E. W. Bullinger, in Appendix #33 of The Companion Bible, lists 18 emendations
made by the Sopherim to the Hebrew Text.
"These emendations were made at a period long before Christ, before
the Hebrew text had obtained its present settled form, and these emendations
affect the Figure called Anthropopatheia."
Anthropopatheia: "or Condescension...Ascribing to God what belongs
to human and rational beings, irrational creatures, or inanimate things."
Bullinger, Figures of Speech
Does your Bible give you the primitive original reading? Or are you
reading a later corrected text? Let's find out:
[Original text readings are exactly as written by E.W. Bullinger,
or close to the KJV rendering where Bullinger is absent; any Scripture
reading that starts with "ftn.," indicates that this is a footnote reading,
a marginal note and not part of the main text.]
Emendations to the Torah
Genesis 18:22
"And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD."But the original text reads:
"but Jehovah stood yet before Abraham."Here the Sopherim felt that it was demeaning to Jehovah to say that He stood before Abraham, so they changed it to read otherwise.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | as for Jehovah, he was still standing before Abraham | |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | but, Yahweh was yet standing before Abraham | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | but Jehovah still stood before Abraham | ftn. Abraham still stood before Jehovah |
| New Jerusalem Bible | Yahweh remained in Abraham's presence | |
| New American Standard Version | while Abraham was still standing before the LORD. | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | YHWH still stood before Abraham | |
| King James Version | but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. | |
| Revised Standard Version | but Abraham still stood before the LORD. | |
| New American Bible | The LORD remained standing before Abraham | |
| New International Version | ftn. but the LORD remained standing before Abraham | but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | the LORD remained standing before Abraham | |
| English Standard Version | but Abraham still stood before the LORD | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. | |
| New Revised Standard Version | while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. | |
| New King James Version | but Abraham still stood before the LORD | |
| Young's Literal Version | Abraham is yet standing before Jehovah | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | Abraham remained yet standing before Jehovah | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | but the LORD remained with Abraham | |
| Revised English Bible | Abraham remained standing before the LORD |
Numbers 11:15
"And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness."The original text reads:
"And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, our of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not see thy evil."The Sopherim made the change as they did not want to ascribe evil to God.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | ftn. your calamity | let me not look upon my calamity |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | let me not see my grief, | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | let me not see my misfortune | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | be spared the sight of my misery | |
| New American Standard Version | it is too burdensome for me. | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | Let me not see my evil | |
| King James Version | it is too heavy for me. | |
| Revised Standard Version | the burden is too heavy for me. | |
| New American Bible | so that I need no longer face this distress | |
| New International Version | do not let me face my own ruin | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | let me see no more of my trouble | |
| English Standard Version | the burden is too heavy for me. | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | let me see no more of my wretchedness | |
| New Revised Standard Version | do not let me see my misery | |
| New King James Version | do not let me see my wretchedness | |
| Young's Literal Version | let me not look on mine affliction. | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | that I may not behold my wretchedness | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | I won't have to endure your cruelty any longer | |
| Revised English Bible | spare me this trouble afflicting me |
Numbers 12:12
"Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb."The original text reads:
"Let her not be as one dead, of whom our flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb."The text was altered to avoid including Aaron in this comment about their flesh being ‘half consumed.’ This was thought to be a derogatory comment toward a High Priest such as Aaron.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | ftn. our flesh | whose flesh |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | ftn. our flesh | its flesh |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | our flesh | ftn. his flesh |
| New Jerusalem Bible | its flesh | |
| New American Standard Version | whose flesh | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | our flesh | |
| King James Version | of whom the flesh | |
| Revised Standard Version | of whom the flesh | |
| New American Bible | its flesh | |
| New International Version | its flesh | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | his flesh | |
| English Standard Version | whose flesh | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | his flesh | |
| New Revised Standard Version | whose flesh | |
| New King James Version | whose flesh | |
| Young's Literal Version | his flesh | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | whose flesh | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | its flesh | |
