ESV vs NRSV

[Robert Snow]

My understanding is that the ESV is based on the RSV. If so, what is the difference between it and the NRSV?

 

[Rippon]

My understanding is that the ESV is based on the RSV. If so, what is the difference between it and the NRSV?

The ESV and NRSV are very close. The latter uses marginally better English.

 

[franklinmonroe]

My understanding is that the ESV is based on the RSV. If so, what is the difference between it and the NRSV?

ESV NRSV My comment

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
"man" is actually present and "Pharisees" is plural in the Greek

2 This man came to Jesus [fn] by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
2 He came to Jesus* by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’
"with him" is the literal Greek

3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [fn] he cannot see the kingdom of God."
3 Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’*
the phrase "the kingdom of God" comes later in Greek order

4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
4 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’
there is no verb for "having grown" in Greek

5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
5 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
The Greek is literally the same word twice in succession

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [fn]
6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.*

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You [fn] must be born again.'
7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You* must be born from above.”*
Greek could mean either; possibly a 'play' on the word

8 The wind [fn] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
8 The wind* blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
9 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
10 Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
There is no indefinite article ("a") in Greek; "the" is more literal

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you [fn] do not receive our testimony.
11 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you* do not receive our testimony.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. [fn]
13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.*

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. [fn]
15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.*

16 "For God so loved the world, [fn] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Deacon]

Here are some more:

1 Corinthians 7:1 (RSV) — Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman.

1 Corinthians 7:1 (NRSV) — Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.”

1 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV) — Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”


NOTE: The NRSV, ESV and NIV delineate the quote of the Corinthians by adding quotation marks (not found in the NIV84 or the RSV).
The NIV and the ESV both makes plain the obscure idiom, a literal translation would be "not to touch".




Psalm 68:11 (RSV) — The Lord gives the command; great is the host of those who bore the tidings:

Psalm 68:11 (NIV84) — The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:

Psalm 68:11 (NRSV) — The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those who bore the tidings:

Psalm 68:11 (ESV) — The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:

Psalm 68:11 (NIV) — The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:

NOTE: This is a particularly difficult psalm to translate. The NIV (and ESV) use "the women" which is understood when one uses the feminine gender of the Hebrew word supplied with the word "proclaim/announce".


Judges 5:30a (AV 1873) — Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; To every man a damsel or two;

Judges 5:30a (RSV) — ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? — A maiden or two for every man;

Judges 5:30a (NIV) — ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man,

Judges 5:30a (NRSV) — ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil?— A girl or two for every man;

Judges 5:30s (ESV) — ‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man;

NOTE: "Womb" (ESV) is the literal translation of the Hebrew word, "raḥm" however it's meaning is still clearly understood as translated in a more poetic form found in the NIV and NRSV and others.

Rob

 

[Rippon]

...both makes plain the obscure idiom, a literal translation would be ...

It just makes sense to not be so literal when a more suitable substitute can be used.

Judges 5:30a (AV 1873) — Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; To every man a damsel or two;

Judges 5:30a (RSV) — ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? — A maiden or two for every man;

Judges 5:30a (NIV) — ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man,

Judges 5:30a (NRSV) — ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil?— A girl or two for every man;

Judges 5:30s (ESV) — ‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man;

NOTE: "Womb" (ESV) is the literal translation of the Hebrew word, "raḥm" however it's meaning is still clearly understood as translated in a more poetic form found in the NIV and NRSV and others.

Why the ESV went this route is beyond me,when even the NASB and KJV did not. The ESV needs to consider its readers. Literal is not best in many passages.

 

[Ronnie Vaughan]

Let me first say that I cannot read Hebrew or Greek. And I do believe that translations should be updated from time to time. But apart from the gender neutrality, or exclusivity issues relating to translation; it seems clear to me much of what I see is simply publishing companies wanting to create a need for another translation. The above translations, and the plethora of NASB's are but a few of many reasons I believe such. Just my .04 cents (inflation and all).

 

[37818]

In Revelation 13:8 the ESV follows the RSV, "and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain."
Tbe NRSV corrects the RSV, "and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered."
RSV, "and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain."