The Best Bible Version Part 1

Many times I am asked, "Which version of the Bible is the most accurate for those of us who cannot read Greek and Hebrew?" Previously, I have endorsed the New American Standard, the English Standard Version, and the New Revised Standard Version. All three present themselves as literal translations being accurate to the original languages. While these three are far better than paraphrases or single scholar translations, I can no longer recommend that those who want to reconnect with their Hebraic roots read them. Instead, I have found a translation entitled, "The Scriptures," to be both literal and accurate. Hebrew idioms are identified and the idolatrous translations in the other versions have been removed. Several examples will be provided to show the advantage of this work:

Hebrews 4:9
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.... (ESV)
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (NASB)
So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. (NRSV)
So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim. (The Scriptures)

While the NRSV comes the closest of the three to identifying a present Sabbath rest, it falls far short of the clarity in The Scriptures. According to conservative scholarship, Hebrews was written in the mid to late 60's. That means that some thirty plus years after the death and resurrection of Yeshua, believers were still observing the Sabbath. Only, "The Scriptures" makes this abundantly clear.

Yeshua says in Matthew 26:28:
For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.(NASB)
Matthew 26:27-28
For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.(ESV)
For this is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (NRSV)

All three translations avoid a description of the covenant as seen in earlier versions. The King James Version translated the verse as: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Young's Literal Translation presents the verse as follows: for this is my blood of the new covenant, that for many is being poured out--to remission of sins. The Greek text contains the word kainos. Kainos is the Greek word for the Hebrew word chadash. Chadash means to renew or make anew; to repair or rebuild. Much like we get a "new moon" every thirty days, we understand that it is not a new moon, but the next lunar cycle. In the same way, Yeshua did not come to do away with the Torah, but instead to correctly interpret it for us so we could please God. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Torah is written on tablets of stone. In the renewed covenant, the Torah is written on the hearts of men. The Torah does not change, only where it is written. "The Scriptures" translate the verse as: "For this is My blood, that of the renewed covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins."

This article brings to our attention the difference in translations. In a follow up article, I will give examples from the Hebrew Scriptures, i.e. the First Writings, to show that this is about far more than semantics. There is a serious issue here, and that issue is idolatry.