| Revised English Bible | whose flesh |
Emendations to the Prophets (NEVI'IM)
I Samuel 3:13
"For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not."The original text reads:
"For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons cursed God, and he restrained them not."The Sopherim softened this text due to a mistaken sense of reverence.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | calling down evil upon God | ftn. for themselves |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | cursing God | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | insulting God | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | cursing God | |
| New American Standard Version | curse on themselves | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | cursed Elohim | |
| King James Version | made themselves vile | |
| Revised Standard Version | blaspheming God | ftn., for themselves |
| New American Bible | its flesh | |
| New International Version | ftn., blasphemed God | made themselves contemptible |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | blaspheming God | |
| English Standard Version | blaspheming God | ftn., blaspheming for themselves |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | committed sacrilege | |
| New Revised Standard Version | blaspheming God | ftn., for themselves |
| New King James Version | made themselves vile | |
| Young's Literal Version | making themselves vile | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | made themselves vile | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | spoken evil things against me | |
| Revised English Bible | blasphemies against God | ftn., to them |
2 Samuel 12:14
"Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die."The original text reads:
"thou has greatly blasphemed the Jehovah."Here the Sopherim made a change so that the esteemed king David would not be seen as having blasphemed Jehovah.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | you have unquestionably treated Jehovah with disrespect | ftn., treated the enemies of Jehovah with disrespect |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | thou hast greatly blasphemed Yahweh | ftn., greatly blasphemed the enemies of Y. |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | you did treat Jehovah with contempt | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | you have outraged Yahweh by doing this | |
| New American Standard Version | you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | you have greatly scorned YHWH | |
| King James Version | thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme | |
| Revised Standard Version | you have utterly scorned the LORD | ftn. the enemies of the LORD |
| New American Bible | you have utterly spurned the LORD | |
| New International Version | ftn., you have shown utter contempt for the LORD | you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | you have openly spurned the LORD | |
| English Standard Version | you have utterly scorned the LORD | ftn. the enemies of the LORD |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | ftn. spurned the LORD | you have spurned the enemies of the LORD |
| New Revised Standard Version | you have utterly scorned the LORD | ftn. scorned the enemies of the LORD |
| New King James Version | you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme | |
| Young's Literal Version | thou hast caused the enemies of Jehovah greatly to despise by this thing | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Jehovah to blaspheme | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | you have shown such contempt for the LORD | |
| Revised English Bible | you have shown your contempt for the LORD | ftn. the enemies of the LORD |
2 Samuel 16:12
"It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day."The original text reads:
"Jehovah will behold with His eye."Bullinger: "This was thought to be to anthropomorphic, and so was altered, and the alteration recorded."
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | Perhaps Jehovah will see with his eye | |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | Yahweh will behold with his eye | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | Perhaps Jehovah will look upon my wretched state | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | Perhaps Yahweh will look on my wretchedness | |
| New American Standard Version | Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | YHWH does look on my affliction | |
| King James Version | the LORD will look on mine affliction | |
| Revised Standard Version | the LORD will look upon my affliction | |
| New American Bible | Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction | |
| New International Version | the LORD will see my distress | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | the LORD will look on my affliction | |
| English Standard Version | the LORD will look on the wrong done to me | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | ftn., eye | Perhaps the LORD will look upon my punishment |
| New Revised Standard Version | the LORD will look on my distress | |
| New King James Version | the LORD will look on my affliction | |
| Young's Literal Version | Jehovah doth look on mine affliction | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | Jehovah will look on mine affliction | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | Perhaps the LORD will notice my misery | |
| Revised English Bible | Perhaps the LORD will mark my sufferings |
2 Samuel 20:1
"And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, "We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel."The original text reads:
"‘We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his gods, O Israel"Bullinger: "One of the emendations of the Sopherim by which they transposed the middle two letters of the primitive text and made it read 'tents' instead of 'gods.'"
