Which version of the bible is the best?

Answer 1

Unless you agree with "King James only-isim", there is no "best" version of The Bible. Modern versions each can show a slightly different take translating the original Bible manuscripts and it is often best to read multiple versions of a scripture to discover the most insight on the meaning of the original.

jOHN316

Answer 2

The greek and Hebrew are the most reliable versions we have today. If you are talking about English translations then there are several good ones.

There are three types of bible translations

word for word-(Nasb, KJV, NKJV) these translate each word into English separately. They are generally seen as the best for study but can be more difficult to read.

Thought for thought-(NIV, RSV) these are a balanced approach. They translate whole thoughts at a time arranging for modern grammar and they try to capture the ideas as a whole. They are accurate enough for study and readable. If their is a question, it is generally better to go with the word for word but these are great for daily reading.

Paraphrased or poetic-(the message, the living bible) These try to rework the bible into stories or modern English. They focus on readability at the cost of accuracy. They can be helpful but should be avoided for study purposes. They are great for small children.

Answer 3

The best version of the Hebrew Bible is the Hebrew Bible in its original language, together with the classical commentaries, which is collectively called the Mikraot Gedolot, found in any Jewish bookstore. Translations, no matter by whom, invariably lose the great majority of the meaning.

If you must use English, I would suggest Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's The Living Torah.

See also:

More about the Hebrew Bible