important for us to know that, of course, God is love. You know, he's he's just, um, he's he's a lot of things and he does care for us and he is kind but God is also faithful. And I feel like what what verse three is saying in this last part of the of this, um, of this verse who leads me in the paths of righteousness righteousness for his name's sake.

God leads us in out in the paths of righteousness and the right ways to be with him, um, for his name's sake because it's his reputation because he's faithful, if that makes sense. So if I do something that's for my name's sake, I'm gonna do it, um, because I want it to align with who I am as a person. And I feel like we kinda miss that in the message translation, which should just it says true to your word. You let me catch my breath and you send me in the right direction. Again, it's not false, but we just miss the details, the fact that God is intentional about being faithful with us.

He's faithful because he said he is going to be faithful. Right? That is his reputation. And I feel like that is missed in the message. So that's one example of why we have to be mindful that these translations sometimes can lose a little bit of meaning.

Now one thing that the King or I'm sorry. One thing that the Blue Letter Bible app will allow you to do is to look at it, the scripture, and it's an original language. So we're we're gonna walk through how to do that. I'm also going to tell you, um, about other resources that allow you to do that too just in case you're like, oh, I do not need another app on my phone, which I totally get it. Um, Blue Letter Bible app.

When you click on a verse, you will see a lot of options that open that you have open up. Under that first category, it says study. You will see interlinear slash concordance con cordinance. No. Con cordance.

Why did I have trouble saying that? Um, concordance. And when you scroll down, it shows you, hey. This is what this scripture says, um, in Hebrew. And you can kind of see what the author was originally trying to say.

And I do think that is important again because because that's that's what we wanna know. We wanna know what God what that message was that he gave that author, and this kind of helps us see that. Now sometimes, this is not going to make sense in in English. Right? Language changes, and I think that's fine.

I think it's fine even when you have the original language, and you're like, okay. Say what now? Like, this doesn't even make sense. Like, I I don't grasp what they were trying to say. I think it's fine when we have that reaction because we're human, and we're living on this side of when this was written.

Right? We're living on the on the other side of when this was originally written. I think this is when we can actually do things, like find out who wrote the Psalm because that does give us context for what they were trying to say. I think we can look at individual words. That's another thing you can do on this app.

You can click on any of these words, um, and it will give you the context. It'll also tell you, um, when it was maybe mentioned in another scripture so you can get gain more of an understanding. Is it time consuming to do it this way? Yes. And I think that's one of the main differences between reading the Bible and studying the Bible.

Studying the Bible is going to require a lot more of our time. It it just is. I think it's harder. It is more time consuming. It is going to require more energy, um, from us.

But I think that it is worth it when we're trying to study god's word with because we wanna know what he was trying to say through those authors and how we're supposed to live this out and walk it out. So that is one way, the Blue Letter Bible app. Now like I said, if you are like, yeah, Danae, I'm not I that's great, but getting another app on my phone? Nope. Um, so there are websites.

There are books that you can, um, that you can get. Now, of course, you can you can Google, um, some or whatever message, uh, whatever scripture you are reading, you can just Google, like, what is it in its original language.

Resources Mentioned:

Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary: https://a.co/d/a5j87GU

The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: https://a.co/d/fa9aOAH

Strong's Concise Concordance and Vine's Concise Dictionary: https://a.co/d/g5aTAh4

Blue Letter Bible Website and App:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/ 

Contact Me:

Website: https://www.deneamarable.com/

Email: deneamarable@gmail.com