When you go to buy a new Bible, it can seem overwhelming with all the translations. Why so many?
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, so every English Bible is a translation from these original languages.
Every translator has two basic goals: reliability and readability. They must take many factors into account such as the context of the text, the culture in which it was written, as well as grammatical decisions about verb tense, voice, and parts of speech.
For example, a literal, word-for-word translation of John 3:16 would read, “For so loved, God, the world, that his Son, the only begotten, he gave, that everyone who is believing on him may not perish, but may have life unto the age.” This, of course, is not the way we are accustomed to reading in English. So the translator makes decisions on how to word the text that stays true to its original meaning but is readable for a modern audience.
In the chart above, the further you go to the left, the more the translation will be word-for-word. These are literal translations that focus more on matching the exact wording of the original text rather than readability.
The further you go to the right, the more the translation will be a paraphrase. These paraphrases use modern language and try to capture the thought or meaning behind the original text. They focus on readability rather than an exact translation.
The translations in the middle translate phrase by phrase and use contemporary language for ease of reading. It is important to note that this chart does not say that any translation is better than another. It simply highlights the different methods used and the focus of the translators.
In our opinion, paraphrases are best used for personal Bible reading and gaining a different perspective on a verse you are having a hard time understanding. The better choice for Bible study and serious reading are going to be on the left half of the chart.
What is the best Bible translation? The answer is the one that you will read and live out!