Information required... the Old Testament...

[Musicology]

I'm looking at purchasing an Old Testament but am unsure whether there is more than one version. Seeing that there are numerous versions of the New Testament, i'm unsure about the number of OT's. I'm not looking at one that has new meanings or variations for understanding the content in modern terms but as true to that of the original translation. Curiosity has arisen due to a viewing of the performance of the OT: Chronicles of the Old Testament recently and also general interest in theology and religion...

Thank you to peoples responses to coffeeandmuffins request for NT's which has helped me with my other questions.

Cheers

Tim

 

[HypnoToad]

Well, I used to know a theologian, and what he told me is that, basically, everyone uses the same Old Testament, there aren't really any "versions" of it like we have with the NT.

I have a Hebrew interlinear Bible, and in the introduction it states, "the Old Testament is predominantly represented by one type of text (commonly known as the Masoretic Text), which has very few significant variations. As a result, all printed texts of the Hebrew Old Testament are virtually identical." - The Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament; p. xvii.

So, pretty much any one you get should be ok.

 

[ContentInHim]

I mostly agree with XianJedi except that some translations of the OT are pretty sloppy. A nice NKJV should do. I enjoy the Jewish versions including the notes of the sages, though it's sad when some obvious references to the Messiah are soooo misunderstood!

 

[Musicology]

Thank you kindly XianJedi and ContentInHim, after re-reading my post it seemed a fairly ignorant question to ask about the OT but it was like blind leading the blind whilst i was looking! Thank you again for your help.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Key]

I would suggest going to a Jewish Bookstore and picking up a Torah.

Not sure the translations available.

However, as with NIV, KJV, NKJV, and others, they translate the OT and NT as a whole bible.

Not sure if that helps you.

God Bless

Key

 

[Musicology]

Thank you very much Key, I'll hunt around for them tomorrow,

Cheers

Tim

 

[Radagast]

There are two main versions of the OT that influence English translations -- the Hebrew Masoretic text, and the Greek Septuagint (translated from the Hebrew about 2300 years ago).

 

[ContentInHim]

Thank you kindly XianJedi and ContentInHim, after re-reading my post it seemed a fairly ignorant question to ask about the OT but it was like blind leading the blind whilst i was looking! Thank you again for your help.

Cheers

Tim

No questions are ignorant.

Good response from Key - if you get a Jewish Chumash or Pentateuch & Haftorah, you'll be getting the first 5 book of the OT. If you want the complete OT, get a Tanakh. These would be the OT from the Jewish perspective, which is a good thing if it's in addition to the OT from a believer's perspective also.

 

[BigNorsk]

The New Testament of most translations is a critical text made from the practice of textual criticism of manuscripts.

We do not have a critical text of the Old Testament. The Masoretic text has been used by pretty much all translations except those based on the Septuagint. Brenton's translation is the only English one of the Septuagint you are likely to run into by itself or if you get the Apostles Bible which is the English Majority Text Version for a New Testament, I think the Old Testament is Septuagint based, I'm not sure if it's Brenton's.

Other than that, you can pretty much grab any English translation and the text behind the Old Testament will be very similar. Basically what would make some difference is that the English used could be more or less like your English. You will tend to get closer if it uses similar English to your own.

Marv

 

[Musicology]

Thank you to Radagast and Big Norsk for added information and guiding me through the many options.

I am grateful to have had such insight to a topic that has always confused me. Why are there so many different variations? I understand many are due to difference of interpretation but from someone who's seeking information (such as myself) i always go back to the question of why are there so many variations.

Thank you again, i will venture out and compare all the options given.

Cheers

 

[ContentInHim]

As the Jews were dispersed throughout the "known" world, they began speaking the language(s) which mostly was Greek. Thus their scriptures were translated into Greek, resulting in the Septuagint. Currently there's academic discussion regarding the OT translations of the Masoretic text (Hebrew) and the Septuagint (Greek from the Hebrew). Just as there are subtle changes when repeating gossip from person to person, so there are subtle changes in the "flavor" of the translation depending upon the the whether it's the Greek or the Hebrew being translated.

 

[BigNorsk]

Having to hand copy everything is the biggest problem.

Plus manuscripts get damaged or use makes them difficult to read, particularly with a little oil lamp.

And languages change, early Hebrew was all capitals with no punctuation or spacing.

And sometime one person read while another wrote, so you can miss what the person said or there are similar sounding words and such.

Marv