Errors in Various Bible Translations

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Seriously? How many souls were lost, before they fixed it?

I think it was caught pretty quickly.

It's not like the monastic orders who have suffered for years because they mistranslated celebrate as celibate years ago in their rules.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Today I noticed yet another KJ in the choices on biblegateway, the "21st Century King James Version". What's next, "The New 21st Century King James Version"?

Probably! LOL!

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Thought I would start a thread about the various errors we feel we have come across while reading various Bible translations.

This is in the New Living Translation (NLT). I have issue with verse 20 and using the word "shame". I feel it takes away from the total point being made - forgiveness, generosity and acts of kindness.

I, therefore, feel that the NLT is incorrect in their interpretation. Not only because verse 20 contradicts verses 19 and 21, but the reference in the Amplified lends a good supporting argument.. Another point being, in Bible lands almost everything was carried on the head, i.e., water jars, baskets of various food items, or any other article. In many homes they kept a brazier which they used for simple cooking and for generating warmth. They always planned to keep it burning. If the Brazier should go out, a member of the family would go to a neighbor's house to borrow fire. They would then put the Brazier on their head and start for home. If the neighbor was very generous, she would heap the Brazier full of coals - hence - "Thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."

It is not an act to bring shame, IMO, but a beautiful act of forgiveness and of generosity in the face of evil.

Actually, I'm familiar with this. I've read this verse in my Amplified bible and while it sounds nice, it doesn't appear to be true. There are actually several differing lyrical views of this verse available and you can find then on the web, but by the pure meaning of the word, it appears to be for the purpose of heaping shame on their head. There are some who connect Leviticus 16 with the "Coals of fire" concept, but this seems to be strictly a personal opinion and not validated by scripture.

I remember once I saw TD Jakes preach about "They that wait upon the Lord". He had a towel over his arm and talked about serving. "They that wait" as in "They that serve". It was incredible. I cried. What a marvelous understanding it was!!!

Only thing was, the next day, I looked it up and found out the word "Wait" didn't mean "To serve" at all. It meant to "wait patiently and endure."

Some of these opinions seem beautiful and eloquent. But it's not always true. Sometimes we have to do what Timmy says....take it for what it says.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Actually, I'm familiar with this. I've read this verse in my Amplified bible and while it sounds nice, it doesn't appear to be true. There are actually several differing lyrical views of this verse available and you can find then on the web, but by the pure meaning of the word, it appears to be for the purpose of heaping shame on their head. There are some who connect Leviticus 16 with the "Coals of fire" concept, but this seems to be strictly a personal opinion and not validated by scripture.

Well, the interpretation that I posted in the NLT doesn't really go in sync with verses 19 and 21. So, I can't really accept the NLT's interpretation of that scripture.

I remember once I saw TD Jakes preach about "They that wait upon the Lord". He had a towel over his arm and talked about serving. "They that wait" as in "They that serve". It was incredible. I cried. What a marvelous understanding it was!!!

Only thing was, the next day, I looked it up and found out the word "Wait" didn't mean "To serve" at all. It meant to "wait patiently and endure."

Had someone preach that at a church I attended. I thought it was cool, looked it up and - NOPE - it doesn't mean that.

We had an evangelist come through and he preached a message about David in I Samuel 21:13. He said he was worshiping so much the people thought he was mad and that he was spitting on his beard. LOL! I was thinking, "Uh, that is not what the scripture is saying." He was really getting into the message about sincere worship and some were responding. LOL! I mean, read the passage. LOL!

Some of these opinions seem beautiful and eloquent. But it's not always true. Sometimes we have to do what Timmy says....take it for what it says.

I agree. Some things do sound really awesome - IF - they actually meant what is being taught.

As for Timmy, hmmmm...., I'll have to read his posts, on each point, before I agree or disagree. LOL!

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Well, the interpretation that I posted in the NLT doesn't really go in sync with verses 19 and 21. So, I can't really accept the NLT's interpretation of that scripture.


Had someone preach that at a church I attended. I thought it was cool, looked it up and - NOPE - it doesn't mean that.

We had an evangelist come through and he preached a message about David in I Samuel 21:13. He said he was worshiping so much the people thought he was mad and that he was spitting on his beard. LOL! I was thinking, "Uh, that is not what the scripture is saying." He was really getting into the message about sincere worship and some were responding. LOL! I mean, read the passage. LOL!

I agree. Some things do sound really awesome - IF - they actually meant what is being taught.

As for Timmy, hmmmm...., I'll have to read his posts, on each point, before I agree or disagree. LOL!

Wait a minute...hold the phone. I just looked this up on my trusty online NLT, AND in my NLT that's in my backpack.

