What is considered the most accurate translation of the Tanakh into English?

Answer 1

None of the Christian Bibles can be considered truly accurate translations, in part because their antecedents include the Septuagint, a flawed early Greek translation from Hebrew. Father Raymond E. Brown, a respected theologian, considers the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), an American revision (1946-52) of the KJV that is supported by the National Council of Churches, as somewhat literal.

AnswerMost translations of the Old Testament in the Christian Bible are primarily based on the Masoretic text and not on the Septuagint. The Dead Sea Scrolls verified the accuracy of the text. Some consider the King James Version to be the translation that adheres most closely to the Hebrew. Answer

The only accurate translations of the original Hebrew text of the Tanach would be Jewish translations such as Art Scroll, Judaica Press, Koren, etc.

[Note: The JPS 1917 translation is not used by Jews as it's a partially corrected KJV text.]

Answer 2

There are four types of translations of The Bible.

1) Formal equivalence: often called a word-for-word translation. They seek to represent each word of the translated text with an exact equivalent word. King James Version; New American Standard Bible; English Standard version.

2) Dynamic equivalence: Known as a thought for thought approach. New International Version; Contemporary English Version; Good News Translation.

3) Optimal equivalence: The theory here is to use the formal equivalence where possible and Dynamic equivalence where needed to clarify the text. Holman Christian Standard Bible; NET Bible; God's Word.

4) Paraphrase: These are loose translations but are highly readable and contemporary but lack accuracy.

I read the KJV for years and finally switch to the NKJV about 20 years ago.

Some people like several translations to compare with each other, one for accuracy and one for a better understanding.

Another perspective:

In the final analysis, the translation is transitory... because it's what's inside the reader that determines whether or not the Scriptures are accurately received. God can overcome language inaccuracies in the heart of a reader of His Word.

"...'I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My Word." (Isa.66:2 NLT New Living Translation)

For example... the "Bible" that was around when Christ walked the earth in the flesh were the preserved scrolls in their originally inspired form [no translational versions]. Yet, many of the lessons Jesus taught the Jewish leaders reflected their misinterpretation and/or misrepresentation of the Scriptures that was the result of the errant reasoning of their "carnal minds" instead of through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which was absent from their minds.

Even Jesus' own disciples didn't grasp the "accuracy" and "spiritual Truth and import" of the Scriptures until after Jesus rose from the dead, and just prior to His ascension into heaven. Not until then did He do for His disciples what He needs to do for anyone who reads and studies the Bible, the Bread of Life:

"THEN He OPENED THEIR MINDS to Understand these many Scriptures." (Luke 24:45 NLT)

So, it's not so much the "accuracy of the version" of the Scriptures that determines what the reader derives from God's Word [considering that there were no versions in Jesus' day]... but the presence of the Holy Spirit, humility and the contriteness of the heart of the reader... trusting that God will "feed them the TRUTH of His spirit-nourishing, spirit-strengthening Word."

Answer 3

The most accurate translation of the Tanakh is not by any Christian translation into english. If one reads a rabbinical scholar's translation one will see a truer Hebrew to English translation.

Answer 4

Try for example The Living Torah by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, available at Abebooks website and in Hebrew bookstores. Its second volume is called The Living Nach. Another one to try is the many-volume Artscroll series.

Answer 5

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

Answer 6

Old testament is Hebrew and the New Testament is Greek

Answer 7

New World Translation