King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New Living Translation (NLT), English Standard Version (ESV), Today's New International Version (TNIV).
1 Corinthians 7:36:
| KJV | NKJV | NASB | NLT | The Message | ESV | TNIV | |
| But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. | But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. | But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. | But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin. | If a man has a woman friend to whom he is loyal but never intended to marry, having decided to serve God as a "single," and then changes his mind, deciding he should marry her, he should go ahead and marry. It's no sin; it's not even a "step down" from celibacy, as some say. On the other hand, if a man is comfortable in his decision for a single life in service to God and it's entirely his own conviction and not imposed on him by others, he ought to stick with it. | If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. | If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting beyond the usual age for marrying and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. |
First of all, it must be pointed out that the NKJV is very literal.
The question is this in all these examples given: What is meaning and purpose of the term "virgin"? What is the relationship between the "man" and "his virgin". Are all these translations equally meaningful to you? Would you be missing something by sticking to one version and rejecting the rest of them?
Normally the word virgin in English is defined as a : A chaste or unmarried woman; a maiden.
One of the problem illustrated by these examples, especially the NKJV, the relationship is not absolutely clear.
The other problem Did the writer of the original text, in the original language mean for the confusion of words to take place? Which of the above translations was the original meaning?
Please note that any of these translations are acceptable, in the view of the translator who performed the translation. In each, the words transported into Modern English is support in scholarship and acceptable.
However, only one of then can be correct in expressing the authors original intent.
For a number of reasons, the TNIV reflects the best exegetical option here.
However, if you regularly read only one translation, the NASB for example, you may be committing yourself to a view not intended by the original author. Go back and compare the two passages. There is a huge difference in meaning. If you were reading two or more translations with notes, the reasons for the choices would be made known to you.
And this kind of thing can be illustrated hundreds of times over. So, what to do?
For your main use in reading the Bible, say, during you quiet time it is acceptable to select and read one translation. Do your research. Know the problems with the translation you select, knowing all translations have problems. By being consistent in reading the one you select will help you commit to memory the verses you read.
In the selection you make for the Bible that will be your regular reading translation, you would benefit from not only knowing about the recognized problems associated with your selection. It would be better to have one that makes extensive use of notes. The one what has both footnotes and margin notes will convey more information to you .
These notes will point out the problems you may already know about since you did some research before you bought the Bible.
Notes besides the text on the page has brought many “ Ah so” moments to reading the scriptures. Sometimes just when you need it, a light of enlightenment will flash in your mind.
Sometimes you will be told that this translation or that translation is good, or is better than some. This is well meaning advice but it is sometimes hard to define exactly what “good “ means. usually “Good” may be defined as satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree.
In one sense, all translations are considered good. It would be said that none of them are “bad”, but others are better than others.
When saying the word “all”, here is a list of Bibles that are considered good in the respect they do not have a ax to grind, that their methods of translations are generally accepted as correct, and they are not produced with the express purpose to display a certain theological doctrine.
This list may not / is not be complete. None of the translation listed here are considered bad, or evil, or to be avoided. However, again let it be said, some are better than others in universal problem areas of translations common to all. I suspect that these all were undertaken prayerfully and with the best motives possible.
Some of these English translations are “out of date” in the respect that the language they were translated to is no longer used. For example, the English of the 1600’s is no longer spoken today and many of the words have dropped out of use or changed in their meaning. The same can be said for the English language of the 1800’s, but not to the same extent.
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