ESV/NASB and Geneva/KJV

[Dale-c]

I heard someone say recently that the ESV is to the NASB what KJV was to the Geneva, a more polished but still mostly literal version.

The NASB tends to me more academic while the ESV tends to be a little more of a layman's bible.

The NAS and ESV are my two favorites and I have thought for a while that the ESV is the most similar to the KJV in the type os translation.


Thoughts?

 

[Thermodynamics]

I believe the ESV is the successor to the RSV and not the NASB, so that may be something of a strech.

While the NASB and ESV are both very literal in their method of translation, perhaps even more literal than the KJV, it is worth noting that the Geneva and KJV are part of a different manuscript tradition than the NASB and ESV.

 

[Tater77]

The Geneva and KJV are linked by the fact that the Geneva was a base comparison text for the KJV.

But after 1881 you had the RSV then later the ASV of 1901. The ESV I think is in the line of the RSV while the NASB is in the line of the ASV.

Either way both the ESV and NASB utilize the BHS OT and the Nestle/Aland NT. But using an eclectic method for the most part.

ESV tends to be more layman in its wording and word orders while the NASB95 is still almost slavishly literal with extensive noting in the few places it uses DE.

To put it in a metaphor, if you blended the NIV and NASB you would get the ESV.

 

[thomas15]

....The ESV I think is in the line of the RSV .

No thinking required, the ESV is by it's own admission a revision of the RSV.

....To put it in a metaphor, if you blended the NIV and NASB you would get the ESV.

I don't think so.

 

[Rippon]

To put it in a metaphor, if you blended the NIV and NASB you would get the ESV.

I'm sorry, but you are way off here. The ESV is closest to the NRSV. The ESV is a little more archaic-sounding even though it was published about twelve years later.

What would be the result if you blended the NLTse and the NASBU? Perhaps the TNIV.

 

[Tater77]

I did use the word metaphor. What I meant was its not quite a DE translation but not as literal as the NASB. Its in the middle.

 

[thomas15]

I was browsing the Bible section of my local Bible bookstore a few months back. Within close proximity of where I was standing were two elderly gentlemen who were discussing the ESV.

Not that I was being nosey since the men were speaking loud enough for me and anyone in the general vicinity to hear them. One man spoke of how "awesome" the ESV is. The other agreed and added words to the effect that the ESV "blows away" all other modern translations, including but not limited to the NIV and the NASB.

OK, we are all entitled to our opinions and it was basically a private conversation, but "awesome" translation?

 

[Logos1560]

I heard someone say recently that the ESV is to the NASB what KJV was to the Geneva, a more polished but still mostly literal version.

Thoughts?

While the KJV did improve some renderings in the Geneva Bible, there are places where the Geneva Bible is clearer, better, more accurate, and "more polished" than the KJV. Whether they actually consulted the Geneva Bible or not, it is interesting that the NKJV translators followed a number of renderings [or ones very similar] in it.