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | every one to his gods | ftn. to his tents |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | ftn. every one to his gods | Every man to his home |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | to your homes | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | Every man to his tents | |
| New American Standard Version | every man to his tents | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | each one to his tents | |
| King James Version | every man to his tents | |
| Revised Standard Version | every man to his tents | |
| New American Bible | every man to his tent | |
| New International Version | every man to his tent | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | every man to his tents | |
| English Standard Version | every man to his tents | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | Every man to his tent | |
| New Revised Standard Version | Everyone to your tents | |
| New King James Version | every man to his tents | |
| Young's Literal Version | each to his tents | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | every man to his tents | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | Men of Israel, let's go home! | |
| Revised English Bible | Every man to his tent |
I Kings 12:16
"So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the People answered the king saying, ‘What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David.’ So Israel departed unto their tents."The original text reads:
"to your gods, O Israel"Bullinger: "The original text was 'to your gods', because the sin was apostasy from Jehovah's worship in Jerusalem.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | to your gods | ftn., to your tents |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | to your homes | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | to your homes | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | to your tents | |
| New American Standard Version | to your tents | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | to their tents | |
| King James Version | to your tents | |
| Revised Standard Version | to your tents | |
| New American Bible | to your tents | |
| New International Version | to your tents | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | to your tents | |
| English Standard Version | to your tents | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | to your tents | |
| New Revised Standard Version | to your tents | |
| New King James Version | to your tents | |
| Young's Literal Version | and Israel goeth to its tents | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | to your tents | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | People of Israel, let's go home! | |
| Revised English Bible | to your tents |
1 Kings 21:10
"And set two men, sons of Belial, before him to bear witness against him, saying, ‘Thou didst blaspheme God and the king.’ And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.’"The original text was emended to read ‘bless’ instead of ‘blaspheme.’ Thankfully, this time, the King James translators discovered the change and rendered it correctly.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | you have cursed God | ftn., blessed |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | thou hast reviled God | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | you cursed God | ftn. you blessed |
| New Jerusalem Bible | you have cursed God | |
| New American Standard Version | You cursed God | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | You have blasphemed Elohim | |
| King James Version | Thou didst blaspheme God | |
| Revised Standard Version | you have cursed God | |
| New American Bible | having cursed God | |
| New International Version | he has cursed both God and the king | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | you have cursed God | |
| English Standard Version | you have cursed God | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | you have reviled God | |
| New Revised Standard Version | you have cursed God | |
| New King James Version | you have blasphemed God | |
| Young's Literal Version | Thou hast blessed God | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | thou didst curse God | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | of cursing God | |
| Revised English Bible | cursing God |
1 Kings 21:13
The same situation as in 1 Kings 21:10.
Jeremiah 2:11
"Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit."The original text reads:
"Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But My people have changed My glory for that which doth not profit."Bullinger explains that this change as being made out of a mistaken idea of reverence.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | exchanged my glory | ftn., its |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | have changed my glory | ftn. his glory |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | changed its glory | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | exchanged their Glory | |
| New American Standard Version | My people have changed their glory | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | have changed My esteem | |
| King James Version | my people have changed their glory | |
| Revised Standard Version | my people have changed their glory | |
| New American Bible | changed their glory | |
| New International Version | ftn., my | exchanged their Glory |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | changed their glory | |
| English Standard Version | changed their glory | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | My people has exchanged its glory | |
| New Revised Standard Version | changed their glory | |
| New King James Version | changed their glory | |
| Young's Literal Version | My people hath changed its honour | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | changed their glory | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | my people have exchanged me | |
| Revised English Bible | exchanged their glory |
Ezekiel 8:17
"For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke Me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose."The original text reads:
"... For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke Me to anger: and, to, they put the branch to My nose.""This is one of the 18 emendations of the Sopherim, by which they record their change of 'aphphi (My nostrils), of the primitive text, to 'aphpham (their nostrils), in order to remove what was though to be an indelicate and derogatory Anthropomorphism." Bullinger
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | they are thrusting out the shoot to my nose | ftn., their nose |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | branch to my nose | ftn., their |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | they are sending bad air at my nose | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | branch to their nostrils | |
| New American Standard Version | they are putting the twig to their nose | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | they are putting the branch to My nose | |
| King James Version | they put the branch to their nose | |
| Revised Standard Version | they put the branch to their nose | |
| New American Bible | branch to my nose | |
| New International Version | putting the branch to their nose | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | against my very nostrils | |
| English Standard Version | ftn., or my | put the branch to their nose |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | ftn. goad Me to Fury | thrust the branch to their nostrils |
| New Revised Standard Version | putting the branch to their nose | |
