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ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE:
A BRIEF CRITIQUE
by Dr. John E. Russell

CHAPTER III
JEWISH TRANSLATIONS


 
The Twenty-Four Books
of the Holy Scriptures (1854)

     Isaac Leeser translated the Jewish scriptures in 1854. He had published the Pentateuch earlier as The Law of God, about 1845. He later revised the Old Testament in 1865. 
 

Jewish School and Family Bible (1861)

     A. Benisch translated the Jewish Scriptures in 1861. 
 

The Holy Scriptures
according to the Masoretic Text (1917)

     The Jewish Publication Society of America published this version in 1917. (The Board of Editors had been chosen in 1908). Max L. Margolis served as Editor-in-Chief. 
 

The Authentic New Testament (1955)

     This translation is unusual in that the work was done by a Jewish scholar, Hugh J. Schonfield, and published in 1955. The word "Authentic" referred to the quality of the New Testament itself — not that he felt that his translation was the only valid one. It is a high-quality translation. (Bruce). 
 

A New Translation of the Holy Scriptures
according to the Masoretic Text (1963-)

     The chairman of this version was H. M. Orlinsky, who headed a committee of American Jewish scholars. The Pentateuch was published in 1963 under the name, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses. It was published by the Jewish Publication Society of America. It uses twentieth century idiom. 
 

Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures (1985)

     This translation is characterized by careful scholarship and proper up-to-date English. The MASORETIC TEXT is used for the translation basis. It is structured on the traditional Jewish divisions of Scripture: Torah, Prophets, and Sacred Writings. It is published by the Jewish Publication Society. 

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