All bible translations represent decisions about what the original text was (based on manuscripts) and what the original text was intended to convey in the original culture (the meaning). A multitude of translations in modern languages confronts a bible student with numerous alternatives. These have been compiled in English using the ESV as a base text. This:
To use Manuscripts and Meanings:
The Manuscripts and Meanings displayed are the results of a long arduous scholarly process. They are important for knowing how the Bible could possibly be translated differently.
Different meanings are due to different translation styles or the ambiguity of the original word. They are marked as follows (more details here):
Different manuscripts give evidence about the original Hebrew and Greek text. Scholars have studied these for hundreds of years and there is broad consensus about the conclusions. The specific conclusions by the committees set up by the United Bible Society (UBS) are marked as:
OT Manuscript differences have support from various sources (more details here):
If any manuscript in a group (eg 'Greek') gives support to an alternate reading, this is noted, though individual manuscripts are not named. This means that sometimes the same group may support more than one reading because manuscripts in the same group may differ. When manuscripts support the Hebrew of the Leningrad Masoretic text, this is not normally noted, because at least some manuscripts in all language groups support the standard text in almost every case.
All variants in Barthélemy's UBS survey are included in the Hebrew text, and a subset of these are included in the ESV Manuscripts and Meanings. This committee considered all the possibilities which make a difference to the translation of the text.
NT Manuscript differences come from thousands of surviving Greek manuscripts in various forms and ancient translations as follows (more details here):
They are also marked according to the conclusions in two types of modern editions:
All variants in the apparatus of UBS 3rd to 5th editions are included. This apparatus aims to list all variants which make a difference to the translation of the text. All witnesses originating before 500 AD are listed when they lend clear support to one variant over another.
Progress:
OT: 1st pass is finished and is now being second-edited.
NT: 1st pass is finishing
Personnel:
Project Director: David Instone-Brewer
Annotations Editor (i.e. primary author): Galen Goldsmith
Technical contributors: Charles L. Echols, Phil Church, Clayton Bartholomew
Second-Editors: Anna Smirnova, Lawrence Miles, Emma Hill, Coby Ingram , Dale Brueggemann
Example:
Gen.11.31: ... his son Abram's wife, and they went forth together from Ur
The user will see a popup when they hover over the text, saying
Alternative manuscript evidence |
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ESV: and they went forth together {supported by Hebrew manuscripts} Prob: he took them out {supported by Samaritan, Greek, Syriac & Latin manuscripts} |
The various elements of this popup provide more information on hover or click:
Prob: The probable older version, as determined by Barthélemy's UBS committee. Rated: Likely.
he took them out: Based on Hebrew emendation ויוציא אתם instead of יֵּצְאוּ אִתָּם
Hebrew: All Hebrew manuscripts including the Leningrad Codex have this text.
some Hebrew: Hebrew manuscripts that do not include Leningrad Codex have this text.
most Hebrew: Hebrew manuscripts including Leningrad Codex have this text.
Samaritan: Supported by the text of one or more Samaritan Pentateuch manuscripts
Greek: Supported by translation in one or more Old Greek / Septuagint manuscripts
Syriac: Supported by translation in one or more Old Syriac / Peshitta manuscripts
Latin: Supported by translation in one or more Old Latin / Vulgate manuscripts
If this alternative existed at Qumran then the "Prob:" line would include:
Qumran: Supported by the text of one or more of the Judean / Dead Sea Scrolls
Occasionally an emmendation with no manuscript support is marked as:
Theoretical: A suggestion that currently has no support from any manuscripts