What levels you read in bible book?

[wolflady]

Hi everyone,

I ask a question for you. I'm very curious about level reading in bible.

What level you read in bible book? What type of bible you used? Do you understand a basic from bible book or not? Why or Why not? Let me know.

Christy

 

[wolflady]

This is very interesting. This website is: http://www.zondervanbibles.com/translations.htm. It's very cool.

Christy

 

[growingupinhim]

NKJV New King James Version

Reading Level: 9.0

Readability: Easier word usage, but somewhat choppy because it maintains 17th century sentence structure

Reference Support Material: Low, but some KJV materials can be used

Number of Translators: 119

Translation Philosophy/Format: Authors used the original KJV as a benchmark, while working to produce an accurate and modern word-for-word translation

Notes: A modern language update of the original KJV. Purpose was to update and modernize the original KJV but preserve the KJV as much as possible. Published in 1982

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

NAB New American Bible

Reading Level: 6.60

Readability: A clear and straightforward translation that reads smoothly. Written in basic American English.

Reference Support Material: Low

Number of Translators: 55

Translation Philosophy/Format: Word-for-word

Notes: Published under the direction of Pope Pius XII, this Catholic version of the Bible represents more than 25 years of effort by the Catholic Biblical Association of America. All editions include the Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal books. Published in 1970.




I also like:


NRSV New Revised Standard Version

Reading Level: 10.40

Readability: Contemporary, dignified with generic language in reference to humans

Reference Support Material: Medium

Number of Translators: 30

Translation Philosophy/Format: Balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought

Notes: A widely accepted translation in the tradition of the King James Version. Purpose was to "make a good one better." Published in 1990. A Bible for all Christians.

 

[Durelen]

Reading level? In college placement I had a university level placement as far as reading comprehension. I wish my math was that high Unrelated to spelling skills of course lol

Translations? I definitely prefer literal translations (word for word) KJV, NKJV, NASB, Darby (with all my marker corrections of course). I don’t read a book because I find it challenging but only because it appeals to me in some way. As for serious study I often refer to Greek manuscripts and study aids for guidance in translation comprehension.

 

[Moros]

KJV King James Version

Reading Level: 12.00

Readability: Difficult to read due to 17th-century English vocabulary and word order

Reference Support Material: High

Number of Translators: 54

Translation Philosophy/Format: Word-for-word

 

[Sophia23]

...Bibles have reading levels? I have a bible!!! It's a bit old, its my dads... the cover came off so I don't know what version it is, probably Revised Standard Version... it has the Apocrapha in it... well bits of it, old testament bits. I had a Torah once but I was only looking after it for this guy who decided to travel the world and had sold his home and didn't want it getting broken.

Here is a quote from my Bible then maybe you'll be able to answer those questions for me (if you like, no pressure)

(Ok looking for James' Letter because I recall liking that)

Ok ...hmmm here goes
"14 What does it profit, my bretheren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself if it has no works is dead.
18 But someone will say "you have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You beleive that God is one; you do well. Even the demons beleive - and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works ,when he offered his son Issac upon the alter?"

And so on... typing lots is hard!

 

[Snowy]

I use the King James Bible...but I don't understand what you mean by levels?...please explain

 

[wolflady]

Snowy! You read the levels in bible book and can you understand from it. It's NIV, NLT, KJV, etc... For example, you used KJV and you can understand all through KJV. You can be a talent and good reading in level for bible book. There are understanding and meaning about it. This bible book is reading levels for you.

Christy

 

[TCapp]

I've read the whole Bible, the Living Bible version. I did not see it on the website you posted. But it is fairly easy to read, and puts the Bible in contemporary language and contemporary speaking styles.

 

[wolflady]

ok

 

[Snowy]

no...I read the KJV...and do have a hard time understanding it sometimes..but I also have a NIV Bible too ....I still don't get what you mean by level though

 

[wolflady]

shrugs... I'm giving up as frustration. Can you take me to be a translate?

Christy

 

[wolflady]

I was so tired again. Still frustration. It's not good communication. I feel low-esteem.

 

[Snowy]

I'm sorry wolflady...I am really tryign to understand you..please don't get upset...God Bless You!...



ok..that does it..I'm goign to pray that God will give me the wisdom to understand you!

 

[wolflady]

For example, you read bible book. Your reading level is 12 or 10. I mean you read to understand from bible book and It's 6 levels or more to up.

christy

 

[Snowy]

these are the 2 I use



KJV[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif] King James Version[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reading Level: [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]12.00 [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Readability: [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Difficult to read due to 17th-century English vocabulary and word order[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reference Support Material: [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]High[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Number of Translators:[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] 54[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Translation Philosophy/Format: [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Word-for-word[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Notes:[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Traditionally loved and accepted by all Christians. Purpose in translation was "to deliver God's book unto God's people in a tongue which they can understand." Published in 1611. Timeless treasure.[/font]


_________________________________________________________________


NIV New International Version
[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reading Level: 7.80[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Readability:[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] A highly accurate and smooth-reading version in modern English
[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reference Support Material: [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]High[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Number of Translators: 115[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Translation Philosophy/Format: Balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Notes: The best-selling translation, widely accepted by evangelical Christians. Purpose in translation was to "produce an accurate translation, suitable for public and private reading, teaching, preaching,memorizing, and liturgical use." Published in 1978. Most read, most trusted.[/font]

 

[Durelen]

no...I read the KJV...and do have a hard time understanding it sometimes..but I also have a NIV Bible too ....I still don't get what you mean by level though

It’s just reading comprehension related to vocabulary skills. I remember in grade school we had a reading program that you progressed through by levels. Levels one through five were very simple in vocabulary and structure. As you progressed in levels the course became far more difficult to comprehend. In this case if you took a living bible translation (very basic structure and vocabulary) and placed it next to a NASB (very complex with advanced vocabulary and structure) you would see a dramatic difference. Yet even with the differences in how these texts are structured they both convey a similar meaning per verse and chapter.

Also when you are considering a version like KJV, you are additionally including a form of speech that for the most part is not used any longer (old English) in our common vocabulary. It was far more easily understood for the time in which it was originally printed for it was a common speech of the day. Because of this it would have a higher difficulty score due to the broad use of vocabulary in comparison to modern translations. I enjoy reading old English but I much prefer memorizing NKJV as well as NASB so that people understand the message I am conveying to them in our modern English.

 

[Snowy]

wow!...then no wonder KJV is hard to understand lol

 

[Durelen]

wow!...then no wonder KJV is hard to understand lol

Oh it’s not too hard once you become familiar with it. When I was 10 years old a street evangelist gave me a pocket Gideon’s bible that I began to read. I was first given a really nice leather/gold leaf/large print KJV when I was saved at the age of 12. My church then used KJV but I had a seriously difficult time understanding the translation for some time. Over time I became familiar with the translation and found it readable. When I spent time in seminary we mostly used NKJV which was good for reference because it used our modern vocabulary.

I mean it really comes down to readability of the concepts and message of what you are reading verses translations that attempt to coin the ancient manuscripts in its purest form and meaning. Look at just the differences in how modern English is compared to old English. Now the struggle is to coin an ancient language thousands of years old into something that we can comprehend in our language. Even just translating modern Greek into modern English is a difficult task. The scriptures have texture and depth and I feel that without prayer and meditation it would be entirely too difficult to understand its purest form. Fortunately we have a helper that indwells us that takes the print of page and translates it into our hearts, if we listen closely. It's a love letter in its purest form.