| New King James Version | put the branch to their nose | |
| Young's Literal Version | they are putting forth the branch unto their nose! | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | put the branch to their nose | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | Look how they insult me in the most offensive way possible! | |
| Revised English Bible | holding twigs to their noses |
Emendations to the Minor Prophets
Hosea 4:7
"As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame."The original text reads:
"As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: My glory they have they changed into shame."Another instance where the Sopherim displayed a mistaken sense of reverence toward God.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | My own glory they have exchanged for mere dishonor | ftn., their own glory I will exchange |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | my glory...did they exchange | ftn., their glory I will change into shame |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | I will substitute contempt for your honors | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | they have bartered their Glory for Shame | |
| New American Standard Version | I will change their glory into shame | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | My esteem they have changed | |
| King James Version | therefore will I change their glory into shame | |
| Revised Standard Version | I will change their glory into shame | |
| New American Bible | exchanging their glory for shame | |
| New International Version | ftn., my | they exchanged their Glory |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | they have exchanged their glory | |
| English Standard Version | I will change their glory into shame | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | I will change their dignity to dishonor | |
| New Revised Standard Version | they changed their glory into shame | |
| New King James Version | ftn., my glory | I will change their glory into shame |
| Young's Literal Version | Their honour into shame I change | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | I will change their glory into shame | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | I will turn your honor into disgrace | |
| Revised English Bible | their dignity I shall turn into dishonour |
Habakkuk 1:12
"Art Thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, Thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, Thou hast established them for correction."The original text reads:
"Art Thou not from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, mine Holy One? who diest not. ..."This change was made as "...it was considered offensive to say this ["who diest not"] of Jehovah; ..."
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | Jehovah...my Holy One, you do not die | ftn., we shall not die |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | Yahweh, my God...thou diest not | ftn. we shall not die |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | Jehovah...God of my devotion...you will not die | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | Yahweh...my holy God, who never dies | |
| New American Standard Version | O LORD, my God...we will not die | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | O YHWH my Elohim...You do not die | |
| King James Version | O LORD my God...we shall not die | |
| Revised Standard Version | O LORD my God...we shall not die | |
| New American Bible | LORD, my holy God, immortal | |
| New International Version | O LORD, my God...we will not die | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | O LORD,...Thou diest not! | |
| English Standard Version | O LORD my God...we shall not die | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | O LORD, My holy God...You never die | ftn., Heb. "we," a change made by a pious scribe |
| New Revised Standard Version | O LORD, my God...You shall not die | ftn. MT We |
| New King James Version | O LORD, my God...We shall not die | |
| Young's Literal Version | O Jehovah, my God...We do not die | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | Jehovah, my God...We shall not die | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | You are my God, holy and eternal. | |
| Revised English Bible | LORD, my God...who is immortal | ftn. we shall not die |
Zechariah 2:8
"For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye."The original text read:
"... After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of Mine eye."It was considered derogatory and too anthropomorphic to speak of God as having an eye in a literal sense.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | he that is touching you is touching my eyeball | ftn., his eyeball |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | touches the pupil of mine eye | ftn., apple of his eye |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | the apple of his eye | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | touches the apple of My eye | |
| New American Standard Version | the apple of His eye | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | touches the apple of My eye | |
| King James Version | the apple of his eye | |
| Revised Standard Version | the apple of his eye | |
| New American Bible | touches the apple of my eye | |
| New International Version | the apple of his eye | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | the apple of his eye | |
| English Standard Version | the apple of his eye | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | ftn., Heb "My" | his own eye |
| New Revised Standard Version | touches the apple of my eye | ftn. Heb his eye |
| New King James Version | touches the apple of his eye | |
| Young's Literal Version | Is coming against the daughter of His eye. | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | the apple of his eye | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | Anyone who strikes you strikes what is most precious to me. | |
| Revised English Bible | the apple of his eye |
Malachi 1:12
"But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, ‘The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.’"The original text read:
"But ye have profaned Me, in that ye say, ‘The table of the Jehovah is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.’"Another change made due to a mistaken sense of reverence, and the idea that Jehovah cannot be profaned.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | you men are profaning me | ftn., 'him' or 'it' |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | ye are profaning me | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | you have profaned it | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | but you have profaned it | |
| New American Standard Version | But you are profaning it | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | but you are profaning me | |
| King James Version | But ye have profaned it | |
| Revised Standard Version | But you profaned it | |
| New American Bible | you behave profanely toward me | |
| New International Version | but you profaned it | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | you are defiling it | |
| English Standard Version | but you profaned it | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | you profane it | |
| New Revised Standard Version | but you profane it | |
| New King James Version | but you profane it | |
| Young's Literal Version | ye are polluting it | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | but ye profane it | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | But you dishonor me | |
| Revised English Bible | but you profaned me |
Malachi 3:9
The original text reads:"Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation."
