© Copyright and permissions Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms and conditions Safeguarding summary Pension Scheme, British and Foreign Bible Society operates in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.And we also work with a network of local Bible Societies around the world. Part of the confusion when it comes to reading the Bible is that the Bible wasn’t originally written in English. Wondering which bible translation is closest to the original text? This article represents the author’s personal view. We can get really close through an Interlinear bible.. An interlinear bible, like this one gives three things 1) the Hebrew/Greek word used What are the best ten Bible verses to memorise? Further, readability can become an issue. As a reader you may try reading more than one English translation, side by side, to appreciate the range of meanings a word or phrase can have. There has been a long fight between the New American Standard Bible and the King James Bible, for first place in accuracy. Answer: Choosing the most accurate translation is difficult because it is somewhat like asking, “What is the best brand of truck?” It depends on what you plan to do with it and what criteria you are using to evaluate it. Get the latest on how we’re bringing the Bible to life around the world in a short, weekly email. If you require more immediate assistance please visit our “Contact Us” page. List of the Best Translations of the Bible. The metaphor of the vessel in the original Greek evidently made sense to Peter’s readers, but does it now? English Standard Version (ESV) 3. So, for example, in an interlinear Bible the word-for-word rendering of the original Greek in John 2.3 reads: And having been deficient of wine says the mother of Jesus to him, Wine not they have. Strictly speaking, an ‘accurate’ translation of that sentence would have to read exactly like the original. These Bibles often provide a Strong’s Concordance number above each word for further research. Registered charity 232759. An Interlinear New Testament gives the Greek text on one line and, under it, the approximate English word for each Greek word. If you simply read the English words, you are left, in most cases, with a confusing jumble of words. Last but by no means least, translators regularly have to face up to the reality that one word can stand for different things. Your interlinear English rendering is accurate and consistent to an extreme that forces the reader to come to terms with the linguistic, cultural, and conceptual gaps between the Greek-speaking world and our own. Read the original and literal Greek or Hebrew text with Strong’s words using the King James Version or New American Standard. To view this Online Interlinear you need Acrobat Reader For easier sublinear reading the format has been changed left-to-right. Depending on the article you read, you’ll see the New American Standard Bible in first place. King James Version (KJV) 5. We may argue that the wording in the King James is much closer to the original than The Message. Our Bible Q&A series explores the questions you've asked us about the Bible. An interlinear Bible that incorporates the original Greek and Hebrew texts, complete with modern paragraph and poetry formatting, red letter text, and footnoting for significant textual variants. Free Downloads Free Licensing Read Online. Sometimes translators have to choose from a variety of meanings contained in the a single word, such as anthropos, which can mean ‘man’ as well as ‘men and women’. Interlinear Bibles are the most accurate translated forms of the Bible. It’s definitely worth comparing different translations in order to come closer to the original meaning. But does that necessarily mean it makes matters clearer? So, for example, in an interlinear Bible the word-for-word rendering of the original Greek in John 2.3 reads: And having been deficient of wine says the mother of Jesus to him, Wine not they have. But I bet, unless they’re Yoda, the reader would soon have a headache and put that translation of John’s Gospel down for good. In 1611, when the King James Bible was published, the world was a more patriarchal place and readers would have read ‘a man’ as ‘humanity’. The interlinear allows for … It accords with Bible Society’s values, but is not intended to express our position as an organisation. Your interlinear English rendering is accurate and consistent to an extreme that forces the reader to come to terms with the ... “The ESV is, I believe, the most accurate English translation of the Bible ever completed.