Over a decade ago, the publishers
of The
Jubilee Bible sent
me a copy to review, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear from the new
publisher, Ransom Press
International, advising me of the updated version, which they kindly sent me
to examine and review.
The back of the
protective sleeve my copy arrived in states an extraordinary aspect of this
translation: “The Jubilee Bible is the only one we know of that has each
unique Hebrew and Greek word matched and mated with a unique English word.”
My first impression of
the packaging and the actual copy was, “Well-done!” This edition has an
attractive, flexible cover with sewn-in pages that lay flat, revealing wide
margins and a very readable 10.5 type with ample leading between the lines.
Although no maps have been included, the back matter has a “Bible Dictionary of
the Proper Names in Scripture.”
That page also provides
a URL for the online
Concordance, which, not only shows words translated consistently throughout
the Bible, but lists the number of occurrences. For example, “Forgive” occurs
as that particular word 111 times, while “Grace” appears 205 times, and “Reconcile”
120.
And speaking of
reconciling, the editor and translator, Russell Stendal, who was once held
hostage by Colombian rebels, has since spent his life as a missionary to the
same peoples. That work even includes trips deep into the jungle and parachute
drops of Bibles!
In the earlier review,
I offered no comparisons of actual scripture, which I’d like to remedy now by
showing some well-known verses in the King James Version and in the Jubilee
Bible too.
Genesis 1:1-2
KJV – “In the beginning
God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of
God moved upon the face of the waters.”
JB –” In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
And the earth was without order, and empty, and darkness was upon the face of
the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Exodus 20:12-13
KJV – “Honour thy
father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD
thy God giveth thee. Thou
shalt not kill.”
JB – “Honour thy father
and thy mother that thou days may be lengthened upon the land which the LORD thy
God gives thee. Thou shalt not murder.”
John 14:2
KJV – “In my Father’s
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
JB – “In my Father’s
house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go
to prepare a place for you.”
I expect this Bible
will have a place with me in my weekly study group. And, since I’m writing this
on Ash Wednesday, I’d like to encourage you to read the Bible every day of
Lent.
With adequate reading
time, it’s possible to read the entire book! If that sounds too intimidating,
consider reading the Gospels and Psalms during Lent, and if that’s still
overwhelming, pick a book, preferably from the New Testament to study. Surely,
God will guide you into what will speak to you during this season and
throughout the year.
May the Lord bless you
and your study of His Word in Jesus’ Name.
