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Featured The "Literal" NASU? Really?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Rippon, Nov 10, 2015.

  1. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    One person on the BB has the mistaken notion that the NASU (also known as NASB --but I am referencing the 1995 Updated edition) generally puts the "literal" in the text while the more understandable and meaningful reading is put in the footnotes or marginal notes. He is very wrong. First of all, the term "literal" is misplaced. A translated word or phrase can have a core or primary meaning --but to call it "literal" is wishful thinking.

    I will simply put the "Lit." in bold print and occasionally join it with some few words from the text. In all of these cases the boldface type was relegated to the marginal notes. Please note how often the "Lit." is not in ther text. I certainly will not be exhaustive --but you will get the idea.

    I commend the NASU for what the translators have done. The meaning should indeed go into the text itself. And they do it much of the time --like the NIV and the majority of Bible translations.

    I will start of with a few examples from the book of Galatians.

    1:14 : race [text --countrymen]
    2:6 : does not receive a face [text --shows no partiality]
    3:25 : child-conductor [text --tutor]
    4:13 : weakness of the flesh : [text --bodily illness]
    4:14 : flesh [ text--bodily condition]
    5:17 : wish [text --please]
     
  2. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Examples from 1 Corinthians follow:

    4:18 : puffed up [see also v.5:2 and 8:1. In that last reference the NIV has "puffs up" in the text.]
    7:20 : remain in that calling
    7:21 : Let it not be a care to you
    7:25 : has had mercy shown on him by the Lord to be trustworthy
    7:28 : tribulation in the flesh
    7:36 : let them marry
    8:8 lacking ...abounding
    8:9 : man
    9:13 : with the altar
    9:27 : bruise my body
    10:9 : made trial
    10:18 : Israel according to the flesh
    10:24 : the other
    10:26 : its fullness
    11:18 : schisms
    14:2 : hears
    15:3 : among the first
    15:32 : according to man
    15:34 : righteously
    15:42 : in corruption [twice in this verse]
    15:47 : made of dust
     
  3. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Anyone who thinks Mr. Rippon accurately characterizes the views of others is naive.
    Here, Mr. Rippon is citing the "Lit" footnotes of the NASB95, attempting to disparage providing the literal translation in its footnotes.
     
  4. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Duh, ya think?
    Quite the contrary. If you will note in the OP, I commend the NASU for putting the "Lit." in the marginal notes and the more idiomatic in the text.
     
  5. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Acts

    1:15 : (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty names)
    2:1 : When the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled
    2:17 : on all flesh
    2:23 : by the hands of men without the law
    2:27 : Nor allow Your Holy One to see corruption [v.31 also]
    2:30 : to seat one of the fruit of his loins
    2:43 : fear was occurring to every soul
    3:25 : which God covenated
    4:4 : This one is the stone
    5:8 : for so much
    5:16 : multitude
    5:20 : all the words
    5:24 : as to what this would become
    5:36 : and all who were obeying him
    5:40 : They were persuaded by him...not to be speaking
    [In the NIV text it has "His speech persuaded them..." The NASU text has "They took his advice...]
    5:42 : were not ceasing telling the good news
     
    #5 Rippon, Nov 10, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2015
  6. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Continuing in Acts :

    6:2 : the mulititude
    7:14 : seventy-five souls
    7:20 : he was lovely to God
    7:23 : it entered his heart
    7:25 : deliverance through his hand
    7:34 : and now come [NIV --now come]
    7:35 : with the hand of the angel
    8:1 : occurred
    9:28 : going in and going out
    9:31 : was having
    9:37 : in those days
     
  7. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Continuing in Acts :

    Chapter ten:

    14 : common
    15 : made common
    17: himself
    20 : doubting nothing
    22 : words from you
    28 : common
    33 : done well in coming
    35 : works
    39 : wood
    44 : word
     
  8. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Acts Eleven:

    4 : and was explaining
    20 : Hellenists
    22 : The word about them was heard
    23 : saw the grace og God...with purpose of heart
    29 : for the service
    30 : by the hand of