1 Tim. 1:1 our hope (Geneva, NKJV) which is our hope (KJV)
1 Tim. 1:3 in Ephesus (Geneva, NKJV) at Ephesus (KJV)
1 Tim. 1:5 love (Geneva, NKJV) charity (KJV)
1 Tim. 1:19 having faith (Geneva, NKJV) holding faith (KJV)
1 Tim. 2:12 permit (Geneva, NKJV) suffer (KJV)
1 Tim. 2:15 love (Geneva, NKJV) charity (KJV)
1 Tim. 3:3 gentle (Geneva, NKJV) patient (KJV)
1 Tim. 3:11 Likewise (Geneva, NKJV) Even so (KJV)
1 Tim. 3:16 manifested (Geneva, NKJV) manifest (KJV)
1 Tim. 3:16 in glory (Geneva, NKJV) into glory (KJV)
1 Tim. 4:12 love (Geneva, NKJV) charity (KJV)
1 Tim. 4:14 eldership (Geneva, NKJV) presbytery (KJV)
1 Tim. 5:1 exhort (Geneva, NKJV) intreat (KJV)
1 Tim. 5:18 wages (Geneva, NKJV) reward (KJV)
1 Tim. 5:10 that the rest (Geneva, NKJV) that others (KJV)
2 Tim. 2:22 love (Geneva, NKJV) charity (KJV)
2 Tim. 3:10 love (Geneva, NKJV) charity (KJV)
2 Tim. 4:7 the crown (Geneva, NKJV) a crown (KJV)
2 Tim. 4:16 all forsook (Geneva, NKJV) all men forsook (KJV)
Titus 1:8 one that loveth goodness (Geneva) lover of good men (KJV) lover of what is good (NKJV)
Titus 2:2 love (Geneva, NKJV) charity (KJV)
Titus 3:13 lack nothing (Geneva, NKJV) nothing be wanting (KJV)
Philemon 1:7 hearts (Geneva, NKJV) bowels (KJV)
Heb. 3:6 whose house we are (Geneva, NKJV) whose house are we (KJV)
Heb. 3:9 Where (Geneva, NKJV) When (KJV)
Heb. 3:18 obeyed not (Geneva) believed not (KJV) did not obey (NKJV)
Heb. 4:11 disobedience (Geneva, NKJV) unbelief (KJV)
Heb. 4:12 lively (Geneva) quick (KJV) living (NKJV)
Heb. 6:8 near (Geneva, NKJV) nigh (KJV)
Heb. 7:19 near (Geneva, NKJV) nigh (KJV)
Heb. 9:6 the service (Geneva) the service of God (KJV) the services (NKJV)
Heb. 10:23 hope (Geneva, NKJV) faith (KJV)
Heb. 11:7 household (Geneva, NKJV) house (KJV)
Heb. 11:9 tents (Geneva, NKJV) tabernacles (KJV)
Heb. 13:4 among all (Geneva, NKJV) in all (KJV)
Heb. 13:16 distribute (Geneva) communicate (KJV) share (NKJV)
James 1:3 Knowing that (Geneva, NKJV) Knowing this, that (KJV)
James 1:4 lacking nothing (Geneva, NKJV) wanting nothing (KJV)
James 1:5 reproached no man (Geneva) upbraideth not (KJV) without reproach (NKJV)
James 2:6 the rich oppress (Geneva, NKJV) rich men oppress (KJV)
James 3:4 rudder (Geneva, NKJV) helm (KJV)
James 3:12 olives (Geneva, NKJV) olive berries (KJV)
James 4:4 maketh himself the enemy (Geneva) is the enemy (KJV) makes himself an enemy (NKJV)
James 4:6 to the humble (Geneva, NKJV) unto the humble (KJV)
James 4:8 near (Geneva, NKJV) nigh (KJV)
James 4:10 will lift (Geneva, NKJV) shall lift (KJV)
James 5:11 count them blessed (Geneva, NKJV) count them happy (KJV)
James 5:11 and merciful (Geneva, NKJV) and of tender mercy (KJV)
1 Peter 1:13 on the grace (Geneva) for the grace (KJV) upon the grace (NKJV)
1 Peter 1:22 love one another (Geneva, NKJV) see that ye love one another (KJV)
1 Peter 2:6 be ashamed (Geneva) be confounded (KJV) be put to shame (NKJV)
1 Peter 3:6 any terror (Geneva, NKJV) any amazement (KJV)
1 Peter 3:14 blessed (Geneva, NKJV) happy (KJV)
1 Peter 4:3 drunkenness (Geneva, NKJV) excess of wine (KJV)
1 Peter 4:3 drinkings (Geneva) banquetings (KJV) drinking parties (NKJV)
1 Peter 4:8 fervent love (Geneva, NKJV) fervent charity (KJV)
1 Peter 4:8 for love (Geneva, NKJV) for charity (KJV)
1 Peter 4:14 blessed (Geneva, NKJV) happy (KJV)
1 Peter 4:14 the Spirit of glory (Geneva, NKJV) the spirit of glory (KJV)
1 Peter 5:14 of love (Geneva, NKJV) of charity (KJV)
2 Peter 1:1 of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Geneva, NKJV) of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (KJV)
2 Peter 1:7 love (Geneva, NKJV) charity (KJV)
2 Peter 2:13 wages (Geneva, NKJV) reward (KJV)
2 Peter 3:9 toward us (Geneva, NKJV) to us-ward (KJV)
2 Peter 3:15 to you (Geneva, NKJV) unto you (KJV)