"Ye have cursed Me with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation."Bullinger states: "The Sopherim say that they altered the letter (Mem = M) into (Nun = N), thus making it passive instead of active, and detaching it from the rest of the sentence. This was done to avoid a supposed irreverence."
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | with the curse you are cursing me | |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | with a curse ye have been cursing, | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | N/A | ftn. with the curse you are cursed, and me |
| New Jerusalem Bible | a curse lies on you | |
| New American Standard Version | You are cursed with a curse | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | You have cursed Me with a curse | |
| King James Version | Ye are cursed with a curse | |
| Revised Standard Version | You are cursed with a curse | |
| New American Bible | you are indeed accursed | |
| New International Version | you are under a curse | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | with a curse are you accursed | |
| English Standard Version | You are cursed with a curse | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | you are suffering under a curse | |
| New Revised Standard Version | You are cursed with a curse | |
| New King James Version | You are cursed with a curse | |
| Young's Literal Version | With a curse ye are cursed! | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | Ye are cursed with a curse | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | A curse is on all of you | |
| Revised English Bible | there is a curse on you all |
Emendations to the Writings (KETHUVIM)
Psalm 10:3
"For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth."The original text reads:
"For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, And the covetous man blasphemeth, yea, abhorreth Jehovah."Which Bible version bears the correct reading?
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | he has disrespected Jehovah | |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | hath blasphemed Yahweh | |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | a wrongdoer loftily insults Jehovah | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | by his blasphemies the grasping spurns Yahweh | |
| New American Standard Version | the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | the greedy one cursed and despised YHWH | |
| King James Version | whom the LORD abhorreth | |
| Revised Standard Version | curses and renounces the LORD | |
| New American Bible | curse and scorn the LORD | |
| New International Version | reviles the LORD | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | curses and rejects God | |
| English Standard Version | renounces the LORD | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | reviles and scorns the LORD | |
| New Revised Standard Version | curse and renounce the LORD | |
| New King James Version | renounces the LORD | |
| Young's Literal Version | He hath despised Jehovah | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | he contemneth Jehovah | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | the greedy curse and reject the LORD | |
| Revised English Bible | they curse and revile the LORD |
Psalm 106:20
"Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass."The original text reads:
"Thus they changed My glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass."Which Bible version bears the correct reading?
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | they exchanged my glory | ftn., their glory |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | exchanged my glory | ftn., their glory |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | ftn., his glory | changed their glory |
| New Jerusalem Bible | they exchanged their glory | |
| New American Standard Version | they exchanged their glory | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | they changed My esteem | |
| King James Version | they changed their glory | |
| Revised Standard Version | they exchanged the glory of God | |
| New American Bible | they exchanged their glorious God | |
| New International Version | they exchanged their Glory | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | they changed their glory | |
| English Standard Version | they exchanged the glory of God | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | they exchanged their glory | |
| New Revised Standard Version | They exchanged the glory of God | ftn. Heb exchanged their glory |
| New King James Version | they changed their glory | |
| Young's Literal Version | And change their Honour | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | they changed their glory | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | they exchanged the glory of God | |
| Revised English Bible | they exchanged their God for... | ftn., Heb, their glory |
Job 1:5
"And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all for Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus did Job continually."Here the Sopherim changed the word ‘cursed’ to ‘bless’ in the Hebrew text, but the translators of the King James Version corrected it in the English version. The same is true of three other verses in the book of Job: Job 1:11; 2:5 and 2:9).
