what Bible is the very closest to the original?

Question

but in the english version?

Answer 1

New World Translation.
Test it yourself by comparing it's selection of English words by cross referencing it using a 1611 King James Version and a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.
While not a JW, I have found the NWT the best and most consistent modern English Translation available, even though so many people wrongly say it is erroneous.

The King James itself is a pretty bad translation, but it is key to referencing the Strong's.

Answer 2

The closest to the original is called a literal translation. The New American Standard Bible(NASB), or the other is English Standard Version(ESV). These are the two that I use the most. The New King James Version is also a literal translation. The King James Version is ok and it is not wrong, it just has a few places were the translation could be better. I am not big on reading that old English its written in either. The New International Version is a thought for thought translation. It is a good read but is doesn't translate the words literally such as NASB or ESV it is what it is a thought for thought.

Answer 3

The kjv IS VERY OFTEN WRONG! It includes numerous spurious passages, one of which (called by theologians "The Johannine Comma" from 1John 5:7) was UNKNOWN 300 years before the kjv was "translated." -- It wasn't really an ORIGINAL TRANSLATION, but a revision of an existing version.

The answer to your question depends on WHICH English you understand and how well.

The version I use posting in most answers here has a reading "grade level" LESS THAN THIRD GRADE. I do this because of the large number of people here who barely read English or for whom English is a second (or higher) language.

For my own study, I haven't used an English New Testament in almost 25 years, but I do frequently evaluate versions at friends request and suggest a "best option."

There IS NO BEST OR CLOSEST version. If you are stuck using English, I would suggest that you read from:

New International Version
New International Readers' Version [2.9 Grade level]
Today's New International Version
New American Standard Version
New Revised Standard Version

These are all good, MODERN ENGLISH versions with varying translation styles and readability.

A version which has been popular recently and also has a good correspondence to the original language texts is the English Standard Version, but it strikes me as being a poor choice for those who are weak in the English language.

Answer 4

if the question is strictly academic.
NIV is translated by secular, KJV was translated by Christians but it was first translated into latin and then the latin translated into english. NIV went for closest to actual meaning. KJV looked to God for true meaning but it was already a step away from the original. I think these two are probably the closest. So which one is better? My pastor will only use the KJV oddly enough when he puts it into his own words it is almost word for word what is in the NIV.
If the question is asking which is best for your personal use.
It doesn't matter which version you use they are all translations. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to you through the Bible and he will direct you. That being said I use several different versions and compare when I am confused and use a concordance/lexicon to look up actual transalations when I am doing a word study.

So all versions are at the very least a step away from the Hebrew/Greek version.

Answer 5

There is no "original" version!!!

They were a bunch of writings compiled by various Councils in the Roman Catholic Church.... under guidance of the Holy Spirit. There were many authors. They were accepted on the whole for centuries until Martin Luther decided he didn't like some things... including purgatory... which was in 7 "books" he dumped as a group. St. Joseph edition is a good one. But lots of scholars argue about this all the time - If you want an "accurate" English one you automatically lose things in the translation because none were written in English and all were written from different time periods and cultures. Interpretation is the difficulty, not the actual texts.

Betty

Answer 6

The present Bible closest to the original is the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

The NT part of it is alot of the Vatacan Codex 1209, which is the oldest or second oldest complete Bible available. It's always checked against older pieces and scrolls found.

The OT part is mainly based on the Masoratic text which is of the oldest available.

Answer 7

The problem is that there are different Greek texts, and these were used in different translations. The Revised Standard Version, the format for many recent translations, used a Greek version which minimized the divinity of Christ. It left out the final section of Luke. For this reason the KJV is still the best.

Answer 8

funny so many said "king james"... I'm sure they say that because thats what they use, but the truth is its actually one of the least accurate translations in common cirulation. But one thing you have to consider is that its been found that nearly all modern bibles in wide circulation are fairly accurate. Even if they have some minor translation errors (over 10,000 the king james) they almost all convey the same ideas accurately - most people prefer the king james because it was intentionally translated to make some things sound worse than they originally sounded (like homosexuality being one thing intentionally villified)

Answer 9

They are all fairly close. Simply because as the english language continues to have suttle changes to it, new translations infuse those.

I personally use the New American Standard, a Ryrie Study Bilbe. I have heard a lot of bible teachers like this translation, along with the good old King James Version, but the NAS is easier to understand.

Answer 10

The King James Version, because the translators prayed while doing their work.