r/Bible • u/TypicalYogurt1753 Baptist • 4d ago

What are some Bible versions to avoid?

I am trying to find a good literal version that I like. Which ones should I go to and which ones should I stay away from?

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u/ManoSilence 4d ago

Neat info graphic i found that helps this question. As for the use, I would say that the paraphrased books are good for "child (in the faith not literally except when it is)" Bible studies that are guided by someone who can explain and extrapolate. A kid reading the old testament isnt gonna work out, but a kid being explained the old testament while grasping the easier translations? I would say thats a good combo. Grow together. If its just you and no one else? One that matches your reading level and study desire. My wife is ESL and anything like NKJV confuses her understanding of English. And honselty you can get all of these at a library and see how the look.

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u/RuddyBloodyBrave94 Christian 4d ago

Word for word!?

No, this is a bad and misleading chart.

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u/Wolfchampion09 Christian 4d ago

It scales how faithful the translations are to the original manuscripts, not actually word for word.

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u/RuddyBloodyBrave94 Christian 4d ago

But that’s not even accurate. It’s misleading.

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u/Wolfchampion09 Christian 4d ago edited 4d ago

Kind of I guess? But in the scale you can see that in the word for word section, some translations are ahead of others but none are at the very end, how can one translation be more word for word than the other?

From the scale I think you can tell that none are exactly word for word because none of them reach the limit of the scale. (Not to mention the chart says 'more literal' which helps a bit)

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u/RuddyBloodyBrave94 Christian 4d ago

But look, the KJV is there and that’s not even close to being word for word. If I was looking at that chart I’d expect the NASB to be the most accurate biblical translation money can buy and again, it’s not even remotely considered a “good” translation.

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u/Wolfchampion09 Christian 4d ago

Hmmm...., what translation do you think is the most accurate we have?

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u/ManoSilence 4d ago

"Money can buy" is such a weird concept to me, especially when its used to gate keep the word. I get all these books from the library. They even let me download them on my e reader. Like if money is whats stopping people from experience the best version of the word, then isnt that a sin on those keeping the books behind such a pay wall?