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | cursed God in their heart | ftn., have blessed |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | cursed God in their hearts | ftn., to bless |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | cursed God in their hearts | ftn., sinned and blessed God |
| New Jerusalem Bible | in their hearts blasphemed | |
| New American Standard Version | cursed God in their hearts | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | cursed Elohim in their hearts | |
| King James Version | and cursed God in their hearts | |
| Revised Standard Version | cursed God in their hearts | |
| New American Bible | blasphemed God in their hearts | |
| New International Version | cursed God in their hearts | |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | cursed God in their thoughts | |
| English Standard Version | cursed God in their hearts | ftn., bless |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | blasphemed God in their hearts | |
| New Revised Standard Version | cursed God in their hearts | |
| New King James Version | cursed God in their hearts | ftn. blessed |
| Young's Literal Version | yet blessed God in their heart | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | cursed God in their hearts | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | have sinned by insulting God | |
| Revised English Bible | have sinned against God |
Job 7:20
"I have sinned; what shall I do unto Thee, O Thou Preserver of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark against Thee, so that I am a burden to myself?"The original text reads:
"I have sinned; what shall I do unto Thee, O Thou Preserver of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark against Thee, so that I am a burden unto Thee?"Not believing that any mere man could be a ‘burden’ to God, this Scripture was emended by the Sopherim.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | so that I should become a burden to you | ftn., myself |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | have I become unto thee a burden | ftn., unto myself |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | have me as a load to carry | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | why should I be a burden to you | |
| New American Standard Version | so that I am a burden to myself | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | I am a burden to You | |
| King James Version | I am a burden to myself | |
| Revised Standard Version | Why have I become a burden to thee | |
| New American Bible | take away my guilt | |
| New International Version | have I become a burden to you? | ftn. I have become a burden to myself |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | I am become a burden to thee | |
| English Standard Version | have I become a burden to you? | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | a burden to myself | |
| New Revised Standard Version | why have I become a burden to you? | |
| New King James Version | ftn., You | a burden to myself |
| Young's Literal Version | a burden to myself | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | a burden to myself | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | Am I so great a burden to you? | |
| Revised English Bible | become a burden to you | ftn., Heb me |
Job 32:3
"Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job."The original text read:
"Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned God."Condemning God was considered derogatory, so the above was changed so that the condemnation was directed towards Job.
| Bible Version | Original Reading | Emended Reading |
|---|---|---|
| New World Translation | they proceeded to pronounce God wicked | ftn., Job |
| Rotherham's Emphasized Bible | condemned God | ftn., Job |
| Byington's Bible in Living English | putting God in the wrong | ftn. putting Job |
| New Jerusalem Bible | putting God in the wrong | |
| New American Standard Version | and yet had condemned Job | |
| The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY) Ltd | pronounced Elohim wrong | |
| King James Version | and yet had condemned Job. | |
| Revised Standard Version | declared Job to be in the wrong | |
| New American Bible | condemned Job | |
| New International Version | ftn., and so had condemned God | refute Job |
| Smith & Goodspeed's AT | put God in the wrong | |
| English Standard Version | declared Job to be in the wrong | |
| Tanakh-New Jewish Publication Society | condemned Job | |
| New Revised Standard Version | ftn. had put God in the wrong | had declared Job to be in the wrong |
| New King James Version | yet had condemned Job | |
| Young's Literal Version | and condemn Job | |
| The Holy Scriptures by J.N. Darby | and [yet] condemned Job | |
| Good News Bible-TEV | this made it appear that God was in the wrong | |
| Revised English Bible | let God appear wrong | ftn., had not proved Job wrong |
2 Chronicles 10:16
"every man to your tents, O Israel"The original text reads:
"... every man to your gods, O Israel: ..."This is a repeat of the emendation made in 2 Samuel 20:1 and 1 Kings 12:16. See above.
Of the 21 charts above, the New World Translation ranked the highest,
only twice relegating the original reading to the footnotes. Rotherham's
Emphasized Bible and The Scriptures-Institute for Scripture Research (PTY)
Ltd, came in second. The worst offender was Young's Literal Translation,
with the King James Version, New KJV, Darby and the New American Standard
Version following closely behind.
The mainstream Catholic Bibles (New American, New Jerusalem, Good News-Catholic
Edition) were more accurate than the mainstream Protestant Bibles.