Here are verse 19-21 of Romans 12 in the NLT:

Rom 12:19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.


Rom 12:20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."


Rom 12:21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Are you sure you're looking at the NLT?

That David worshipping story is great! In bible school, we actually had a guy preach the 5 smooth stones that David used stood for J-E-S-U-S, and he was dead-serious. That would make a good book...or thread..."Worst Preaching gaffes ever."

Timmy often says, "Just read it for what it says". I don't think he said it in this thread.

But go look at that bible again and make sure what version it is.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Wait a minute...hold the phone. I just looked this up on my trusty online NLT, AND in my NLT that's in my backpack.

Here are verse 19-21 of Romans 12 in the NLT:

Rom 12:19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."
Rom 12:21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Are you sure you're looking at the NLT?

Yes, I am looking at the NLT. The portion in verse 20, "and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.", doesn't sound very forgiving to me.To teach someone to perform an act so that it will bring attention to the person's evil deeds and make them feel ashamed seems to be teaching unforgiveness, IMO. It contradicts verse 21 - "Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good."

Proverbs is being quoted in Romans 12:

Proverbs 25:21 "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

And look at these passages which teach us to overcome evil with good.

II Kings 6:22 "He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you (A)kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."

Exodus 23:5 "If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him."

II Chronicles 28:15 "Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria."

Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

That David worshipping story is great! In bible school, we actually had a guy preach the 5 smooth stones that David used stood for J-E-S-U-S, and he was dead-serious. That would make a good book...or thread..."Worst Preaching gaffes ever."

LOL! I was a little surprised and I will respond further in Landon Davis' posts on this.

Timmy often says, "Just read it for what it says". I don't think he said it in this thread.

That can be true, but sometimes not. LOL! For instance, if you read Matthew 19:24, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God", you would be trying to push a camel through the eye of a sewing needle. But, after further study, you find that it is a smaller gate built into the great city gate. Some passages require further study for understanding.

But go look at that bible again and make sure what version it is.

Posted above. Again, I can't agree that "they will be ashamed" should be used in that passage, IMHO.

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Yes, I am looking at the NLT. The portion in verse 20, "and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.", doesn't sound very forgiving to me.To teach someone to perform an act so that it will bring attention to the person's evil deeds and make them feel ashamed seems to be teaching unforgiveness, IMO. It contradicts verse 21 - "Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good."

Proverbs is being quoted in Romans 12:

Proverbs 25:21 "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

And look at these passages which teach us to overcome evil with good.

II Kings 6:22 "He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you (A)kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."

Exodus 23:5 "If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him."

II Chronicles 28:15 "Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria."

Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"


LOL! I was a little surprised and I will respond further in Landon Davis' posts on this.


That can be true, but sometimes not. LOL! For instance, if you read Matthew 19:24, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God", you would be trying to push a camel through the eye of a sewing needle. But, after further study, you find that it is a smaller gate built into the great city gate. Some passages require further study for understanding.


Posted above. Again, I can't agree that "they will be ashamed" should be used in that passage, IMHO.

I understand what you're saying about the previous verses that contain the instruction to bless those that hurt you. But I would see Romans 12 as a further explanation of why we do it and the result of doing it.

I would see that bringing "shame" to someone who has hurt you, by blessing them, would be in the same vein as "Godly sorrow that works repentance. What do you think?

Evidently, you have the second edition of the NLT. I strongly prefer the original edition.

[Brad Murphy]

My definition of infallible would mean that any attempt to write other than the original verbatim text in the original language(s) would not be possible... your pen would keep running out of ink, or your hand would physically not move to write the letters, or your computer would blow up, etc. as you were trying to write it. A few lightning strikes here and there wouldn't hurt either. But I guess I'm just more conservative than ye all.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Brad Murphy

My definition of infallible would mean that any attempt to write other than the original verbatim text in the original language(s) would not be possible... your pen would keep running out of ink, or your hand would physically not move to write the letters, or your computer would blow up, etc. as you were trying to write it. A few lightning strikes here and there wouldn't hurt either. But I guess I'm just more conservative than ye all.

[LandonDavis]

I Samuel 21:13..............The evangelist had some understanding of the Greek. The word that is translated mad is halal. It occurs 165 times. This is the only time that I'm aware of that it is not translated as praise or boast. The idea that David was praising is also supported by Ps. 34. The pretext says that it is a psalm of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech.
Ps. 34
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
The word boast here is the same word halal. It is translated differently because of the context.
If you read Samuel 21 as praising or boasting before God and then read Ps 34 it presents a very cohesive account. It seems to fit the circumstances, and it doesn't use a rare variant translation of the word hala.