by Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee
It seems obvious that the order of words in a text is important, at least to some degree. In English, for example, we typically put the direct object of a verb after the verb. This natural word order makes it easy for us to digest the meaning. In the sentence “The dog bit the cat,” we know from the word order that the dog is the biter and the cat receives the bite. But look at the same five words in a different sequence: “The cat bit the dog.” Now the word order tells us that the cat is the biter.
Do all languages put the direct object after the verb? No. Hebrew, for example, often puts the direct object before the verb. Look at Isaiah 42:3, where we find a messianic prophecy. And note that this passage is also quoted in Matthew 12:20, in reference to Jesus.
| Isaiah 42:3 KJV A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. | Isaiah 42:3 NLT He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. |
| Matthew 12:20 KJV A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. | Matthew 12:20 NLT He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. |
The KJV follows the Hebrew word order, which puts the direct objects (“a bruised reed” and “the smoking flax”) before the verbs. The ESV, NASB, and NIV also follow the Hebrew sequence by putting the direct object before the verb. But that wording feels stilted in English and can be hard to understand, so a number of translations, including the NLT, CSB, and NRSV, use the word order that feels more natural in English.
The Hebrew text occasionally uses long introductory phrases ahead of the subject, particularly in the context of parallel lines in poetry. Look at Proverbs 11:22:
| Proverbs 11:22 KJV As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. | Proverbs 11:22 NLT A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. |
In the KJV, which follows the Hebrew sequence, the subject woman is the fourteenth word in the sentence. The NLT follows a more traditional English sequence that places the subject near the beginning of the sentence. So the sequence of the two phrases is reversed in the NLT. Both translations express the meaning of the Hebrew text. But while the KJV follows the Hebrew structure, the NLT reads more like “regular” English. The accuracy of a translation hinges in part on a reader’s ability to comprehend it.
Typically, an English sentence has both a subject and a verb. But look at Isaiah 1:1. The subject in the Hebrew text is “the vision.” But where is the verb? The Hebrew does not have a verb related to the subject, so the KJV (similarly the NKJV, NASB, NIV, and ESV) does not have a verb related to “the vision.” But the NLT follows a more typical English style by supplying the verb “are.” And for further clarity, the NLT uses two sentences and repeats the subsidiary concept “He saw these visions.”
| Isaiah 1:1 KJV The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. | Isaiah 1:1 NLT These are the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. He saw these visions during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. |
One might ask, Is it permissible to supply words that are not explicitly in the Hebrew text? Yes, because it’s a necessary part of translation. In fact, the KJV translators have done that thousands of times. When you see an italicized word in the KJV, it means that the English word does not have an obvious counterpart in the Hebrew text. For example, look at the list of kings in Isaiah 1:1 in the table above. The KJV introduced the word and, which does not reflect the exact wording of the Hebrew text. So they have used italics to let the reader know what they have done. The NKJV and NASB follow the same procedure. Most translations, including the NIV, NLT, and CSB, do not use italics for that purpose. Since the meaning is clear in the Hebrew text, the translators have supplied words in English to help the reader follow the meaning of the text.
Each translation has its own translation philosophy. If you compare two or more translations, you will quickly find differences in the structure of a sentence and the sequence of words. That’s perfectly acceptable. And comparing several translations gives a broader picture of the meaning of the original-language biblical texts. Above all, we should actually read the Bible and passionately seek to understand it. After all, it is the Word of God!