What Bible do you believe to be the most accurate?

Question

A recent question on Jepordy asked 'What is the most accurate translation of the Bible?' Nobody got the answer. Which was The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Many know this as "The Jehovah's Witnesses Bible".
If you go back and research, the men that compiled this translation spent over 12 years doing so. Working day and night most of the time to get the most accurate translation of the Hebrew and Greek words.
Do you agree that this is the most accurate Bible? If not, why?

Answer 1

The most accurate of translations is the NWT.

Peoples response to the KJV do not take in account the number of errors in it.

TRANSLATION ERRORS

Genesis 10:9 should read ".....Nimrod the mighty hunter in place of [in opposition to] the LORD." The word "before" is incorrect and gives the connotation that Nimrod was a good guy, which is false.

Matthew 28:1, "In the end of the sabbath as it began to dawn
toward the first day of the week...." should be translated
literally, "Now late on Sabbath, as it was getting dusk toward
the first day of the week....." The Sabbath does not end at dawn but at dusk.

John 1:31, 33 should say "baptize" or "baptizing." IN water" not with water. Pouring or sprinkling with water is not the
scriptural method of baptism, but only thorough immersion in water.

WORD ERRORS

Num 23:22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Psa 29:6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

Act 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

PUNCTUATION PROBLEMS

Luke 23:43 has been erroneously used by some to claim that Jesus went straight to heaven at His death. The original Greek did not have punctuation marks as we do today. The KJV states, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." The comma should not be after "thee", but "day." The believing malefactor would be with Christ in the paradise of the redeemed when he was resurrected far into the future.

WORD DIFFERENCES

Ghost
"Holy Ghost" should be rendered "Holy Spirit."

affections
"passions", as in Galatians 5:24.

blains
"blisters", as in Exodus 9:9.

bruit
"report, rumor", as in Jeremiah 10:22

corn
"grain", as in Leviticus 23:14

cross
"stake"

evils
"demons", as in I Timothy 4:1.

UNJUSTIFIED ADDITIONS TO THE KJV

Acts 10:6
"he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do"

Acts 10:21
"which were sent unto him from Cornelius"

Revelation 1:11
"I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and ... which are in Asia"

This is just a small list of the inconsistencies in the KJV.

Answer 2

Thank you for a question that has returned such revealing answers, even if the incident may be urban legend!

It's not at all surprising that the Jehovah's Witnesses believe their version is the most accurate English translation. They'd be hard put to find anyone outside their movement to agree with them. And "Jehovah" itself is a recognised error of translation.

The out-dated (Since English has moved on, apart from any other available reasons) KJV remains popular...
"I believe from what I know that the Original King James of 1914 (I think that might be the year) IS the most accurate! "
Amazing... Sheerly amazing.

For a literal word-to word translation into English, the NASB is probably the most accurate, but this produces awkward English in places, as an inevitable consequence.
More flowing phrasal translations cannot be relied upon to translate any particular word with precision.
There are intrinsic difficulties with any translation.

The most accurate version, of course, lies somewhere amongst the varying documents in the original languages.
Possibly one inferred from reconstruction of different groups of existing manuscripts.

Answer 3

I really don't think that any of them are the most accurate. There are too many words where options are present to translate from Hebrew and Greek. Especially Hebrew. So it depends on where you look, and how you believe as to the accuracy from one translation or another.

For those Kingjamesians, it is pretty apparent that it was corrupt because of the Masorites who misled theose who gathered the Textus Receptus. Pslam 8:2 being a proof in text. But there are apparently teachers who use vain arguements to persuade their congregations into thinking that it is the most accurate. It really means nothing to me, I use all of the translations and a concordance to boot. God gives me the answers that He wants me to have. I actually prefer the King James. I was taught most of what I know off of it. But i can't say that it's the most accurate.

How I see this debate is this: It's as if we have a favorite sports team, and we cheer for our favorite, and boo the rest. Us Christians ought to grow up and realize that we are in a spiritual struggle with the forces of evil, and not supposed to be cheerlearders for our favorite Bible. It's pathetic!

As far as the New World Translation being the most accurate, maybe it is. I didn't study it and I'm not going to make an assumption that it is or isn't. But if it is the most accurate translation, then why are the Jehovah's witnesses all screwed up on their theology? That's more important than the other thing.

Answer 4

For me it's the KJV! I've been to Israel (The Holy Land) I can read and write the 'Old' languages - I learned these as a child! I read many of OLD DOCUMENTS! I believe from what I know that the Original King James of 1914 (I think that might be the year) IS the most accurate!

The thing IS - Is that the Bible (Original Language) CAN NOT be translated EXACTLY to English - or Any Other Language that I've ever heard of!

I do Pray that this helps - a bit!

Please be at Peace - Be in God's Holy Grace!

Take Care and God Bless!

Answer 5

Religious scriptures have been translated on many languages for centuries; hand-me-down documents from generation to generation. It is hard to fathom which one is more accurate, and which one is more correct than the other.

The Holy Bible of us Catholics are formed by a congregation of the religious people in Europe a long time ago, it means that the story of Christ has been written based on what has had been decided. Could that be accurate? Well it is safe to say we don't know.

Humans are fallible. I don't blame humanity for the mistakes.

Answer 6

KJV is the most accurate. Yes there are words added to add ease of reading but the meaning and interpretation does not change. It is very easy to translate back to Greek / Hebrew. Though I do not condemn some of the other versions as well.
Also, were the writers of the JW bible writing under punishment of death if they mistranslated or made mistakes? No, the King James writers were. And they worked for 7 years to translate it. Sorry so jumbled. I'm tired. Like the JW's were when they wrote there own bible.

Answer 7

The Jewish Tanakh in the original languages of Hebrew and Aramaic. Since they are in the original languages, there are NO translation errors. If you must add the NT, then the original Greek version for the same reason, NO translation errors.

Answer 8

I don't think that really happened. Even so, if it did it is wrong. Even the name "Jehovah" is a mistranslation!

I lean toward the NIV for the most accurate translation. As far as the most accurate Bible, period, I would go with the Greek New Testament. Awesome book. Fun to translate. It is like translated a code and you find out word by word what it means. Really cool.

Answer 9

I throw the Bible twice, so do you think that the Bible of today is accurate? I am now a devoted Christian. I live and breath for God. I come not only in the love of Christ but also with power and fire. If I asked the mountain to be remove,in Jesus Christ name, it will be done . If I bind whatever on earth in Jesus Christ name, it is also bound in Heaven and if I loose whatever on earth in Jesus Christ name, it is also loose in heaven. Have you seen such Christian on earth like me or others today ? Which bible did they use? The same as the one I threw away in the dustbin. Which Bible do you think that We used to give quotation? Which bible inspire us ? The same bible. It is the same bible that is quoted that it is was written by men. Is it by my power? Never, for I can't even solved my financial problem , So where do the power came from? From the words of GOD in today's bible. The same King James version.

Answer 10

I dont agree because Jehovas witness believe in only Jesus and not the Holy Spirit and the Father God. I would believe that the most accurate Bible would be in a way irrelevant because it is not the Bible itself but the message that you receive through the living words of God that matters. I believe that you can have the ol' King James version and still get the correct concept of Gods message to us, it is not us but God that enlightens us with His wisdom to understand the scripture far more than our tiny lil brains can sustain. If you allow Him and give Him a chance to work and control your way of living,there is no telling how much farther you can go than people who might go after the most accurate Bible version.
God Bless