I’ve had the privilege of using many Bible translations throughout my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. And I can attest that God has used all of them to grow my affection for him as well as those around me. He used those translations to grow my knowledge of him. With them, he equipped me for the work of ministry. And if I was writing this article a few years back, I might have made a case for another translation. But at this stage of my life, my preferred translation is the English Standard Version (ESV). In this article, therefore, I will share why I prefer the ESV. And as I do that, I hope to provide you with guidelines for choosing a Bible translation.
Our access to God’s word depends on having a reliable as well as readable translation.
Initially, the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek, along with a smattering of Aramaic. Because very few of us are proficient in those languages, we must depend on a translation for our hearing, reading, and study of God’s word. Our access to God’s word depends on having a reliable as well as readable translation, in a language we do know. But, is there such a thing as a good translation? And how do we know if a translation is good for us?
A Crash Course in Translation Philosophy
There are many reasons why people use the translations they use. Those reasons can range from accessibility, and competency in a specific language, to preference for a specific translation philosophy. The last of those is very important in choosing a translation. Whenever we say we prefer one translation over another, we’re saying that we prefer one translation philosophy over another.
We see this not only with English translations but even with our own African languages. Take, for example, my home language, Xitsonga. I often hear people saying they prefer the 1989 Xitsonga Bible translation over the 2012 translation. This is no mere matter of preference. For the two versions have slightly different translation philosophies or approaches. What do I mean?
Translation philosophy is the methodology that translators use to make translation decisions.
Well, translation philosophy is the methodology that translators use to make translation decisions. It guides translators, helping them decide which words to use in English or the language that the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic is being translated into. It informs the translators’ decisions on grammar, structure, and vocabulary. But translation philosophies differ in their commitment to the meaning and message communicated in the original languages.
For more information about this, I highly recommend Fee and Stuart’s How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. But if you want to know about your own Bible version’s translation philosophy, you can usually find something about it in the introduction or preface.
The ESV is a More Literal Translation
In the book just mentioned, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, the authors give different translation methods to consider when choosing a preferred translation. One of those methods is a literal or “word-for-word” translation. This is the approach used by the ESV. Fee and Stuart describe this approach as, “The attempt to translate by keeping as close as possible to the exact words and phrasing in the original language, yet still make sense in the receptor language.” That is, some translations seek to be as close as possible to the original languages, both in grammatical structure and word meaning.
I prefer the ESV because I want to be as close to the Greek without losing the sense of what I am reading.
As Fee and Stuart add, a literal translation doesn’t always read naturally, given its commitment to the original. This can make it a little difficult to understand. However, this difficulty must be weighed against what an individual or church seeks from its preferred translation. Personally, I want a taste of the original languages in my English translation. Thus I use the ESV.
This was a personal decision after studying how translators make translation decisions, further influenced by a desire to make up for my inability to read Greek. I prefer the ESV because I want to be as close to the Greek without losing the sense of what I am reading. The ESV gives me that.
The ESV Motivates Deeper, Personal Study
Now, many are critical of literal translations, arguing that they’re more difficult to read. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For it demands attentive study and slower reading. In fact, this is another reason I prefer the ESV. Facing difficult passages, I’m motivated to study in-depth. I compare the passage with other translations, turning to Bible dictionaries and commentaries, in order to better understand what God is saying.
A recent example of this happened as I was going through Lamentations in my devotion. I ran into a verse that reads, “My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns” (Lamentations 2:11a). And it left me wondering: why they used the word “spent” instead of “worn out” or “tired”; and “churned” instead of “troubled”? I actually didn’t even know what “churned” means. So I had to ask a friend to explain it to me.
Literal translations demand attentive study and slower reading.
Two verses on we read, “What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is vast as the sea; who can heal you?” (Lamentations 2:13). Reading this I noticed that it is unnatural for anyone to say, “To what compare you.” But in the desire to maintain the poetic nature and rhythm of the passage, the ESV renders this passage this way. And when read aloud, we’re able to appreciate the poetry.
Therefore, I prefer the ESV because it gives the reader a taste of what the original audience would have experienced. Simultaneously, the ESV motivates in-depth study, owing to the choice of English words in their translation. I could multiply examples of this. What does the author mean when he says too much wisdom brings “vexation” (Ecclesiastes 1:18)? Why does Paul call Christ “preeminent” (Colossians 1:18)? Good translations don’t dilute theologically rich words. Rather, they move us to ask questions. To study and grow.
Make a Considered, Deliberate Choice
When choosing a Bible translation, ask yourself: what do I want from it?
There are many reasons why people use the bible translations they do. These range from accessibility to competence in a specific language. But translation philosophy cannot be left out of the equation. It’ll impact our decision, whether we know it or not. Those like me, who desire to be as close as possible to the original languages, choose a more literal translation. So, when choosing a Bible translation, ask yourself: what do I want from it?
