JUST FOR FRIDAY FUN I’m going to toss out at you two of the more oddball verses in the Bible.
I’m taking a vote.
These verses sound more like Greek mythology then history, some Christians complain.
I’m going to let you read them in five Bible translations.
Rate the translations in the order of easy reading.
Which do you find easiest to read and which is hardest? Using the letters A, B, C, D, E, put them in order of easiest to hardest.
Later in the day I’ll post a comment to let you know which translations these are.
Or, if you are energetic, go to BibleGateway.com and look them up. You will not find one of them there. If you can figure out where the orphan translation comes from, you get extra credit for that.
Here you go with Genesis 6:1-2:
A. Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives.
B. More and more people were born, until finally they spread all over the earth. Some of their daughters were so beautiful that supernatural beings came down and married the ones they wanted.
C. Humans had sex a lot. Earth’s population exploded. Some of the daughters born to the families grew into gorgeous women. Sons of God [possibly human leaders or celestial beings] took notice, and then took the women. Any women they wanted.
D. The number of people on earth began to grow, and daughters were born to them. When the sons of God saw that these girls were beautiful, they married any of them they chose.
E. Men began to increase their numbers on the earth, and daughters were born to them. The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. So they married any of them they chose.
In order of easiest to hardest, how do you rate these?
D, E, C, A, B Where in the world did “C” come from?
I’ll tell you later today.
B, C, A, D, E. I’m guessing C is NSMV (New Stephen Miller Version), but maybe I’m wrong.
I go with A, maybe E. Stephen, you know I am a traditionalist who prefers the New English Bible. I’m different than most people today, do not like the wordy, conversational tone of most of the newer translations, which I strongly suspect are more marketing than spiritually driven.
I don’t think it’s a matter of marketing. I know it’s not for me. I write in casual words because it’s the way I talk. There’s a poetry to lofty words, and a time, place, and people for them. But there’s also a place for plain talk in simple words. And I don’t think we’ve had enough of that when it comes to matters of faith and the Bible.
D E A B C
C B D A E
CABDE…….Even though I don’t like the way C is worded, it is the easiest to understand. It fits into today’s way of thinking, so more people would pick up on it.
Debbie, what don’t you like about the wording? Is it too abrupt, disrespectful, or something else?
If I had to pick the easiest translation, it would be the one which has the interpretation built in (which is the problem of most modern day translations which stink Lol) — C or B, I think the better one would be A — since it is more faithful to the text. Bible Commentators have many guesses at this — I personally lean toward the fallen Angel theory because of other writings associated with this (Apocryphal book of Enoch), there is not enough data to be dogmatic. The other two views are good which you mention in your book. The NIV says it like this:
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
Wayne, you’re going to turn into a theologian if you’re not careful.
OK, here’s the key to 5 Bible versions. Francie correctly guessed the mystery one: C. It’s my paraphrase.
A. New Living Translation
B. Contemporary English Version
C. Steve’s paraphrase
D. New Century Version
E. New International Reader’s Version
I like all of these versions and use them regularly in my writing and my teaching. I like the casual, simple phrasing.
CBAED