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The Bible was originally written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
Eventually it was translated into English. The problem of translation is that there are words, phrases and figures of
speech that are common in the original language, but make little sense in the new language. Therefore the translators have
a choice:
1. Translating the words as they are regardless of clarity. This is known as Literal Equivalence
2. Learn what those terms mean in the original and choose the proper words in the the new language. this is known as
Dynamic Equivalence.
3. A careful balance of both where appropriate. This is known as Complete Equivalence.
For instance, in English, we have the word "heart", literally a part of the body, but we also use it to mean
the center of our emotions. In Hebrew, they also use a body part as the center of emotion, except that they use a different
body part.
Look at the Old Testament love story, Song of Solomon, chapter 5, verse 4.
Literal and some Complete Equivalence Bibles translate this verse as "my bowels were moved."
Not only do we not associate the bowels with emotions, but in English this phrase has a very different meaning that is
not exactly romantic.
Literal translations are extremely accurate but can be difficult to read and understand.
Other Complete Equivalence as well as Dynamic translations say, "my heart was moved". This is less accurate
but makes more sense.
Dynamic Equivalences are easy to understand, but require not only translation but some interpretation as well, and that
can sometimes cause problems.
Literal Equivalence translations include:
The English Revised Version
The American Standard Version (ASV)
Complete Equivalence translations include:
The King James Version (KJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Dynamic Equivalence translations include:
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New International Version (NIV)
Some say the NIV is a complete Equivalence, but I believe it leans more toward Dynamic
There is another category of Bible: The Paraphrase.
These include:
the J. B. Phillips Bible
The Message.
Paraphrases are like the Dynamic taken to the extreme. They rely heavily on interpretation, trying to convey the spirit
of what is being said with out the restriction of the holding to the original text.
Paraphrases can be extremely valuable in comparative study, but I would never recommend using one as your primary Bible.
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