Most literal translation?

[tobinatorstark]

Young’s Literal Translation.

Not to question you, but can you go in depth about the YLT?? Give examples

 

[NoelFitz]

If one were to know what the manuscripts were used by St. Jerome and those of the modern versions one could tell. I know that you are well in depth with scripture. Just don’t limit your transltaions

tobinatorstark

I am afraid I am not in depth with Scripture. The Bible is very deep and one can study it as well as possible, but I cannot claim a deep knowledge. That is why I enjoy being here. I can express views and seek knowledge in a safe and friendly environment. We vary here very much in our knowledge of Scripture, and (possibly) commitment to the Church, but I find, in general, that all are treated with courtesy and respect.

Using BibleWorks 8 I have access to about 30 English translations. My favorite, as I have written before, is the NRSV. But I do not limit my translations.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

I’m prepared for the most painfully literal version possible. I want the closest thing next to reading the original language, even if it makes little sense. Any suggestions?

Try an interlinear translation of the Greek-English NT.​

Any translation that is tolerable as English is going to be a paraphrase to some degree; for Greek & English are rather different languages, so they convey meaning in different ways; what is natural in one, can be unnatural in the other: the alternative is to inflict gobbledygook on the reader. And the NT text is not gobbledygook - so a translation as slavishly literal as that, though useful as a “crib”, would give a very misleading impression of what the writers were saying. At least Greek has plenty of tenses: Hebrew does not. And that is just one difficulty in translating these languages: there are very good reasons why translations differ. There is far more to translating a text that finding glosses for the words in one language, so it they can be glossed in another. And the difficulties multiply when what is translated is a text of any considerable length.

 

[Peter_Dawson]

I’m prepared for the most painfully literal version possible. I want the closest thing next to reading the original language, even if it makes little sense. Any suggestions?

In effect, you want to read Scripture the way the translator is thinking as he translates Scripture. This really isn’t a worthwhile enterprise. It is better to do this only when considering the precise meaning of a particular verse, after the English is well-comprehended.

 

[tobinatorstark]

In effect, you want to read Scripture the way the translator is thinking as he translates Scripture. This really isn’t a worthwhile enterprise. It is better to do this only when considering the precise meaning of a particular verse, after the English is well-comprehended.

you aren’t making any sense???

 

[Peter_Dawson]

you aren’t making any sense???

Hi, Toby. Ancient languages, when translated with literalism, do not easily make sense to modern people.

Genesis 1:1, in the original Hebrew, reads something like, “In beginning, created Elohim the heavens and the Earth.”

Genesis 1:2 in the original Hebrew reads something like, "And the Earth became chaos and vacancy and dark over surfaces abyss and wind Elohim vibrating over surfaces the waters.