    12:8 : bind
    12:23 : breathed his last breath
     
  9. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Acts 13
    22 : wishes
    24 : the face of His entering
    27 : the voices of the prophets
    28 : destroyed
    34 : trustworthy
    37 : see corruption
    38 : this One
    39 : justified
    41 : disappear
    42 : words
     
  10. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Acts

    14:9 : saved
    15:20 : the pollutions of
    15:26 : given over
    17:3 : opening and placing before
    17:19 : which is being spoken by you
    18:24 : a learned man [NIV : learned man; NASU text : eloquent]
    18:26 : this man
    19:35 : Zeus
    20:12 : not moderately
    20:26 : pure from
    20:37 : a considerable weeping of all occurred and threw themselves on Paul's neck
     
  11. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Acts 21

    5 : When we had completed the days
    25 : the thing
    30 : a running together o fthe people occurred
    34 : certainly
    38 : days

    22:3 : at the feet of
    11 : glory
    29 : withdrew from [NIV text --withdrew]

    23:21 : so do not be persuaded by them

    24:14 : the ancestral God
    24:16 : practice
     
  12. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Concluding Acts:
    27:29 : they were praying for it to become day [NIV : prayed for daylight.]
    27:36 : became cheerful
    28:2 : barbarians
    28:17 : he [NASU :text Paul; NIV text : he]
    28:22 : what you think
    28:26 : seeing you will see
     
  13. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Philemon
    vs. 6 : toward Christ

    Jude

    11 : they have poured themselves out
    13 : blackness of darkness of netherworld: gloom
    19 : not having the Spirit
    25 : to all the ages
     
  14. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Psalms

    4:4 : Speak in your heart
    5:4 : No evil sojourns with You
    5:9 : There is nothing reliable in his mouth
    7:4 : If I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me
    7:9 : For the righteous God tries the hearts and kidneys
    7:10 : My shield is upon God
    7:12 : He has bent His bow and fixed it
    10:18 : To judge the orphans
    12:4 : Our lips are with us
     
  15. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    16:3 : As for the holy ones who are in the earth
    16:7 : My kidneys instruct me in the night [Funny]
    17:8 : keep me as the pupil, the daughter of the eye [Who in their right mind would put THAT in the text?]
    17:10 : They have closed their fat heart ['Callous hearts' or something like that works much better in the text.]
    18:26 : And with the crooked show Yourself twisted. [Yet another example where the idiomatic is much to be preferredin the text.]
    18:45 : And come trembling out of their fastnesses. [Come again? Strongholds or fortresses are much better choices for the text.]
     
    #15 Rippon, Nov 12, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2015
  16. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Again, in this thread I am highlighting the "Lit." marginal notes of the NASB from various verses. So the bold print indicates what the NASU did not put in the text. I agree with the translators putting the more idiomatic and understandable reading in the text. That's the way the vast majority of English translations handle it. It would be foolish to do otherwise except when the "literal" makes sense in the context.
     
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  17. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    20: 3 : And find your burnt offerings fat.
    20:7 : But we will make mention in the name of the Lord, our God.
    22:2 : And by night there is no silence for me.
    22:20 : my only life from the paw of the dog.
    22:29 : All the fat ones of the earth will eat and worship.
    23:2 : He leads me beside waters of rest.
    23:6 : And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days.
     
    #17 Rippon, Nov 13, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2015
  18. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    26:1 : And I have trusted in the Lord I do not slide.
    26:2 : Test my kidneys and my heart.
    27:4 : To behold the delightfulness of the Lord.
    27:12 : Do not deliver me over to the soul of my adversaries.
    30:4 : And gave thanks to His holy memorial.
    30:12 : That my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
     
  19. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    31:6 : I hate those who regard empty vanities.
    31:13 : For I have heard the whispering of many.
    32:4 : My life juices were turned into the drought of summer.
    [There should not be an argument from anyone that the above needs to be put into the text.]
    32:6 : let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time of finding out.
    36:8 ; They drink their fill of the fatness of Your house.
     
  20. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    37:18 : The Lord knows the day of the complete.
    37:28 : For the Lord loves judgment.
    37:37 : For the man of peace will have an end.
    38:8 : because of the growling of my heart.
    38:10 : And the light of my eyes, even they have... is not with me.
    39:5 : standing firm
    39:6 : an image
     
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