Ok, I have a question… I’m reading through the Bible chronologically and just finished 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. This is the story of when David took a census and purchased was the threshing floor from to build an altar. Each chapter tells the same story, with a difference in what he paid Araunah. In Chronicles it says he paid 600 pieces of gold, but in Samuel it doesn’t mention gold, it says 50 pieces of silver? I get that the value may have been the same. Is it just as if we were to say you paid someone $1000 or you paid them with ten 100 dollar bills? Just had to ask! Great job, Stephen!
Good question, Bri-Guy! This is a good question. If you are using the NLT-which is the translation I read from-there certainly seems to be a conflict in the payment amounts. The NLT tries to make the language more approachable and therefore will use a little wiggle room in translation. Here’s why I bring that up: if you read 2 Samuel 24:24 and 1 Chronicles 21:25 in the NASB95-a translation that often sacrifices readability for Hebrew accuracy-you find this: “David bought the THRESHING FLOOR and the OXEN for fifty shekels of silver.” “David gave Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the SITE.” So, harmonizing these verses in the NASB is much easier: David paid 50 in silver for the EQUIPMENT and 600 in gold for the REAL ESTATE. A book I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND is Norman Geisler’s “The Big Book of Bible Difficulties”-very helpful!
I agree with this. A question I have is, what motivates a publisher to assemble a team, or what motivates a team to seek a publisher, and do a new translation? I am a capitalist through and through. But let’s admit that publishers make money off of new Bibles and translations. Translations are also copyrighted, so they can only be used with permission and proper citation. Also, books like The Message, The Passion Translation, The Living Bible, and The Good News Translation are not Bibles but commentaries. These books confuse anyone who does not know the difference between a Bible and a paraphrase. A real translation is required for accurate Bible study. I keep older translations handy alongside my ESV and other recent ones. I also follow along in French sometimes (the French Darby translation tracks the English Darby closely). It’s helpful to refer to different translations as such, rather than “version.” Version can imply differences of intent, purpose, or results in common understanding of the word. I use different versions of software, but different translations of Scripture.
Phil, you’re right-there’s usually a monetary motivation with new translations with some exceptions for those that do not charge royalties. Some translations are to fill a gap in the translation spectrum (that is to make one in more modern English, etc.) or to avoid royalties (some curriculum publishers find it cheaper to hire a translation team than to pay royalties to another group).
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Great video! I look forward to the next one!
Thanks, man!
Ok, I have a question… I’m reading through the Bible chronologically and just finished 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. This is the story of when David took a census and purchased was the threshing floor from to build an altar. Each chapter tells the same story, with a difference in what he paid Araunah. In Chronicles it says he paid 600 pieces of gold, but in Samuel it doesn’t mention gold, it says 50 pieces of silver? I get that the value may have been the same. Is it just as if we were to say you paid someone $1000 or you paid them with ten 100 dollar bills? Just had to ask! Great job, Stephen!
Good question, Bri-Guy!
This is a good question. If you are using the NLT-which is the translation I read from-there certainly seems to be a conflict in the payment amounts. The NLT tries to make the language more approachable and therefore will use a little wiggle room in translation.
Here’s why I bring that up: if you read 2 Samuel 24:24 and 1 Chronicles 21:25 in the NASB95-a translation that often sacrifices readability for Hebrew accuracy-you find this:
“David bought the THRESHING FLOOR and the OXEN for fifty shekels of silver.”
“David gave Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the SITE.”
So, harmonizing these verses in the NASB is much easier: David paid 50 in silver for the EQUIPMENT and 600 in gold for the REAL ESTATE.
A book I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND is Norman Geisler’s “The Big Book of Bible Difficulties”-very helpful!
Great job!!
Good stuff!
Thank you, Jeff!
I agree with this. A question I have is, what motivates a publisher to assemble a team, or what motivates a team to seek a publisher, and do a new translation?
I am a capitalist through and through. But let’s admit that publishers make money off of new Bibles and translations. Translations are also copyrighted, so they can only be used with permission and proper citation.
Also, books like The Message, The Passion Translation, The Living Bible, and The Good News Translation are not Bibles but commentaries. These books confuse anyone who does not know the difference between a Bible and a paraphrase. A real translation is required for accurate Bible study.
I keep older translations handy alongside my ESV and other recent ones. I also follow along in French sometimes (the French Darby translation tracks the English Darby closely).
It’s helpful to refer to different translations as such, rather than “version.” Version can imply differences of intent, purpose, or results in common understanding of the word. I use different versions of software, but different translations of Scripture.
Phil, you’re right-there’s usually a monetary motivation with new translations with some exceptions for those that do not charge royalties.
Some translations are to fill a gap in the translation spectrum (that is to make one in more modern English, etc.) or to avoid royalties (some curriculum publishers find it cheaper to hire a translation team than to pay royalties to another group).
If you think all the Bible mean the same thing, you clearly haven’t read and compared.
The bible is one, but different author... find and look the one that is guided by the holly spirit...
I hope youll find it..
uh oh, the Jehovah Witnesses are gonna cancel you now
Great job!!