ESV/NIV Comparison Chart

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In his RTR article (reproduced elsewhere in this month’s web extra), Allan Chapple judges that the ESV has fallen short of its own objectives, and provides some examples. As promised (in the paper edition of this month’s Briefing), here are some counter-examples, where the ESV is advantageously a few steps more direct in translation than the NIV, while remaining quite readable (that is, where the ESV has achieved its objectives).

Verse

ESV

Comment

Gen 16:2

And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

The retention of the concrete description (he listened to her voice) provides the connection to Gen 3:17 where Adam’s error was to have ‘listened to the voice of your wife’ (same phraseology). In other words, in Gen 16:2 the phrase immediately tells you that this is a big mistake. The NIV, by rendering it ‘Abram agreed to what Sarai said’, doesn’t allow you to see that connection.

Judg 6:34 and elsewhere

But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet,
and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.

The more literal ‘clothed’ rather than ‘came upon’ (NIV) is a richer and more evocative way of talking about the Spirit surrounding and enveloping someone.

Mk 1:15

… the time is fulfilled …

This is better than ‘the time has come’ (NIV) which sounds only like “it’s happened at last”, rather than as a “fulfilment”.

Mk 1:23, 27 etc.

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit.

The word is ‘unclean’ not ‘evil’ (as in NIV), allowing you to see the connection with the leper in vv. 40-41 who is also ‘unclean’; resonates with OT category of ‘unclean’.

Lk 6:24

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

Translating ‘consolation’ maintains the link with Luke 2:25 where Simeon is waiting for the ‘consolation’ of Israel. The NIV uses ‘consolation’ in 2:25, but ‘comfort’ in 6:24. You miss the contrast between those who are waiting for consolation, and those who already have it (in their riches).

Rom 1:5

… we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith …

The NIV translates ‘the obedience that comes from faith’ thus resolving this famous ambiguity for the reader.

Rom 1:13

I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

NIV translates ‘Gentiles’ here, like the ESV.

Rom 1:15

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

NIV correctly translates ‘Greeks’ here as well.

Rom 1:16

So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Rom 1:17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

NIV leaves out ‘For’.

NIV strangely uses ‘Gentile’ rather than ‘Greek’ (after distinguishing ‘Gentile’ in v.13, from Greek in v.17).

Rom 1:18

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

NIV translates ‘from’ rather than ‘of’, thus removing the ambiguity of the phrase.

Rom 1:19

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

NIV leaves out ‘For’.

By using ‘unrighteousness’, rather than the NIV’s ‘wickedness’, the ESV keeps the word play/repetition going (the ‘righteousness’ and ‘righteous’ of v. 18).

Rom 11:11

Did they stumble in order that they might fall?

NIV adds ‘fall beyond recovery’—but the idea of ‘beyond recovery’ is supplied by the translator.

Rom 1-16

‘For’ and ‘because’…

The NIV omits some 50 occurrences of ‘for’, ‘because’, and ‘therefore’ in Romans. It can be argued that some of these omissions are reasonable, since gar or ouv don’t always
have the same degree of logical connective force in every context. But it is
hard to see how anything like 50 omissions are justified.

Gal 5:16

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires
of the flesh.

Keeping the concrete metaphor ‘walk’ is not only stronger than ‘live’ (NIV), but makes the connection with v. 25 more clear. The important word ‘flesh’ is consistently translated throughout Galatians; the NIV uses 8 different renderings.

Eph 5:18-21

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

By not breaking the long Greek sentence up into short English ones (as the NIV does), the ESV maintains the connection between the four participles and the main verb, and shows how even ‘submitting’ is an expression of being filled with the Spirit.

1 Pet 1:1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

This more literal rendering is one of the important early indicators that Peter’s letter is directed to Christian Jews of the dispersion, rather than to the more general ‘God’s elect, strangers in the world’ (NIV).

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