Bible Mistranslations?

Question

Has anybody done a thorough investigation on the translations of the Bible?

I do understand there are some mistranslations, and I would like to be pointed to some of these. One word could make a huge difference in the understanding of the Bible. For instance Red Sea : Reed Sea (a lake not too far from the Red Sea.)

Answer 1

I've been studying this issue of late myself. It turns out to be far more complex than I had imagined. I've read "Misquoting Jesus," by Bart D. Ehrman, and found it rather biased; but it was a good introduction into the subject.

He pointed out in his book that there are more than 20,000 variations of the New Testament. However, he also declared several times that the "vast majority" of these are simple typographical (copyist) errors; far, far fewer differences make a significant difference in the meaning of the text.

So, it's not just a matter of mistranslation, but what weight is apportioned to the various manuscripts.

Also, in the various Bible versions (translations), how much is a word-for-word translation, and how much is paraphrased? All versions strike some balence between these poles.

Your best choice is to read and compare several translations of the Bible. In doing so, you'll answer your own question.

Answer 2

This is tough to do. I'm sure you can be lead to the right translation sometimes, just by reading other scriptures in the Bible, but it will take a while. Otherwise, not only would you need the original text, you would have to translate it, and then consider any and all idiosyncracies of language at the time. For instance, someone wrote about Sodom, and defines it as some define fornication, no need for multiple ways of saying adultery, but there it is. I doubt that is what was meant. The closest is probably the translation written nearest in proximity to the time that the original text was written - and probably would be the easiest to understand. But, there are probably other problems, like what was kept out and was not passed on. What was written but was not allowed to be kept in the text.

Answer 3

The King James has roughly 20,000 translation errors, though the majority involve the use of God's name. Every place where LORD is in capital letters is where his name was replaced with LORD. This way, if the Bible was dropped, and fell open, it would minimize the chance of dirt getting on God's name and defiling it. His name is still found in at least two locations in ever Bible.

Other errors are easy to find by anyone who was to buy an Interlinear Translation of the Bible. The signs of the Second Coming of Christ actually translates as the Second Presence of Christ. The word is always translated as presence, except in those scriptures that refers to the signs of the last days, or to when Christ returns or returned. The is one Bible that always translates it as Presence.

The difference is if you think the signs are being fulfilled, than he returned nearly 100 years ago. If not, than we are not in the last days and Christ has still yet to return and sit on his Father's Throne. If the signs are taking place, than he can be referred to as King, but not if the signs are not taking place and he has not returned. For those who think they would have known that he had returned, if for no other reason that all his people weren't taken up and Armageddon hasn't taken place, remember, the Jews thought the same thing the first time he came.

Another one that can be noted using the Interlinear Translation is that the Apostle John uses four different forms of Greek spelling in reference to the title word god. The one he used in reference to the Word, he also used in reference to Satan and to men. But, he never used it in reference to God Almighty. So, if if you refer to the Word as God, than the same reference should be used for Satan and men.

There is a scripture that was added to early versions of the Bible to help explain the Trinity, but not until more than 500 years after the death of the last of the Apostles.

These three have the greatest affect on the basic beliefs of Christians. The first makes Christians fear using God's Name. The second changes how we view the last days and whether we are repeating the mistakes made by the ancient Israelites. The third and forth affects how we view the Deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Only one Bible is listed by the Congressional Library as being a translation, rather than a version, but you can't buy. It has to be given to you. The International Bible Society did advertise their Bible as being a New English Translation, but it didn't meet all the standards to be classified as one. It still used wording like coming so as not to confuse potential buyers.

Answer 4

Why do you think there are 30,000 interpretations (denominations) of the bible?

In some cases I am sure the mis-translation is accidental, but do not put it past the control freak chrisitians to interpret things based on their own set agenda...

It is kind of like how so many christians play the pick and choose game...they pick scripture which backs their own set agenda and choose to ignore scripture which does not meet with their set agenda.

My advice....don't waste your time, that book has been re-written thousands of times to pleas thousands of different humans...do you really think God would leave us with an instruction book so open to interpretation? Do you think God is that stupid...or that cruel?

Answer 5

There was a wonderful cartoon being passed around the internet where a group of monks were copying the bible. One realizes that a mistake's been made. "You mean the word is celebrate?" The joke being a play on the word, "celibate."

Drop a letter and just look what happens!

Answer 6

This is more of a misinterpretation, but Sodomite has come to largely mean homosexual, when really it just means immoral. While God getting po'ed about gay sex might have led to the end of Sodom and Gomorrah, I'd bet the gang rape was of a little more concern.

I believe there are also issues of a non-gendered pronoun being interpreted as male, making the whole book more sexist.

Answer 7

Red Sea, Reed Sea -- either way, the entire Egyptian army drowned in it!

Answer 8

The word 'nazorite' (meaning, one devoted to god) in the OT was transliterated to 'nazorean' (meaning, someone from the city of Nazareth) in the New Testament. Not only was a city invented as a result, but an entire religion was forever changed as well.

Answer 9

Here is a Page on translations and a video from the International Bible Society: http://www.ibs.org/bibles/about/translation/index.php

One thing you can also do is read passages from different translations. You can do this here: http://www.biblegateway.com/

This site has the original greek available and searchable: http://www.e-sword.net/index.html

Answer 10

Read "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart D. Ehrman and "101 Myths of The Bible" by Gary Greenberg.