Robert Alter's Bible translation (& N.T. Wright, The Message, The Passion Translation) 

Alter is brilliant. I can’t read some of his background comments without having to reach for a dictionary - and I’m a pretty literate guy! Very valuable to get a learned Jewish perspective on the OT.

Thanks for your answer, JM! Last year I journeyed through the entire Hebrew Bible using Alter’s translation with commentary and it was very rewarding but would note the same occasional contrarian vibe you do. Some of my friends are suspicious of Alter solely because he comes out of Berkeley! I’ve tried to convince them there’s some good stuff to glean from his literary eye.

Your videos are such a great resource on bibles and bibles studies. Thank you.

DBHs translation of the NT is my favorite. It’s an absolute rock solid translation.

TY, JM 🌹⭐🌹

A few thoughts: 1. I have read many parts of Alter's Hebrew Bible, and I've read his The Art of Bible Translation, and I entirely agree with what JM said in this video. 2. That said, Alter places a far greater value on literary style in Bible translation than most people do. Alter's view is that much if not most of the OT is quite literary and ought to be translated as such. He castigates almost all other modern English translations (except the KJV) for being poor translations, among other things. I think Alter doth protest too much, for he writes as if the Bible (at least the Hebrew Bible) is a work of the finest and highest literary art and those who disagree aren't attuned to its beauty. It's a bit snobby or elitist. By contrast, I think the Bible should be for everyone, not only the literati, and that many different translations bring out different aspects of the Bible or serve different audiences. For example, I love the KJV as much as Alter, but it's not as natural and clear English for most people today, even though it is clearly a beautiful translation. 3. By the way, it's true the OT is unlike the NT in that the Koine Greek is, well, koine or common, definitely not literary. Not even Hebrews or Luke's prologue which are probably the highest literary points of the NT. Since literary (classical) Greek existed and was used by the literati of the first century Roman Empire, at least some of the NT writers could likely have also written in a higher literary style or register than they did - especially Luke, the author of Hebrews, and arguably Paul - but they didn't. Rather they chose to write in every day common Greek. They wanted the gospel and the Bible to reach everyone, regardless of whether or not they had an ear for fine literary style. 4. Of course, I love literary beauty as well, and I do think much of the Bible is indeed literarily beautiful. I don't have any issues with making literary translations like Alter's translation. But as C.S. Lewis pointed out: beauty can elevate, but beauty can also lull. And sometimes falsehoods or half truths can be made to sound beautiful in order to make it easier to swallow. To be fair, it sometimes helps to wrap the truth in beauty as well. Anyway it's often a fine balance between translating the letter of the law (so to speak) but losing the poetic spirit vs. translating the spirit and beauty but losing the literality. But regardless i think both accuracy and style are important considerations in translation, both truth and beauty as it were. Not to mention other important factors in translation. I think it's good we have so many different translations that are accurate, readable, clear, natural, and even literary. But I wouldn't elevate literary beauty to be my primary criterion above and beyond all others, as Alter so often does.

I love NT Wright but I have a difficult time reading his New Testament translation. As an American I can definitely pick up some of his British phrasing in certain passages, which is a bit disruptive for me when reading it. I thoroughly enjoy his commentaries and other books however, as well as his podcast.

l love the Passion translation

I just downloaded this to my Audible Library. Thanks for the tip! Have you done a review on the One New Man Bible that was released several years ago?

RAs translation of the Masoretic text is hands down the best translation IMO.

JM, I was wondering if you've read the First Nations translation of the New Testament?

I agree with your assessment of single person translations. They tend towards idiosyncratic and have blind spots that a committee would address. However, what are your thoughts on Tyndall’s translation? Also, I haven’t been able to find anything other than poor facsimile options. With your connections in Christian publishing, is there any chance of a good edition of Tyndall being produced?