Dear God, In bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
-Jennifer
Well Jennifer, people have been changing the way they speak from the very beginning, both in locations and also through time. Even in the same country different words are used to describe the same thing. Take soft drinks for example. There are some who call it pop, some call it soda while others just call it coke, even if they’re drinking Pepsi! Words change from time to time, and I am quite sure that the people speaking in the Bible did not use words such as “verily” or “whosoever,” two words I don’t use today.
The common languages of the Bible are primarily Hebrew and Greek with some Aramaic thrown in for good measure. Since not all Christians are called to learn these original languages, we must rely on a Bible translation that takes the words from their original languages and translate them to our own words. The fancy talk you are referring to is most likely the language used in the King James Bible, which was released in the year 1611 in England. When you consider the time that has gone by since that time and also the fact that it was not written in the Americas, you can only assume that many of the words chosen for this translation will not be in use today. That is one reason why I choose not to read this translation very often. Understanding the Bible is not always easy, and I don’t want to make it any harder than it needs to be.
That leads up to the choice in a translation. Never before have so many versions of God’s word been available in the English language. Never before have we been so equipped to translate the Bible for people who do not have a Bible in their own language. This thought makes me sad, for I am not able to speak or read any other languages and cannot help with this. There are people who are doing something about it though. A man who used to attend our church is now a missionary who has an unusual job. It is the job of learning the language of others, helping them create a written language if they don’t already have one, then write a Bible in terms they can understand. He is working to make the word of God available to these people in only one version while we have many to choose from. If it is so important to have the Bible available to people and if the Bible is the very word of God, shouldn’t we be cautious that the Bible we read is as close a translation of the original as we can? Is it that important to us to read a translation of the Bible that is faithful to God? I say that it is.
When you read a faithful translation, you will find that you must conform your mind to understand what it is saying to you. Because of this, there will always be words in a Bible that you don’t use every day. But because there are so many versions of the Bible coming out, you can find one that is both true to the word of God and also doesn’t make it any more difficult than it must be to understand what you are reading. If you want a good Bible that is true to the word of God, you may want to discuss your options with a parent or your pastor. Another suggestion that I have for you is to ask what a word means if you aren’t sure. Parents and pastors love it when their child ask questions about the Bible and show a desire to understand it. So please, ask away! You’ll be glad that you did.
I think it’s aramaic rather than arabic.
Nice catch, Josiah!
Parents could also have their children learn the original Biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) at young ages. Additionally, later in life, learning another language is believed to fend off Alzheimer’s disease.
I think if we are able to learn, we should read the Bible in it’s original language(s)… it only makes sense. Most translations are getting further from the original language and context, not closer. Oddly, they are general accepted as more accurate.
The ESV has great acceptance, but the GNB actually has better context! (but terrible in the literal sense)
example: Gen 1:14
(ESV) And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,
(GNB) Then God commanded, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin;
In truth, it should actully be “appointed times” as the Hebrew root word, “mo’ed” is used.
Same root word used elsewhere by the ESV:
(ESV) Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the LORD.
I believe doctrine is the reason for the inconsistancy. ESV is very stripped of Semitic context.
We should not rely on translators or doctrine to set our context. There is a very different application when you believe that Adonai (The Lord) created the astronomical bodies for us to tell His appointed times!
Eyes may be rolling by now, so all I am saying is; while ease of reading is very nice, it should be a secondary consideration in my opinion. We should instead seek Truth first and it will make us free!
Shalom
Words still speak loudly, although that’s rather like screaming what are you trying to say because I don’t understand you but maybe I do.
What do you mean, does it really matter?
Taking it easy, making living less complicated.
What?
I would like to say ’something’ that would make a difference and end suffering.
It’s Okay, nevermind.
We won’t be here that long anyway.
Whoops, I forgot to say the most important thing…that I can think of at this time…
Take Care.
This is just a fun post written as if I were answering the question of a child. It has more to do with the thees and thous than anything else.
Gird my loins? You get the idea.