How can it be the word of God when it is constantly messed with by humans?

Question

Many modern readers don't understand the 17th century Old English which the King James version of the Bible was translated into. The more modern translations also tend to water-down these passages which are less than pleasing and alter the original intent of the authors of the Bible. For example, Ezekiel 23:20 speaks of a whore who lusts after men who have penises as big as donkeys and who ejaculate as much as horses.

The original King James translation says it this way: "whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses."

And the Revised Standard Version puts it like this:
"whose members were like those of asses, and whose issue was like that of horses."

The Good News Bible translation completely removes the reference to the sexual organs and discharges of these animals, calling it merely "lustfulness" as follows:

"She was filled with lust for oversexed men who had all the lustfulness of donkeys or stallions."

Another example of how meaning gets lost in the translation can be seen in the use of the word "knew" for "had sexual intercourse with." Whenever Adam had sex with Eve it is described as "And Adam knew Eve his wife" (Gen. 4:1). Some other ways the Bible has for saying a man had sex with a woman include "he went in unto her" (Gen. 38:2, 9, 18) or "he took so and so to wife." (Exodus 6:20) Perhaps if the Bible stated "And Adam had sex with Eve" more people would see that it couldn't be the word of a virtuous God. But that would require that they actually READ the Bible first!

Possibly I was expecting too much from the Theists here, and used a bad example. In the Book of Kells one of the first known bibles circa 800ad, Matthew 10:34b should read “I came not to send peace, but the sword”. However rather than “gladius” which means “sword”, Kells has “gaudius” meaning “joy”. Rendering the verse: “I came not [only] to send peace, but joy”.

This is quite a different meaning no?

Answer 1

Perhaps YOU'RE the one who doesn't understand. Ezekiel 23:20 does not speak "of a whore who lusts after men who have penises as big as donkeys and who ejaculate as much as horses." God is using this imagery to show via symbolism the Jews' spiritual adultery with the surrounding gentile nations. God considered the Jewish people to be His wife, so any fraternizing with pagan religions was viewed as adultery. While the other translations you've listed don't all read the same, they all contain the same message.

Answer 2

I'd have to look some of this up to make an intelligent reply but based on what little I know, maybe it's the sex issue. I noticed that was the subject of all your examples. Maybe translators, right or wrong, felt more comfortable translating vaguely in respect to sex.

In any case, your statement, in general, is the reason we should not rely on a single translation for study. Translations by a group of scholars are better than translations by one person and studying several translations would be best. In doing this, we have a better chance to see the true meaning as intended by God to begin with. The only other thing we can do it to learn the language of the original texts. Even then, the Bible is subject to interpretation based on each individual's level of maturity. That's just a trait of the Bible. What a verse says to me may not be equivalent to what the same verse says to you. I may need to hear something different and what I need to hear will change over the years.

Answer 3

Gosh, there are all sorts of problems like this. Jesus spoke in Aramaic and the Gospels were written in Koin Greek, for example. And when Martin Luther translated it into German he had a heck of a time because not all the literary constructions even will translate. "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" in German means if your heart is full then your mouth will gush out blood!

Bible translations run the gamut from most literal interpretations to the most conceptual. Some people just don't think the penis-flesh-member distinction matters to the meaning of that passage. Others think the Bible needs to be read as close to the original langauge as possible.

These are ubiquitous problems of traslation, however. I see no reason why it cannot be inspired by God on the whole and still be produced by and for humans.

Answer 4

The Key thing about the Bible is that its core message is always protected regardless what language it is translated into. The fact that Jesus came to earth, was born of a virgin, died for our sins, and was resurrected on the third day. If you believe that you have what you need to be saved. There are many other things that scholars argue over but they are not critical to the core of the faith. These issues are critical to deeper development in ones faith at times though. If you want to understand more about the Bible and its accuracy go to the website below. It would take to long to explain here.

Answer 5

A lot of people have "watered down" what was written in the King James Version like they have "watered down" the Gospel of Jesus Christ in some churches. People think that by re-writing the scripture that was inspired by God, others will understand it better. I have a King James Version and have had one ever since I was saved 46 years ago. I understood the King James Bible then, and I understand it today. I don't need man interpreting for me what God said, I have the Holy Spirit who gives me illumination of the scriptures. God bless!!!

Answer 6

I have studied and read the bible in its entirety, and after doing my own research, I can say this:

Although the bible has been translated over the years, more than we can count, it doesn't change the fact that the bible is God's Words that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.

Answer 7

We know it's reliable because:

2 Peter 1:20-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”


Scripture as we know it today is 100% reliable and directly from the heart of God.

Answer 8

ask your self those 3 questions: one million) Is what your praying for something you want? simply by fact it is not approximately you, it quite is approximately what God needs to your life. in basic terms given which you're a Christian does no longer advise which you will under no circumstances face trials. Trials are assessments of religion. 2) Do you understand that NO is an answer? God hears & solutions all prayers & no longer doing what you want is an answer. 3) have you ever considered that your life isn't proper with God? while you at the instant are not proper with God (outwardly sinning even nevertheless you realize it quite is incorrect), your dating with God is majorly affected. (i.e. ingesting, intercourse outdoors of marriage, co-habitating with somebody, coronary heart crammed with hatred, gossipping, etc.) we at the instant are not appropriate yet God isn't a genie interior the bottle it is there for the asking whenever you want him and then pushed aside while each little thing is status quo. I comprehend that your life isn't likely as you will please. learn your life. Pull your self nearer to God. Worship while your church doorways are open. seek for help from fellow church contributors. Spend time interior the Bible. do no longer unfastened your faith. comprehend which you're being examined. possibly God is chastising your for something. i do no longer understand what your subject is. yet, in case you sense like this on anti-depressants, then get off of them, they at the instant are not working or try something diverse. I advise which you're making an earnest attempt on "assembly God" on his words, no longer yours. The devil is delighting on your misery & hatred for yet another. supply it to God. it is not which you may decide or punish.

Answer 9

I have asked this question for YEARS! I guess that's where the "faith" part comes in. I'm sorry, I think all writing was influenced & interpreted by man. I don't see how it couldn't have.

Answer 10

Gods word becomes alive and learnable to all how seek. But you must first try. excuses are always easier than hard study.